Hume set for intriguing run home
The Hume FL 2010 season will enter its run home to the finals with two thirds of the season having been played out and with no real standout firming as premiership favourite.
The much sort after and vital top two positions are still well and truly up for grabs, as is the final two places in the top six. In all eight teams remain in finals contention. A close look at the top eight sides run home to finals is very interesting indeed and could throw up many possibilities going into round eighteen.
The draw has worked out extremely well with five of the top six teams generally playing against each other in a genuine contest to ort out the final configuration of the six.
HOWLONG - 44 (194.3) - Henty (h), Culcairn (h), Lockhart (a), RWT (a), Osborne (h), Jindera (h).
Their hardest three matches against Culcairn, Jindera and Osborne are all at home, but will find it hard without injured midfielder Ben Nicholson. They also have two testy away games against Tigers and Lockhart to negotiate. Most important result would be winning against Culcairn to keep top two.
CULCAIRN - 44 (165.9) - Crows (h), Howlong (a), RWT (h), Osborne (a), Jindera (a), Lockhart (h).
Culcairn has the worst percentage of the top four and has tough draw with vital matches against Howlong, Osborne and Jindera all away matches. If they were to beat Howlong in round 14, they should cement top two. They could however still finish on top. A loss to Howlong would mean third place most likely.
JINDERA - 40 (225.1) - Magpies (h), Holbrook (a), Osborne (h), Lockhart (a), Culcairn (h), Howlong (a).
Jindera are probably a slight premiership favourite in most pundits’ eyes, with high marking forward set up potent. They have tough finish to season with huge matches against Culcairn and Howlong. Aiming for third grand final in a row. Round 17 game against Culcairn could be grand final preview.
BB SAINTS - 36 (204.8) - RWT (h), Henty (h), Coleambally (a), Holbrook (h), CDHBU (a), Walla (h).
The Saints have a dream run home with only this week’s match against Tigers being against a top six team. If they were to win all six matches they could with other results going their way sneak a top two finish. One point loss to Henty in round one could be costly.
OSBORNE - 32 (142.4) - Coleambally (h), Lockhart (h), Jindera (a), Culcairn (h), Howlong (a), RWT (h).
Osborne should win its next two matches to make it seven in a row; it then gets tough with matches against four teams in the top six. They need to win one of these to ensure finals action, as Henty and Magpies could storm home with a friendlier draw on hand. Final round match at home to Tigers is going to be huge.
RW TIGERS - 32 (138.2) - Saints (a), Walla (h), Culcairn (a), Howlong (h), Lockhart (h), Osborne (a).
The Tigers like Osborne have a tough run home with four matches against top six teams. They like Osborne will be keeping a keen eye on both Henty and Magpies in the run home. As above their final round match at Osborne will be on a knife edge. Handy percentage break on both teams could be pivotal.
HENTY - 28 (128.0) - Howlong (a), Saints (a), Crows (h), Magpies (a), Coleambally (a), Holbrook (h).
The Swampies are the season’s big improvers who may not be done with yet. Next two matches are very tough against Howlong and Saints; however they should win their last four to keep the heat right on Osborne and Tigers if they were to slip up. They must beat Magpies in round 16 to stay alive.
MAGPIES - 28 (111.0) - Jindera (a), Crows (h), Walla (a), Henty (h), Holbrook (a), Coleambally (h).
Looks a big ask from the outside looking in to play finals, but they have a genuine chance to win their last five matches that could be enough to skip ahead of Henty, Tigers and even Osborne. Form over the last month however has diminished greatly.
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