ERWFL PREVIEW

By Alyce Collett

This weekend sees the penultimate round of the Eastern Region Women’s Competition, with some potentially season defining matches coming up for fans to enjoy.

Premier Division

Mt Evelyn vs Donvale

This weekend is massive for Mt Evelyn. They are currently 4^th and are playing the fifth placed Donvale Magpies, and only percentage is separating the two sides at the moment.

Mt Evelyn must win both of their remaining matches if they’re to absolutely lock up a finals spot. They may get away with winning only one of their last two, but that would leave their fate in the hands of others – never a good thing.

Division One

Unlike many of the other Outer East sides, Upwey Tecoma’s Division One side already have their finals place secured, and there are no threats to their place in the finals. 

This leaves these last two games as a chance to fine tune their game ahead of the finals, try new things and to see how far up the ladder they can finish. They are currently only one game behind 2^nd placed South Croydon, and two games behind ladder leaders The Basin. Whilst top spot might be unattainable, top two is definitely on the cards.

Outer East Division

Unlike the other two games in the division this weekend, both sides in this one still have something to play for.

For Thornton – Eildon, finals are on the line. They have to win all of their remaining games to make sure their place in the finals is secured. They could possibly get away with winning only one of their last two, but then results would have to go their way and like Mount Evelyn in the Premier Division, that scenario is an undesirable one.

For Yarra Junction, if they win this game, not only will their place in the finals be secured, their hold on third place will also be secured. If they lose, they’ll still be confident of a finals berth, but nervous times will be on the horizon.

Let’s be blunt here, there’s definitely more riding on this result for Belgrave then Monbulk. 

The Magpies have to win, more or less, all of their remaining games to make the finals.
Monbulk on the other hand, they don’t have those worries, so these last few rounds will be  good practice to fine tune any issues in their game ahead of the finals.

This game has probably the least amount riding on it in terms of the end of the season. 

Yes Upwey Tecoma have the slightest mathematical chance of making finals, but if they lose, which considering they are playing Healesville is very likely, and either Belgrave or Thornton-Eildon win, their season is over.

For Healesville, they haven’t lost a game all year and haven’t really looked like losing, so for them these last few rounds will be about making sure they don’t allow any wobbles to creep into their game.