Bungaree, Newlyn and Clunes, who sit 5-5 with 50 per cent of games won, needed to claim two wins before finals and have results fall their way to sneak into the eight.

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With a maximum of one round to play, the highest they can climb to in percentage of games won is 54.55.

The lowest that Springbank (seventh) and Skipton (eighth) can fall to is 58.33, eliminating the chasing pack from contention.

Bungaree coach Ryan Waight told The Courier community sport isn't the be-all and end-all but it's disappointing to lose it when people put a lot of effort into getting a season going.

"It's not just this week, it's probably not just last week, I think the whole year with lockdowns and COVID and everything, it's just probably hurt us all year hasn't it," he said.

"At the end of the day there's bigger things at play here than footy, but just disappointed for the playing group.

"It's easy to get caught in the here and the now but we've been training, like every club, since late last year.

"This is a bit of kick in the guts for the guys that have been working their a** off for the best part of nine months."

Newlyn coach Chris Banwell echoed Waights' comments.

"Very unsatisfied with how the season's finished up. We had a nice win against Learmonth where we probably played some really good footy without some of our upper-end players I suppose you'd say," he said.

"With the next couple of weekends we had off and then a disappointing result and performance against Waubra and then to just not have the opportunity to try and redeem ourselves or really have a crack at the finals ... is probably leaving us feeling a little bit empty to be honest.

"Planets haven't really aligned in the second-half of the season and obviously a couple of disappointing results as well have left us probably in a position where we deserve to be on the ladder."

If round 17 is able to be completed, the final two spots in the top four remain open to changes.

Gordon and Hepburn in first and second respectively are locked in.

Buninyong and Waubra remain a chance of taking Rokewood-Corindhap's and Dunnstown's positions in third and fourth.

The highest percentage of games won the Bombers and Roos can finish the season with is 72.73 per cent.

The lowest percentage of games won the Grasshoppers and Towners can finish with is 66.67 per cent.

A draw for Buninyong and Waubra and a loss to Rokewood-Corindhap and Dunnstown would also cause some changes.

With no draws so far this season apart from Daylesford vs Hepburn in round one due to the game being called off, that scenario remains unlikely.

With a win, Skipton could climb to 66.67 per cent of games won too, however, its poor percentage compared to the sides above it would make it extremely difficult for the Emus to sneak in even if results went their way.

With a significantly lower percentage than Buninyong and Waubra, it seems unlikely that Springbank would climb any higher than it's current spot in seventh even if those sides lose, owing to having the bye in round 17.

Rokewood-Corindhap would host Clunes in round 17 and would go in favourites.

Dunnstown would welcome Carngham-Linton and would also go in favourites.

Considering the tough opponents that Waubra and Buninyong would have, Gordon and Skipton respectively, it would seem unlikely that any changes are made to the top four.

However, as COVID and the CHFL season to date has shown us is that anything is possible and nothing can be counted out.

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