With just three rounds remaining in the 2009 Central ABL season, Round 16 features many games that will be critical in shaping the finals schedule.

The outcome of the Southern v North Adelaide men’s game will be followed closely by supporters from both clubs, with North clinging to fifth position and Southern a game behind. A win for North would probably cement a finals place, and though Southern are still not out of contention, their run home is challenging. The Rockets form has been topsy-turvy of late – their last four games include wins over Forestville and West but also a loss to 9th placed Eastern - so they do not go into this game as clear favourite.

North’s women are in good form. Their last month included wins over Norwood and Forestville, and a two point loss to the then-undefeated West Adelaide. Even so, they need to keep winning to stay clear of Norwood who are now a game out of 5th place. Southern’s chances of finals action are all but over, but with games against North, Forestville and West to come, they can still have an impact on the final placings.

Both legs of the Forestville v West Adelaide double header at Wayville should be tight, given that when the teams met earlier in the season at Port Adelaide, Forestville’s men won by a point while West’s women needed two overtimes for the victory. The Eagles women are in good form, having lost just one game (by a point to North) since they last faced the Bearcats, and looked confident in a 13 point win over Sturt last week. In contrast, West lost to fourth-placed South Adelaide in their last real challenge, and although the final 40 point margin might indicate otherwise, looked less than comfortable when leading by only 7 at half time against Woodville last week.

Forestville’s men are desperate to halt a three game slide, and would be awaiting the return of Brenton Campbell who has been sidelined since April. The Eagles were comfortably beaten by Sturt last week but are still likely to qualify for a double-chance final, albeit away from home. Against Woodville, West Adelaide did their best to erase any memory of a disappointing loss to Centrals two weeks ago, and a 16 point first half from Josh Bond helped the Bearcats to an eventual 43 point victory.

Central Districts host South Adelaide in their last home game for the season, and both games should provide interest for different reasons. The Lions women are fresh from their first victory since June 3, 2006, and Winston Folland’s first since being appointed as CABL coach in 2008. The 2006 win was against South with current South coach Glenn Shaw at the helm, and while the Lions are unlikely to push the Panthers on this occasion, the Centrals team should at least get a solid sendoff from the vocal Starplex crowd.

Centrals men are still an outside chance of making the finals for the first time in many years and a victory over South could set up a tantalising round 18 decider against North, pending other results. The Lions have won consecutive games for the first time since March 2008 and with a solid crop of Under 18 players waiting in the wings, the future looks bright. South suffered a heartbreaking loss to Southern last week but would be buoyed by the form of a rejuvenated Adam Blight, who this year returned to CABL action after a three year hiatus and had 19 points and 16 rebounds in this game.