By David Nagel
Barring an absolute miracle, the top-six is locked and loaded for this year’s finals series with starting positions the only question to be answered over the final two rounds of the season.
Inverloch-Kongwak will finish the season minor premiers, and be favourite for this year’s title, but Bunyip, Dalyston and Tooradin-Dalmore are in a bitter battle to see who joins the Sea Eagles in a coveted top-two position.
The most likely scenario is that Bunyip and Dalyston will fight for the double-chance at Dalyston in round 18…but Tooradin could be finishing fast, with a last-round percentage booster against a winless Kooweerup.
The machinations are fascinating, and it might take until the last moments of the season to glean the final outcome.
The only game on the weekend, played between teams in the top six, saw Phillip Island welcome Tooradin-Dalmore to the Cowes Recreation Reserve.
The Seagulls were coming off rare back-to-back losses, but made an early statement on their way to a 67-45 victory.
The Gulls flew out of the blocks, leading 17-10 at the first change, with Alex Duff (GS) and Alex Maher (GA) sharing the goal-scoring beautifully.
Duff was producing party tricks, bouncing a ball off the goal post at one stage to get herself closer to the ring.
The Gulls looked back to their impressive best, with Stacey Sawyer (C), Chloe Crouch (WA) and Ebony Mason (WD) linking well through the midcourt, while Jess Maher (GD) and Ebony Dolan (GK) had control of things in defence.
The Seagulls are not about to hand over the title lying down…and the next month or so is going to be fascinating to watch.
Despite its loss, Phillip Island will still play finals this year with a two-game and percentage gap over Cora Lynn and Korumburra-Bena.
Anthea Bennett (GK) and Lexi Walton (GD) battled hard in defence for the Bulldogs, while Charli Ross (WA) and Ella Duggan (GA) fed Lily Mewett (GS) with some nice passing.
Both teams face tough assignments this week, with Tooradin hosting Nar Nar Goon and the Bulldogs on the road to Bunyip.
Nar Nar Goon has basically ended Korumburra-Bena’s finals hopes with a 51-38 victory at Spencer Street.
The Goon had a dodgy run through rounds 10 to 13, losing three of its four contests, but has bounced back impressively with three wins on the trot.
Is the Goon the real deal?
We’ll find out a lot more about its finals credentials over the next fortnight…with Tooradin and Inverloch on the horizon.
The Giants, who have now won just one of their last five games, have the bye this weekend before a home game against Phillip Island.
Warragul Industrials has banked its first win since round nine with a 57-34 triumph over Kooweerup.
The Dusties bolted out of the gates, leading 18-8 at the first change, and continued their dominance with a 15-8 second term.
Kooweerup fought back well in the third, winning the quarter 12-9, but the Dusties cruised home to victory.
Lara Commadeur (GS) was sensational for the Dusties, slotting 24 first-half goals, while Laurie Meaker (GK), Steph Keeble (GD) and Zali Metcalf (WD) made scoring difficult for the Demons.
As they have done all season, the Demons never gave up until the final buzzer with Logan Dickson (C/WA), Megan Munday (WD) and Jayda McConkey (GA) producing solid four-quarter performances.
Inverloch-Kongwak has extended its winning streak to seven with a commanding 73-22 victory over Garfield.
The Eagles soared high and handsome in the first term, leading 20-4, and extended their lead impressively at each break.
Tayla Robb (GA) was a steady presence for the Sea Eagles, scoring 32 goals, while 31 from Kelly Boyd and 10 from Ella Sadler proved too much for the Stars to handle.
Kelsey Buxton (C) and Garfield’s Chloe Bluhm (C) had a great battle through the midcourt, while Isabel Marsh (WD) and Paris Toner (GS/WA) were other defeated Stars to shine.
And Dalyston remains in top-two calculations after a hard-fought 49-34 victory over a gritty Cora Lynn.
The Magpies proved too strong, but the undermanned Cobras should be really proud of their efforts, and be confident of success on their home court against Kooweerup this week.
The Magpies head to Garfield this week, before a blockbuster final-round home clash against Bunyip.
Bunyip, who had the bye, hosts Phillip Island this Saturday.
WGFNC RESULTS – ROUND 16
A GRADE: Bunyip 20 v Kilcunda-Bass 0, Dalyston 49 v Cora Lynn 34, Inverloch-Kongwak 73 v Garfield 22, Kooweerup 34 v Warragul Industrials 57, Nar Nar Goon 51 v Korumburra-Bena 38, Phillip Island 45 v Tooradin-Dalmore 67.
B GRADE: Bunyip 51 v Kilcunda-Bass 38, Dalyston 40 v Cora Lynn 44, Inverloch-Kongwak 43 v Garfield 33, Kooweerup 49 v Warragul Industrials 23, Nar Nar Goon 61 v Korumburra-Bena 23, Phillip Island 32 v Tooradin-Dalmore 56.
C GRADE: Bunyip 58 v Kilcunda-Bass 10, Dalyston 24 v Cora Lynn 37, Inverloch-Kongwak 54 v Garfield 29, Kooweerup 35 v Warragul Industrials 15, Nar Nar Goon 41 v Korumburra-Bena 23, Phillip Island 40 v Tooradin-Dalmore 32.
D GRADE: Bunyip 43 v Kilcunda-Bass 20, Dalyston 59 v Cora Lynn 28, Inverloch-Kongwak 39 v Garfield 16, Phillip Island 14 v Tooradin-Dalmore 42.
17 UNDER: Bunyip 42 v Kilcunda-Bass 18, Dalyston 46 v Cora Lynn 13, Inverloch-Kongwak 68 v Garfield 12, Kooweerup 35 v Warragul Industrials 18, Nar Nar Goon 10 v Korumburra-Bena 57, Phillip Island 52 v Tooradin-Dalmore 27.
15 UNDER: Bunyip 27 v Kilcunda-Bass 20, Dalyston 20 v Cora Lynn 0, Inverloch-Kongwak 20 v Garfield 0, Kooweerup 40 v Warragul Industrials 23, Nar Nar Goon 24 v Korumburra-Bena 31, Phillip Island 34 v Tooradin-Dalmore 16.
13 UNDER: Bunyip 13 v Kilcunda-Bass 4, Dalyston 9 v Cora Lynn 36, Inverloch-Kongwak 33 v Garfield 11, Kooweerup 25 v Warragul Industrials 9, Nar Nar Goon 43 v Korumburra-Bena 12, Phillip Island 28 v Tooradin-Dalmore 16.
11 UNDER: Bunyip 5 v Kilcunda-Bass 17, Dalyston 10 v Cora Lynn 3, Inverloch-Kongwak 25 v Garfield 1, Phillip Island 14 v Tooradin-Dalmore 24.
WGFNC NETBALL LADDERS – ROUND 16
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch-Kongwak 15 1 0 809 369 219.24 60
Bunyip 13 3 0 838 472 177.54 52
Dalyston 13 3 0 644 458 140.61 52
Tooradin-Dalmore 13 3 0 710 547 129.80 52
Nar Nar Goon 12 4 0 737 575 128.17 48
Phillip Island 8 8 0 762 664 114.76 32
Cora Lynn 6 10 0 568 585 97.09 24
Korumburra Bena 6 10 0 557 623 89.41 24
Garfield 5 11 0 558 706 79.04 20
Warragul Industrials 4 12 0 578 909 63.59 16
Koo Wee Rup 1 15 0 372 905 41.10 4
Kilcunda Bass 0 16 0 0 320 0.00 0
B GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Tooradin-Dalmore 15 1 0 932 566 164.66 60
Bunyip 13 3 0 832 509 163.46 52
Phillip Island 13 3 0 816 630 129.52 52
Nar Nar Goon 12 4 0 837 483 173.29 48
Inverloch-Kongwak 11 4 1 729 531 137.29 46
Dalyston 9 7 0 775 687 112.81 36
Kilcunda Bass 5 10 1 673 711 94.66 22
Garfield 5 10 1 568 741 76.65 22
Cora Lynn 4 11 1 553 784 70.54 18
Koo Wee Rup 4 11 1 494 709 69.68 18
Korumburra Bena 2 13 1 500 763 65.53 10
Warragul Industrials 0 16 0 456 1051 43.39 0
C GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Bunyip 16 0 0 730 231 316.02 64
Dalyston 13 3 0 587 373 157.37 52
Inverloch-Kongwak 12 3 1 665 325 204.62 50
Nar Nar Goon 11 4 1 500 353 141.64 46
Garfield 11 5 0 558 410 136.10 44
Cora Lynn 9 6 1 469 435 107.82 38
Phillip Island 8 8 0 469 450 104.22 32
Koo Wee Rup 5 11 0 334 473 70.61 20
Tooradin-Dalmore 4 11 1 359 468 76.71 18
Korumburra Bena 3 13 0 354 548 64.60 12
Kilcunda Bass 2 14 0 287 673 42.64 8
Warragul Industrials 0 16 0 241 814 29.61 0
D GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch-Kongwak 13 0 0 549 241 227.80 52
Dalyston 11 2 0 564 262 215.27 44
Bunyip 11 2 0 537 254 211.42 44
Nar Nar Goon 9 3 0 454 237 191.56 36
Kilcunda Bass 6 8 0 391 416 93.99 24
Tooradin-Dalmore 5 8 0 333 444 75.00 20
Garfield 3 10 0 300 445 67.42 12
Cora Lynn 3 11 0 303 485 62.47 12
Phillip Island 2 11 0 257 551 46.64 8
Koo Wee Rup 2 10 0 204 517 39.46 8
Korumburra Bena 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
Warragul Industrials 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
17 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Dalyston 16 0 0 780 290 268.97 64
Korumburra Bena 15 1 0 633 292 216.78 60
Phillip Island 13 3 0 791 409 193.40 52
Inverloch-Kongwak 12 4 0 673 368 182.88 48
Bunyip 8 8 0 493 464 106.25 32
Tooradin-Dalmore 8 8 0 510 489 104.29 32
Cora Lynn 8 8 0 444 462 96.10 32
Koo Wee Rup 7 9 0 398 442 90.05 28
Nar Nar Goon 4 12 0 398 567 70.19 16
Kilcunda Bass 3 13 0 369 616 59.90 12
Warragul Industrials 2 14 0 283 724 39.09 8
Garfield 0 16 0 159 808 19.68 0
15 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Phillip Island 15 1 0 551 254 216.93 60
Inverloch-Kongwak 15 1 0 437 208 210.10 60
Korumburra Bena 13 3 0 462 311 148.55 52
Bunyip 11 4 1 423 284 148.94 46
Dalyston 10 6 0 331 323 102.48 40
Nar Nar Goon 8 7 1 384 351 109.40 34
Koo Wee Rup 7 9 0 346 361 95.84 28
Kilcunda Bass 6 10 0 282 378 74.60 24
Tooradin-Dalmore 4 12 0 293 382 76.70 16
Warragul Industrials 3 13 0 310 497 62.37 12
Cora Lynn 3 13 0 232 382 60.73 12
Garfield 0 16 0 0 320 0.00 0
13 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Phillip Island 15 1 0 577 180 320.56 60
Koo Wee Rup 14 2 0 495 216 229.17 56
Nar Nar Goon 13 3 0 478 215 222.33 52
Cora Lynn 12 3 1 397 185 214.59 50
Warragul Industrials 10 6 0 359 271 132.47 40
Tooradin-Dalmore 9 6 1 288 196 146.94 38
Inverloch-Kongwak 8 8 0 269 250 107.60 32
Korumburra Bena 5 9 2 249 287 86.76 24
Garfield 3 13 0 189 412 45.87 12
Dalyston 3 13 0 86 405 21.23 12
Kilcunda Bass 1 15 0 106 474 22.36 4
Bunyip 1 15 0 87 489 17.79 4
11 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 12 0 0 351 34 1032.3 48
Inverloch-Kongwak 12 1 0 275 63 436.51 48
Tooradin-Dalmore 10 3 0 169 97 174.23 40
Dalyston 9 4 0 139 84 165.48 36
Phillip Island 6 6 1 152 184 82.61 26
Kilcunda Bass 5 8 1 110 199 55.28 22
Cora Lynn 4 9 1 103 186 55.38 18
Koo Wee Rup 3 8 1 71 145 48.97 14
Bunyip 1 12 0 76 250 30.40 4
Garfield 1 12 0 36 220 16.36 4
Korumburra Bena 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
Warragul Industrials 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0