Heading into the round six weekend with only percentage separating them, the trio remain in a tight chasing pack at the top, all improving to 4-1, however, it is the Eagles that continue to soar after cruising to a mammoth victory in a grand final rematch.
Of the chasers, though, it was Rushworth that impressed the most on Saturday, hosting another finals aspirant in Avenel at Ironbark Stadium.
The Swans, fresh off breaking their longstanding A-grade finals drought in 2025, have been looking to take the next step in 2026, however, the Tigers showed the gulf in class between the top four and the rest, storming to a 63-31 win at home.
It is a much-needed percentage booster for the Tigers, with their percentage now sitting at 137.06, although they remain some way behind both Lancaster and Nagambie in that department.
While they stack up offensively, having scored a similar number of goals to those around them on the ladder, the Tigers’ defence has let them down, conceding 170 goals in five games compared to Lancaster’s 143 and Nagambie’s 144, which could prove the difference between finishing fourth or second.
Meanwhile, Avenel finds itself in eighth following the loss with a 2-3 record, although it will look to rebound this weekend against 12th placed Stanhope.
Lancaster was also impressive in round six, scoring a 50-27 win over Murchison-Toolamba to occupy second spot on the ladder.
The Wombats have made a remarkable return to contention, having missed finals last season despite a runner-up finish in 2024, and they look set to once again make a deep run in September.
Nagambie, too, look to be there or thereabouts, having notched a fourth win under new coach Ashley Chapman at the weekend to sit third through six rounds.
The Lakers comfortably dispatched Merrigum with a 45-25 victory to sit exactly half a per cent behind the Wombats on the ladder.
Bu the chasing pack still failed to gain any ground whatsoever on the seemingly invincible Eagles, who added yet another win to their ever-growing streak at the weekend.
Travelling to Girgarre Recreation Reserve to face the Roos in a grand final rematch, Shepp East decimated the 2025 runners-up to further prove their premiership credentials for season 2026.
The Eagles claimed a huge 65-21 over a Girgarre side that has undergone a host of changes on the court this year, as they sit a game and a considerable chunk of percentage clear of the second-placed Wombats at the top of the ladder.
Elsewhere, Violet Town cruised to a 46-24 victory over a winless Undera to slot into fifth on the ladder with a 3-2 record, proving to be the early season surprise packet having missed finals in 2025, while Stanhope edged out Longwood 33-30 to notch its first win of the season.
