The Tigers are as close to being a certain starter in the first GVL finals series since 2019 as there could be, having registered 10 wins, and with a healthy percentage.
Wins in the final two weeks of the qualifying component of the season will allow them to climb one rung higher on the ladder, to fourth, meaning an elimination final appointment with Mooroopna in the opening week of the finals.
The two teams will have vastly different preparations, the Cats facing two of the top three teams, while the Tigers face teams outside the six.
This weekend the Tigers face Shepparton Swans, who they beat in round six by 38 points in the middle of five-game winning streak, before confronting Shepparton in the final round of the season.
They beat the Bears by 49 points in round seven. Neither the Swans or Bears are any chance of competing in finals, with only an unlikely catastrophic series of events stopping the Tigers from competing in the post-season.
Rochester is currently fifth on the ladder, ahead of sixth-ranked Kyabram on percentage. The teams are a game clear of seventh-ranked Seymour, the only other possible 2022 finalist.
Seymour faces third-from-the-bottom side Tatura and dead last Shepparton United in the final two rounds of the season. Kyabram has second-ranked Mansfield and Shepparton Swans.
It is likely to come down to percentage between Kyabram and Seymour for who qualifies for the last spot in the finals. The Bombers are 17 per cent, and one game, clear of Seymour.
Seymour could, however, make up that difference with two big wins. United has lost four of its last five games by 90 plus points, while three of Tatura’s last five games have gone the same way.
Rochester could still finish fourth on the ladder as Mooroopna (third and one win ahead of Rochester) faces Euroa and Echuca in the final two home-and-away rounds.
It is unlikely to make any difference to its round one finals opponent, which will be Mooroopna as long as it can win both its final two home-and-away matches.
The teams have met just once this season, in round 12 when the Tigers managed just five majors and were beaten by 56 points.
Key defender Hamish Hooppell was missing, as were all three of the Atley brothers, Shaun, Jacob and Joe.
And Hugh Hamilton, who kicked seven goals form the midfield last week, hadn’t played a game with the Tigers to that stage of the season.
Echuca’s status as the premiership favourite is unquestioned, its only hiccup coming in round one when it had its win against Rochester, by 50 plus points on the scoreboard, cancelled due to an administrative error.
It has won all of its remaining 15 games and will play Mansfield in a week one qualifying final.
Euroa, currently third and with at least one win (against Benalla) in the bag from the final two home-and-away weeks, will face either Seymour or Kyabram in the second elimination final.
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