Sport
18 August, 2022
Super Saturday ahead for MCDFNL
SEVEN positions inside the MCDFL top eight will be up for grabs this Saturday on the eve of the competition’s first finals series in three years.
SEVEN positions inside the MCDFL top eight will be up for grabs this Saturday on the eve of the competition’s first finals series in three years.
Like the chaos of the final matchday of England’s Premier League season (where all ten matches are played simultaneously) players, coaches and supporters across the region will be monitoring scores elsewhere, while hoping their respective teams do enough to secure one of the seven places on offer.
Trentham is the only team which heads into the final round certain of its fate, having sewn up the minor premiership with a week to spare.
Teams ranked second-to-fifth all sit on 48 points heading into the final round, while just four points separate sixth from ninth.
Of the local teams, Natte Bealiba and Navarre head into Saturday with a chance of finishing as high as second or as low as fifth, while further down Lexton and Talbot will both be fighting for a place in the bottom half of the top eight.
This is what lies ahead.
Top four race
2nd Carisbrook - 48 points 343.07%
3rd Natte Bealiba – 48 points 319.59%
4th Harcourt – 48 points 264.04%
5th Navarre – 48 points 218.94%
With Natte Bealiba and Harcourt expected to win their matches against sides out of the race for finals (Campbells Creek and Newstead respectively), all eyes will be turned to the contest between Carisbrook and Navarre.
Navarre has stormed into top four and even premiership contention after a run of ten consecutive victories, including statement wins over Natte Bealiba and Harcourt.
The premiership hopes of either side could rest on the result of this match, with a double chance guaranteed for the victor, while a cut-throat Elimination Final looms for the loser.
Carisbrook got the better of Navarre when the two sides met earlier this season, but with the Grasshoppers welcoming back several key players and, as the form team of the competition, set up the perfect send off for the home-and-away season and launch into finals.
Top eight race
6th Lexton – 32 points 99.92%
7th Maldon – 28 points 102.72%
8th Talbot – 28 points 98.74%
9th Dunolly – 28 points 77.65
Only Lexton’s place inside the top eight is, somewhat, secured heading into the final round.
The Tigers sit four points clear of their opponents and finish their home-and-away season against a winless Maryborough Rovers.
Maldon and Dunolly also face sides outside the eight, with Talbot’s finals hopes resting on overcoming league-leader and minor premier Trentham.
How Trentham, which cannot finish below first on the ladder, manages its squad heading into this final round adds an intriguing subplot to this match, which could determine the fate of several teams.
Talbot has donned the tag of the competition’s ‘blockbuster team’ after its involvement in several thrilling affairs against top opposition.
Do the Hawks have one more left in them with a finals berth on the line?
With eight teams vying for the last seven spots, this round of footy is one not to be missed.