The Blues face top-of-the-table Cobram at Tongala Recreation Reserve on Saturday, the only team they haven’t beaten this season.
After winning its first seven games of the season, Tongala lost to Cobram, Congupna and Nathalia from rounds eight to 10.
Earlier in the season the Blues had beaten both Congupna and Nathalia.
Since round 11 the Blues have not lost a match, although the Round 15 one-point win against Moama was a close call for the early season premiership favorite.
With only two rounds of home-and-away competition remaining, Cobram, even if it cannot overcome Tongala on Saturday, looks almost certain to finish on top.
The Tigers are a game, and significant percentage, clear of Mulwala and Tongala (both with 13 wins). Cobram faces sixth-ranked Deniliquin Rams in the final home-and-away round.
Tongala has an appointment with third-from-bottom Finley, needing a minor miracle to replace Mulwala in second place.
Mulwala has a 10 percentage points better percentage than the Blues and in its final two weeks is drawn to play Finley (10th) and Congupna (fifth).
The Lions beat Congupna by 25 points in round three this season.
Cobram beat Tongala by 48 points in round eight, on May 28, kicking eight goals to nothing in the opening term.
After the first break Tongala actually outscored its opponent by two points, Cobram eventually winning 14.9 (93) to Tongala’s 6.9 (45).
It remains Tongala’s lowest score of the season.
Tyron Baden kicked five goals in the match and now has 52 goals from 16 games.
Baden is well known to several of the Blues’ Northern Territory based stars, having been a star with Palmerston Magpies in the NTFL.
Key Blues goalkicker Darren Ewing did not play in the game, nor did AFL recruit Ryan Nyhuis.
Mackenzie Cowley stepped up in his absense to kick three of the Blues’ six goals. He now has 24 goals for the season, behind Ewing (39 goals in five games) and Mackenzie Ryan (29 goals).
• Tongala will finish the season on top of the reserve grade ladder, but the club’s Under 17 team is involved in a battle to play finals.
Tongala (sixth) and Cobram (seventh) are separated by only percentage. Tongala has Finley (fourth) in the final round, to make its task even harder.
Cobram’s task is not much easier, as it is drawn to play fifth-ranked Deni Rams in the final home-and-away round.
At Under 14 level, the Blues are fifth on the ladder, making this weekend’s match with third-ranked Cobram a tough assignment.
FINAL TWO ROUNDS
Murray Football League’s top two teams at the end of the home-and-away season receive a double chance. They will also spend week one of the finals (August 27-28) on the sidelines.
TOP THREE
Cobram 56 points (314.47%)
Mulwala 52 (197.17%)
Tongala 52 (187.66%).
Round 17
Tongala v Cobram, Mulwala v Finley, Moama v Nathalia, Barooga v Congupna, Rumbalara v Echuca United, Deni Rams v Numurkah.
Round 18
Tongala v Finley, Mulwala v Congupna, Cobram v Deni Rams, United v Barooga, Rumbalara v Nathalia, Numurkah v Moama.
Cobram has lost two games this season, by one point to Nathalia in Round 13 and by seven points to Moama in Round 14.
Tongala won its first seven games, lost three games from rounds eight to 10 and has won the past six games.
Mulwala won its first 10 games of the season, then lost three successive games to Cobram, Tongala and Moama.
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