Echuca faces Shepparton in a Goulburn Valley League football qualifying final on Saturday at Moon Oval.
A host of local football-netball sides, across several competitions, will play high-stakes finals encounters on Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30.
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Echuca begins its Goulburn Valley League post-season campaign, with both first-grade Murray Bombers sides up against Shepparton.
Simon Maddox’s football team takes on the Bears in a qualifying final, the winner of which will have the opportunity to play for a grand final spot in its next encounter.
Shepparton enters the match-up as the minor premier, but Echuca was the only side to inflict a loss on its record in the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Murray Bombers and Bears also clash in netball, though the loser of their match-up will be eliminated from premiership contention.
Echuca is favoured having only just finished outside the top two and having posted a much stronger regular season record than Shepparton, though as reigning premier the Bears are unlikely to go down without a fight.
Both Echuca and Shepparton matches will take place at Moon Oval on Saturday, with netball on first at 4pm, followed by the football encounter at 5.30pm.
Meanwhile, three first-grade local sides will be in post-season action in the Murray Football Netball League.
Moama’s netball side has an elimination final against Rumbalara at Tongala Recreation Reserve on Sunday, beginning at 1.30pm.
The two sides are resuming hostilities having played in the final round of the regular season, where Rumba prevailed 51-50.
Moama’s A-grade netball side is set for a do-or-die match-up with Rumbalara in the Murray Netball League.
On Saturday, Tongala’s two teams will be at Moama Recreation Reserve, in elimination encounters.
The Blues’ A-grade netballers — who haven’t lost since June 20 — take on Numurkah at 1.30pm.
While favoured in netball, Tonny’s senior football side is the underdog in a clash with Mulwala at 2.10pm, particularly after a heavy loss at Finley in its final regular season match.
There are no first-grade local sides remaining in the Heathcote District Football Netball League and Picola District Football Netball League finals, though a host of other teams are still vying for glory.
In the HDFNL, Lockington-Bamawm United is represented in each of the lower grade football preliminary finals taking place at Strauch Reserve on Saturday.
The Cats’ under-15s face Heathcote at 8.45am, followed by the under-18s against White Hills at 10.20am and the reserves playing at 12.15pm.
LBU also has two netball preliminary finals to look forward to, with its under-13s and under-17s facing Mount Pleasant at 8.45am.
Finally, lower grade PDNL action will see Picola United’s C-reserve side take on Katandra on Saturday at Berrigan Sportsground, starting at 11.50am.
Mathoura’s under-13s are playing earlier in the day at the same location, facing Jerilderie from 10.25am.
The Timbercutters’ under-15s head to Katandra Recreation Reserve on Sunday, clashing with Tocumwal from 9.15am.
Soccer
A win over bottom-placed La Trobe Unviersity on Sunday should be enough for Echuca-Moama Border Raiders to finish top of the Football Victoria Greater Bendigo Women’s League 2.
It’s the final round of action in the Football Victoria Greater Bendigo Women’s League 2, with Echuca-Moama needing one more win to secure the minor premiership.
The Border Raiders are away from home against La Trobe University on Sunday, with kick-off from 12.30pm.
The side is first on goal difference from Swan Hill, with the second-placed side beginning earlier in the day at home to Castlemaine Goldfields.
Swan Hill will finish top if it betters Echuca-Moama’s result, though the Border Raiders are expected to heavily beat a La Trobe side that is bottom with only one win.
Hockey
Echuca-Moama Hockey Club’s women’s side plays its final regular season match against Shepparton Youth Club on Saturday, with the fixture beginning at 1.15pm.
The result is redundant as the River Rats are already locked into facing Shepparton Strikers in a semi-final.
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