Plenty at stake for GFL’s final round

THREE sides find themselves in the hunt for a double-chance spot in the Geelong Football League (GFL) Finals Series, while two others hope to emerge as minor premiers after Round 18 this weekend.

One round remains before a hotly contested first week of finals starts at West Oval on September 2 and September 3.

St Mary’s (56 points, 173.08 per cent) and Colac (56 points, 156.06 per cent) find themselves a potential win away from a week off and top spot on the ladder, but the Saints are in the driver’s seat with a 17-point percentage advantage.

To earn the minor premiership, Glenn Keast and outgoing co-coach Travis Robertson’s Saints will need to defeat 8th-placed Bell Park (34 points, 104.10 per cent) at Hamlyn Park.

If the Dragons can cause an upset over the two-time reigning premiers, Colac can take top spot on the ladder and earn a Week 1 Finals bye if it defeats Mark Neeld’s South Barwon (48 points, 155.42 per cent) at McDonald Reserve.

Headlining the Round 18 action will be a final-like matchup between Leopold (48 points, 144.03 per cent) and Newtown & Chilwell (48 points, 170.22 per cent).

A win for either side puts them in contention for a double-chance spot inside the top three, but Newtown’s advantage in percentage makes a top three finish a certainty should it come away with a win over the Lions.

Ron Watt and St Joseph’s (44 points, 107.25 per cent) slide down the GFL standings was compounded by a five-goal loss to Colac last weekend, putting them a win outside the top five with a modest percentage behind Leopold.

It’s almost impossible for Joeys to sneak inside the top five at the final hurdle with a win over Geelong West (36 points, 109.14 per cent) in Round 18, meaning St Joseph’s will fall one spot lower than it did in 2022 and miss out on September action altogether.

While St Albans (eight points, 33.84 per cent) were comprehensively beaten by Leopold in Round 17 to end its two-game winning run, the Supersaints can carry momentum into 2024 with a potential win over Grovedale (16 points, 77.65 per cent).

North Shore (six points, 48.07 per cent) hopes to avoid the wooden spoon with a win over Lara (eight points, 59.76 per cent) at Windsor Park.

Likely finals week one matchups:
Bye – St Mary’s
Qualifying Final – Colac v Newtown & Chilwell
Elimination Final – South Barwon v Leopold