Brookers' forward Andrew Dear hit the inside of the goal post from 40 metres out at a tight angle with just 33 seconds left in the game.

In a high-pressure encounter in cold and wet conditions, the result was not only a fair one but also beneficial for both teams' top six positioning.

Osborne, who went into the game without Duncan McMaster, also lost Hayden Gleeson (cut leg) and Sam Livingstone (concussion) in a tough encounter.

Holbrook, missing Josh Jones, Brendan Dess and Duncan Trethowan, came from 25 points down in the second quarter in a gutsy performance.

Both sides coaches Matthew Sharp and Matt Rava were superb, while Will Holmes for Holbrook and Kodie O'Malley starred in freezing weather.

Henty's finals hopes are on a tightrope after they were heavily beaten by Brock Burrum Saints at Brocklesby by 71 points.

After a tight first quarter, the Saints after some indifferent form of late really clicked into gear to deal the Swampies a big defeat.

Wilson Mack with five goals and a four-goal cameo from Adam I'Anson, who has played seconds all season, was pivotal for the home side.

Stoic defender Jeremy Luff again proved his value, keeping star Henty forward Damian Cupido to just one goal.

Luff also shut Cupido down in last year's second semi-final.

Jimmy Ellis and Tyson Muller tried hard for Henty, who now must win its last two games and hope Holbrook lose one for it to play finals.

Billabong Crows have just about locked away a finals appearance for the first time after they outmuscled and pressured the Giants at Walla.

The Crows withstood a second-half comeback to win by 21 points, with Logan Kerr best on ground just ahead of Cameron Sandral and Bronson Schofield.

The loss for the Rand-Walbundrie-Walla Giants has put them under some pressure, with a loss likely this week against the Saints and then a must-win final round clash with Jindera.

Billabong Crows have matches against Holbrook and Henty but with a 20 per cent break and two games on teams outside the six should be safe.

Nick Kohlhagen, Rhys Dempsey and Jack Duck were best for the Giants who never recovered from a slow start and physical Crows' approach.

Adam Prior booted 10 goals to pilot Culcairn to an easy 70-point win over Jindera at Jindera.

Prior with 72 goals is now just three behind Cupido.

The Lions blew Jindera off the park in a brilliant first quarter, kicking 7-5 to nothing as the Lions' midfield ran riot.

Dane Hallinan and brother Tim led the way, with Riley Knobel doing well in the ruck. Prior has now kicked 18 goals in the last two rounds.

Jindera, after playing in the previous three Hume grand finals, were simply outclassed and are limping to the end of their season with just three wins.

The Lions are, however, unlikely to finish with a double chance so will start planning and managing players ahead of its elimination final on August 31.

CDHBU pulled off its best win for the season when they put an end to Lockhart's finals chances, winning by eight points at Coreen.

After trailing by 21 points early in the last term, Lockhart came back to get within two points with four minutes remaining.

However, a goal from Power's Josh Tidd two minutes later put the game beyond the Demons who have matches against Osborne and Culcairn to finish.

The win for Power has seen it jump ahead of Jindera and they now have a chance to upset two finals contenders' season in Henty and Holbrook.

Howlong has kept alive its faint finals hope by crushing Murray Magpies by 134 points at Howlong and boosting its percentage.

Nick Sharp, with seven goals, and Baxter MacFarlane, five goals, led the charge, with Steve Jolliffe racking up over 40 possessions in midfield. Howlong should beat Jindera this week but would then have to defeat Brock Burrum in round 18 to play finals.

THIS WEEK

CDHBU vs Henty, Howlong vs Jindera, Lockhart vs Osborne, Billabong Crows vs Holbrook, Murray Magpies vs Culcairn and Rand-Walbundrie-Walla vs Brock/Burrum Saints.