at Waubra, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Waubra 19.15 (129) d Gordon 10.8 (68), round 5, 2017

Gordon will be down a couple of key big men for Saturday’s difficult trip to Waubra.

Forward Cam Richardson suffered a bad ankle injury in the impressive victory against Central Highlands Football League reigning premiers Hepburn, while Angus Watts sustained a serious cut to the back of the head in that fixture.

Richardson was cleared of a break but has ligament damage and Eagles coach Ron Watt has guessed at a six-week spell for the former North Melbourne footballer.

Watt said Watts would be given the week off to allow the head wound to heal, as well as clear up some other injury concerns.

Waubra has been buoyed by news that classy backman Matt Dawson has been selected to make his return from an ankle injury sustained in the early part of round one.

Forward Austin Murphy has also been named to play his first game of the season following a nasty hamstring tear during a pre-season practice game.

But in a blow for the Roos, goal-kicker Jarred Crabtree and midfielder Nathan Patrikeos are both unavailable for this weekend’s clash, while defender Darcy Jenkins is likely to miss with a hamstring issue.

Crabtree has been a good find for Waubra since arriving from Skipton during the off-season with 12 goals from the opening four rounds.

Prediction: Waubra

Springbank v Dunnstown

at Wallace, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Springbank 14.13 (97) d Dunnstown 5.7 (37), round 5, 2017

Key forward Peter McGettigan has returned to give Dunnstown a huge boost ahead of a big round five clash with Springbank.

McGettigan, who represented the Central Highlands Football League in his second season in the competition in 2016, has been cleared back to the club from Mornington.

In that year, he booted 49 goals from 17 matches.

McGettigan is set to play for the remainder of the Dunnstown campaign, which has started in solid fashion.

The Towners are 2-2 after beating Ballan last weekend, which is much better than their 0-4 start in 2017. Dunnstown lost its opening eight games last season before winning the next eight to miss finals on percentage.

Key defender Tom Botter suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in that clash against Ballan and will miss the remainder of the season.

Springbank is the only unbeaten team in the league after four rounds and gets back a few key players from the undermanned side that defeated Clunes on Saturday.

Billy Driscoll, Ben Beasley and Brock Freeman are among those inclusions, but important duo Michael Searl (knee) and Sam Cue (hamstring) will miss because of injury.

After this game, the Tigers have a bye followed by the AFL Victoria Community Championships break.

Prediction: Springbank

Creswick v Newlyn

at Creswick, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Newlyn 8.6 (54) d Creswick 6.14 (50), round 5, 2017

Newlyn has had a habit of sneaking over the line against its arch rivals Creswick in recent seasons and will be shooting for a fourth-straight triumph when the two meet again this Saturday.

The Wickers have not beaten the Cats since 2014, with the past three defeats coming by 12 points or less.

Last year, Newlyn snuck home by four points on the back of a late 50m penalty and Liam McGregor goal.

The Cats will head to Creswick this weekend on the back of some good form, which has seen the side win its past three matches against Waubra, Rokewood-Corindhap and Skipton.

And the side gets a boost in defence for this round five encounter with the selection of Wes Carter for his first senior game of the year.

Carter, the senior vice-captain, has been battling illness, but returned to the field in the reserves on Saturday.

The key out for the Cats is onballer Dylan McLachlan, who has returned to Darwin and is expected to miss a few weeks.

Creswick suffered its first loss of the Central Highlands Football League on Saturday against Learmonth, a performance which drew plenty of criticism from coach Ryan Knowles.

The selectors have made four changes to the line-up, with Mitch Gervasoni, Josh Mitchell, Brad Jennings and Callagun Mann the ins.

Prediction: Newlyn

Beaufort v Ballan

at Beaufort, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Beaufort 11.10 (76) d Ballan 5.3 (33), round 5, 2017

Beaufort: The Crows are fronting from their first defeat of the season and will return to home soil this weekend.

Coach Rohan Brown said key onballer/forward Jarrod McCorkell would miss this contest after pulling up with a groin issue in the loss to Buninyong.

Ballan: The Blues have been competitive, but are still awaiting their first win of the season after losing to Dunnstown at the weekend.

Coach Jason McNamara is hoping to inject some attacking flair into the side by calling up Chris Sharp from the reserves for this clash.

Prediction: Beaufort

Carngham-Linton v Learmonth

at Linton, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Learmonth 26.12 (168) d Carngham-Linton 5.3 (33), round 5, 2017

Carngham-Linton: The Saints are fresh up from the bye, which came on the back of their first win of the season in round three.

Experienced onballer/forward Jake Pring is unavailable for round five, while the versatile Justin O'Brien looks a chance to return from a hamstring injury.

Learmonth: The Lakies are ticking along nicely and should be able to extend their winning run to four matches this weekend.

The side proved too good for Creswick last Saturday, adding to recent wins over Skipton and Rokewood-Corindhap.

Prediction: Learmonth

Rokewood-Corindhap v Bungaree

at Rokewood, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Bungaree 10.14 (74) d Rokewood-Corindhap 4.5 (29), round 5, 2017

Rokewood-Corindhap: The Grasshoppers are fresh from their first ever win over Daylesford, which opened their account for season 2018.

And the club will be looking to land another first against Bungaree, which it has never beaten since joining the CHFL in 2011.

Bungaree: There's a stack of outs for the Demons this weekend, highlighted by Luke Mirtschin, Jake Trevenen and Chris Cowan.

Senior coach Heath Pyke said Mirtschin would miss with a hamstring strain, Cowan with a back issue and Trevenen because of a broken hand.

Prediction: Rokewood-Corindhap

Skipton v Daylesford

at Skipton, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Daylesford 19.16 (130) d Skipton 9.8 (62), round 5, 2017

Skipton: Onballers Kal Dubbeldam (unavailable) and Mark Hoare (concussion) are set to miss the Emus' clash with Daylesford, but a new face is ready to debut for the club this weekend.

South Barwon recruit Josh Hasson has arrived at Skipton and will come straight into the senior side. He is expected to play forward and in the midfield.

Daylesford: Bulldogs coach Zac Tisdale is still trying to land his first win of the year and looks as though he will be without star onballer Joel Cowan for this encounter.

Tisdale said Cowan, runner-up in the league best and fairest last year, hurt an ankle in last Saturday's loss to Rokewood-Corindhap and looked unlikely to take on Skipton.

Prediction: Daylesford

Hepburn v Buninyong

at Hepburn, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Hepburn 8.12 (60) d Buninyong 6.9 (45), preliminary final, 2017

Hepburn: Burras champion Andy McKay hurt a hamstring in the team's first loss of the season at Gordon last Saturday and looks unlikely to tackle Buninyong this weekend.

That result was the first time the Burras had been beaten since way back in round three of the 2017 season when they went down to Bungaree.

Buninyong: The Bombers landed an impressive, albeit narrow victory over premiership favourites Beaufort last Saturday, but face one of the toughest trips in the competition.

Buninyong will be looking to exact some revenge on the Burras, which beat it twice in 2017, including in the preliminary final.

Prediction: Buninyong