Will this weekend’s North v Forestville men’s battle really determine the minor premiership?

If Forestville wins, does this leave the door open for Norwood, and make the Norwood Forestville game on July 12 the new game of the season?

Does this analysis just not show enough respect to the other 7 teams, who despite being a collective 2 and 29 against the top 3 teams may still be capable of causing an upset?

Or is this all just an excuse to start this article with a question for the second week in a row?

Whatever the answers, the North Forestville double header will be big, the Rockets and Eagles women also holding down first and equal second positions. The top half of the women’s ladder is also incredibly close, with one win separating 1st and 5th. Norwood’s loss to Eastern last week will make it difficult for the 6th-placed Flames to figure in the finals, but the order of the top 5 positions are still very much open.

The Rocket men have had the wood on the Eagles at Hillcrest for over 2 years, with Forestville’s last victory there on March 11, 2006. Since that game, North went on a 6-0 streak against Forestville, which was ended by a Sutton 3 pointer in April this year. Both teams have been winning, but most would argue North’s form has been better. Pero Vasiljevic is the X-Factor. His addition gives Forestville a huge front line, perhaps excessively big for most matchups other than Norwood. The four spot will be key in this game, specifically the matchup between Jason Reardon and either Peter Hoban or Kane Oakley.

In the women’s league, the clash between Southern and West is also critical to determining finals positions. Both share 2nd position, albeit in a 4-way tie with Sturt and Forestville. Of these four teams, Forestville has the best run home, with only one top-5 opponent still to play, while Sturt and West have two and Southern three. North would be ecstatic to be sitting atop the ladder, but with games to come against Forestville, West, Southern, Sturt and a resurgent Woodville, the chickens would not yet be counted.