General News
12 August, 2021
Mininera and District Football Netball League to play on
MININERA and District league clubs are set to play one more home and away round before jumping into its finals series.
MININERA and District league clubs are set to play one more home and away round before jumping into its finals series.
The league, which has been given the all clear to resume on Saturday, will return with its previously fixtured round 11 matches.
Those matches were due to be played last weekend before Victoria entered lockdown.
Chairman John Box said this weekend’s games would complete a 11 round home and away season, five less than the previously scheduled 16 rounds.
“It will mean everyone plays each other once,” he said.
“If we get this round done, which it looks like we will, then hopefully we can go onto our finals.
“We have a board meeting on Tuesday night to discuss venues and work out whether we’ll have crowds or not.”
Box said the return of football and netball was good for the league, adding the board wanted to stick with its original plans of starting finals on August 21.
“Hopefully we can get the finals through,” he said.
“It’s week-to-week with these lockdowns, they can do them overnight which leaves you a bit unsure but I’ll be happy if we can get them underway.
“We can go a bit longer if we need to, we have a week to spare so we can go a week longer if we need that but at this stage we’re sticking to our dates.”
Box said the league was also currently sticking with its top five finals structure, adding he did not expect that to change.
That decision is likely to see Glenthompson Dunkeld (fourth), Ararat Eagles (fifth) and Lismore Derrinallum (sixth) battle it out for the last remaining finals berth.
The Demons have the tougher ask of the three given they play third-placed Great Western, while the Rams take on Wickliffe-Lake Bolac (11th) and the Eagles face SMW Rovers (ninth).
Lismore Derrinallum could reach fourth if it defeats the Lions, the Magpies upset Glenthompson Dunkeld and the Eagles fall to the Bulldogs, while it could finish fifth if it wins and the Eagles were to lose.
At the top the table, Woorndoo Mortlake and Tatyoon will battle it out for the minor premiership.
Both sides are undefeated, with the contest set to be a potential grand final match-up.
On the netball courts, a Woorndoo Mortlake victory will assure the Tigers of top spot.
A loss to fourth-placed Hawks and victory to the second-placed Lions would see them lose top spot, while the Hawks and Penshurst will battle it out for the vital double chance.
Great Western and Wickliffe-Lake Bolac are fighting it out for fifth position, with the Lions two points clear ahead of the Magpies.