Lancaster looks to have secured a top two finish and double chance in the finals, while Rushworth is set for a difficult road in the post-season after falling to Merrigum.
The round
Rushworth 33 lt Merrigum 37
Lancaster 63 d Avenel 36
Stanhope 13 lt Shepparton East 69
Nagambie 77 d Girgarre 30
Tallygaroopna 64 d Undera 12
Violet Town 36 d Longwood 28
Murchison-Toolamba bye
Rushworth vs Merrigum
A clash between fifth and sixth was a must-win for Rushworth if it hoped to finish higher than sixth spot, but it was Merrigum that managed to escape with the win at home.
In what proved a tense match-up between two quality sides, the Bulldogs picked up the win 37-33.
Fortunately for Rushworth, Avenel’s defeat elsewhere confirms the Tigers will play finals, but they will have to take a difficult road, facing up to third place on the opening week.
Merrigum will finish either fourth or fifth, but in either case, will play Tallygaroopna in an elimination final.
The Bulldogs host Stanhope in the last round.
Lancaster vs Avenel
The Wombats have one hand on a top two finish, while simultaneously ending Avenel’s finals hopes with a home win at Lancaster Recreation Reserve.
Lancaster dominated the fixture, winning 63-36 and staying ahead of Nagambie in the race for second.
Theoretically, the Wombats could still drop into third, but only in the extremely unlikely scenario where both Lancaster loses to winless Undera and Nagambie beats undefeated Shepparton East in the last round.
Nagambie vs Girgarre
The Lakers kept that slim possibility open with a dominant showing over Girgarre in Nagambie.
The Roos struggled to keep pace against the title contender, falling 30-77.
With a bye in the last round, Girgarre wraps up its season here, finishing 6-10 in a down year after making the grand final in 2025.
It will likely finish in eighth, unless Violet Town can make up just under four percentage points in its final game.
Stanhope vs Shepparton East
The Lions couldn’t stand up to the league-leading Eagles at home at Stanhope Recreation Reserve.
Shepparton East moved one game away from a second consecutive perfect regular season, scoring a big win, 69-13.
Stanhope ends its year against Merrigum away, while Shepparton East is at home to Nagambie.
Tallygaroopna vs Undera
The finals bound Redlegs cruised past Undera at home, the Lions destined for a winless campaign.
Tallygaroopna won 64-12, now locked into either fourth or fifth spot and a finals game with Merrigum.
Undera takes on second-placed Lancaster at home in the final week.
In the remaining game, Violet Town defeated Avenel 36-28 and Murchison-Toolamba had the bye.
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