So, just who will make the finals in the Western Region Football League? Check our tips here.
Division 1
One club will reach the division 1 finals with a negative win-loss record, but will it be struggling Hoppers Crossing (28 points, 101.51%), which is in dismal form on the back of four consecutive losses, or a rampaging Altona (28 points, 90.30%), which has strung together four wins from its past five matches?
A month ago, such a scenario would have seemed inconceivable, such was Hoppers Crossing’s lofty standing in the league and strong play in the first half of the campaign, compared with Altona’s slow burn of a rebuilding phase featuring a number of fresh, young faces.
It will come down to the final two rounds of the season, with Hoppers still the warm favourites to hold on to fifth thanks to the luck of the draw.
Hoppers need to make hay while the sun is shining on Saturday and beat bottom-of-the-ladder Yarraville-Seddon, with Hoppers knowing it will have to face powerhouse Deer Park in the final round.
There’s no such luck for Altona, which is faced with two tough encounters – the first against the Deer Park juggernaut on Saturday, the second against St Albans, a confirmed finalist.
The verdict: Hoppers Crossing will hold on by the skin of its teeth.
Division 2
The fourth and last place in the WRFL division 2 finals will go to a Wyndham club – Glenorden or Manor Lakes.
Glenorden (48 points, 169.03%) has fallen on tough times, losing its past four matches.
Last year’s premiers will fancy themselves to snap out of their losing ways and cling to the last spot in the four. In their favour is a draw that finds them facing West Footscray at home on Saturday and North Footscray away to round out the season.
They should win at least one of those games. If the Hawks stay true to form and pick up one of those two matches, Manor Lakes (44 points, 177.71%) will have to conquer second-placed Wyndhamvale on Saturday and also top-of-the-ladder Parkside, which will be no mean feat.
The verdict: Glenorden will scrape into the finals.
