Division 1 - Run to Finals
The finals race is heating up in Division 1 and there's plenty of mouth-watering games leading into the finals, so we've taken the time to take at the last four rounds of the Southern Football Netball League and predicted the run home and what it could look like.
CHELTENHAM:
Current Ladder Position: 1st
Predicted Ladder Position after Round 18: 1st
THE RUN HOME:
Mordialloc (H)
Springvale Districts (H)
East Brighton (A)
Port Melbourne Colts (A)
The Rosellas have their injury concerns, however the depth they have at the club should see them continue on their merry way and finish the year with an undefeated season. They do play finals contenders in Springvale Districts and East Brighton in their run home, but having accounted for them with somewhat ease earlier in the year, they should finish the season undefeated at the top of the ladder.
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ST PAUL'S MCKINNON
Current Ladder Position: 2nd
Predicted Ladder Position after Round 18: 2nd
THE RUN HOME:
Port Melbourne Colts (A)
East Brighton (H)
Springvale Districts (A)
Dingley (A)
Much like their rivals, Cheltenham sitting at the top of the ladder, the Dogs have their injury concerns leading into the finals, however we're confident that they will be able to finish off the season strong and win their remaining three of their four games against other finals competitors, with them potentially dropping the final game against Dingley @ Dingley. Three trips away from their home ground may make things challenging but the Dogs have proven many wrong this season and they'll continue to defy the odds ahead of what promises to be a strong finals campaign. Their could be the potential of back to back games against Dingley as our final ladder predicts that the Dogs and Dingoes will finish in 2nd & 3rd respectively.
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DINGLEY
Current Ladder Position: 3rd
Predicted Ladder Position after Round 18: 3rd
THE RUN HOME:
Bentleigh (A)
Port Melbourne Colts (H)
Mordialloc (A)
St Paul's McKinnon (H)
With all do respect to their opponents, the Dingoes potentially have the easiest run into the finals fixture, with our predictions suggesting that they should be winning the next three games before a 50/50 game against the Dogs of St Paul's at home to close out the season. With this fixture ahead, they will finish inside the top three and earn themselves a double chance heading into September and give themselves every opportunity in the last four weeks to find some really good form and primed for finals action.
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SPRINGVALE DISTRICTS
Current Ladder Position: 4th
Predicted Ladder Position after Round 18: 5th
THE RUN HOME:
Chelsea Heights (H)
Cheltenham (A)
St Paul's McKinnon (H)
Cranbourne (A)
As we mentioned above regarding the Dingoes probably having the easiest run into the finals, Springvale Districts could have the hardest. They should account for Chelsea Heights this weekend at home, but they then run into the top two and last year's Grand Finallists who got their measure earlier in the year by 19 points. The Districts are more than capable of winning every game leading into the finals and may be able to spring a surprise in their last three games, but unfortunately we have them just winning one of the last four and finishing in 5th spot. Another case of potential back-to-back games against Cranbourne with our ladder predictor seeing them face off in the Elimination Final
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EAST BRIGHTON
Current Ladder Position: 5th
Predicted Ladder Position after Round 18: 6th
THE RUN HOME:
Cranbourne (H)
St Paul's McKinnon (A)
Cheltenham (H)
Chelsea Heights (A)
The Vampires have had a terrific season back in Division 1 after earning promotion last year, however a tough run home may see them slip out of the top five and finish in 6th. This weekend's game against Cranbourne is absolutely vital and if they can get that win, it would put them eight points clear of the Eagles, however a loss will see them draw level. A genuine eight point game for the Vampires against the Eagles this weekend at home. They then run into the top two with one at home and one away before an away trip to Chelsea Heights that they should be winning to finish off the year. We have tipped Cranbourne this weekend however if they can win that game, they could finish on 40 points and equal with Springvale Districts and it would all come down to percentage.
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CRANBOURNE
Current Ladder Position: 6th
Predicted Ladder Position after Round 18: 4th
THE RUN HOME:
East Brighton (A)
Bentleigh (H)
Chelsea Heights (A)
Springvale Districts (H)
We're not prepared to write off a team that's featured in the last two Grand Finals, including winning one, and not to hurt too many Eagles members, probably should have won last year's as well. In saying all that, this proud club is exactly that, too proud to rule out their year just yet. This weekend's game against East Brighton, as mentioned, is the typical eight point game. If the Vampires get up, it puts the Eagles two games outside of the top five and really up against making a finals appearance, however a win could catapult their finals push, and the fact that they avoid the top three in the final four rounds, we believe they can get on a run and win the remaining four games of the season and cause some headaches in the finals.
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PORT MELBOURNE COLTS
Current Ladder Position: 7th
Predicted Ladder Position after Round 18: 7th
THE RUN HOME:
St Paul's McKinnon (H)
Dingley (A)
Bentleigh (A)
Cheltenham (H)
Finals is still mathmatically a chance for the Colts, who have unfortunately a disappointing season after bowing out in the preliminary final last year, and with the top three in their run home, they would unfortunately need a minor miracle for them to again feature in finals action. And while their draw is tough, we wouldn't be all that surprised to see the Colts pull a few rabbits out of the hat and cause some headaches leading into the finals, however on form this season, unfortunately the Colts attempt to reach September action, may be just too far out of their reach.
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PREDICTED LADDER FINISH AFTER ROUND 18
1. Cheltenham - 70 points
2. St Paul's McKinnon - 62 points
3. Dingley - 60 points
4. Cranbourne - 42 points
5. Springvale Districts - 40 points
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6. East Brighton - 34 points
7. Port Melbourne Colts - 28 points
FINALS WEEK 1:
Qualifying Final - St Paul's McKinnon vs Dingley
Elimination Final - Cranbourne vs Springvale Districts
FINALS WEEK 2:
Semi Final #2 - Cheltenham vs Winner of QF
Semi Final #1 - Loser of QF vs Winner of EF
