THE run to the Central Highlands Football League finals is starting to heat up.
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And with six home-and-away rounds remaining, there’s any number of twists and turns that could take place before the opening week of playoffs in late August.
As always, there’s the two distinct battles taking place. There’s that of the top eight and that of the top four and a prized double chance.
And both are just as important to the teams involved.
Reigning premier Hepburn has finally jumped into the four following a win over Learmonth on the weekend and will be hard to toss with just two clashes against fellow top-eight sides in the run home.
On form, Gordon looks the logical threat to break into that bracket, sitting just a percentage behind, while the Lakies appear the only other possibility, despite a run of three losses in four games.
Gordon will take heart from the fact that it has just two fixtures against top-eight sides, while undefeated Bungaree (three top-eight opponents), Buninyong (four) and Waubra (three) have tougher games on the horizon and could make way for the high-flying Eagles.
The battle for finals places at the lower end of the eight sees out-of-form pair Springbank and Daylesford hanging on by four points ahead of a chasing bunch headed by Ballan and Carngham-Linton.
The Saints have three games against top-eight sides to come, while the Blues, Tigers and Bulldogs all have two.
Of the bottom end teams, most are simply playing for pride.