The situation surrounding resumption of the region's sporting competitions — Picola District Football League included — is beginning to sound like a bad run out in the gentleman’s game.
However, with a green light to play this weekend, the final Picola league round is set to unfold on Saturday with a host of salivating contests to close out the home and away season.
The spotlight turns to Waaia Recreation Reserve, where the Bombers are clearing the decks in the hopes of reversing its grand final loss to Strathmerton in 2019.
Waaia coach Mark Meyland was buoyant going into the last leg and was eager to turn the tables on the league leader.
“The boys are getting excited ahead of finals and this weekend will be a good contest — Strathy are certainly the team to beat,” Meyland said.
“We have few out, so we won’t be going in full strength, but we can’t move up or down on the ladder, so we really have nothing to lose.”
Injuries aside, Meyland can't help but stand back and admire how his side has pressed on in the latter stages of a discontinuous season — 48-goal forward Charlie Burrows especially.
“Over the last six rounds we’ve improved significantly, everyone has played their part right across the board,” he said.
“Charlie puts up such a great contest — he is rarely beaten in the air and, if he is, then he competes just as hard at ground level.”
With the rest of the top eight locked in, gazes now shift to finals as teams housed inside the bracket eye up a dummy run this weekend.
Third-placed Tungamah won’t be pulling any punches against Blighty, the Bears expected to pile on the points against a winless Redeyes.
Katamatite heads to Katunga needing a win to cement a spot in the qualifying finals; the Tigers’ last performance coming a month ago in a heroic one-point triumph over Tungamah.
Elsewhere, Mathoura barely survived a scare against Rennie in round 15 and will need more on-field effervescence when Katandra crosses the border for a seventh versus ninth match-up.
Running through the remaining fixtures, Jerilderie squares off with Picola United as do Rennie and Deniliquin Rovers, while Berrigan, Yarroweyah and Tocumwal have the bye.
More local sport
Longwood and Picola United re-sign senior football coaches for 2022
All four district senior football and netball leagues to resume this weekend
Gallery | Lockdown lifted, lets golf!
14°C