An amazing season of Peter Jackson VFL football has almost concluded its home and away matches and following a sensational weekend of action we still have 13 teams in a position of obtaining a finals berth as Steve O’Brien takes a look at the finals race.
A few short weeks ago nearly everything appeared a formality, Geelong Casey Scorpions, Box Hill Hawks, Williamstown, Collingwood and Werribee Tigers would jostle for positions in the top 4 and the Northern Blues and to a lesser extent the Roosters of Nth Ballarat would battle out the 8th and final position available. Other suitors Sandringham had fallen off the perch, Essendon kept being overrun, Frankston could not put four quarters together and after a promising start Coburg had fallen off the pace.
But that all has changed.
Geelong has been the standout side once again, and the reigning premiers can be locked in for a top two finish.
Port Melbourne has been the other side over recent weeks that have found the form that saw them last year play off in the Grand Final, and if they can defeat Box Hill Hawks this weekend, they will face Werribee, Geelong and Coburg on the run home, and should be able to get the wins they need to finish in the top four, if not top two.
In the last three weeks Box Hill Hawks have suffered losses to Williamstown, Collingwood and the Northern Blues, bringing them back to the pack. In the run home they face Port Melbourne, Bendigo, Essendon, Coburg and Casey.
In fact the four sides who sit on 8 wins - Williamstown, Collingwood, Box Hill and Werribee - all lost last weekend, as well as second placed Casey who have now lost two. Their two recent losses have been to Werribee and Essendon, and the fact they have nine wins will see them lining up in September once again, but their run home is daunting as face Collingwood, Geelong, Frankston (away), Bendigo and Box Hill.
Collingwood has probably been the most consistent side accounting for the teams below them, and troubling or beating sides that appear better placed than they are. A 43-point loss at the Cattery last week did not refelect the full game, as the final term let them down. They face Casey, Williamstown, Sandringham, Nth Ballarat and finish off against Werribee.
Werribee after failing by three points against Coburg could be the side to miss out, as the other aspirants have a game in hand as Werribee and Port have the bye in round 16. With four games left they travel to Nth Ballarat face Port Melbourne, Northern Blues and finish off against Collingwood.
The Northern Blues, who on paper appear to have the most talented list, finally got themselves back on the winners list at the expense of Box Hill last weekend, after losing four of their last five matches. Depending on which Blues team turns up, their finals aspirations rest on their shoulders they take on Coburg, Frankston, Sandringham, Werribee and Williamstown.
Of the sides outside the eight Sandringham has returned to form with consecutive wins against Williamstown and Bendigo, but their run home is one of the toughest as they play Geelong , Essendon, Northern Blues, Collingwood and Frankston.
North Ballarat who took the points over Frankston on Sunday have upcoming games against Werribee Coburg,Williamstown, Collingwood and Essendon.
Frankston with a couple of forwards who are the envy of every VFL club probably have the hardest run home with matches to come against Williamstown, Northern Blues, Casey Scorpions, Essendon and Sandringham.
Essendon, as was the case with most of the sides vying for a position from outside the 8, won on the weekend, in fact they have beaten Northern Blues and Casey Scorpions to keep their finals hopes alive and are still in the running, as they face Sandringham, Box Hill Hawks, Frankston and Nth Ballarat in their remaining games.
Coming from a long way back, but still a mathematical chance is Coburg. Any side that has Orren Stephenson, Shane Tuck, Sam Lonergan and Robin Nahas can defeat any VFL side on their day. If they can’tt make the finals, they can have a massive say in who does, as they take on Northern Blues, Nth Ballarat, Box Hill and Port Melbourne on the run home.
It is true that you should not be dependent on other sides defeating teams to benefit your own gains, however the draw is going to make sure that situation prevails.
Everyone will await round 19 when the entire eight is decided and in a twist of fate the only sides who won’t be caught up in the juggling of positions will be top placed Geelong and bottom side Bendigo.
The rest of the final round consists of :
Saturday:
Collinwood v Werribee Tigers
Essendon v Nth Ballarat
Williamstown v Northern Blues
Box Hill hawks v Casey Scorpions
Sandringham v Frankston
Sunday:
Coburg v Port Melbourne.
Last Modified on 26/07/2013 15:11