On the recent form of the Roos this looks a very gettable opportunity for the Magpies to win their second game of the season as they come up against a Kangaroo Flat side that has lost seven on the trot – the past three by 146, 118 and 124 points.

It should at least be a lot more competitive than their round four meeting when the Roos thumped the Magpies by 133 points.

Last time: Kangaroo Flat 25.14 (164) d Maryborough 4.7 (31).

KYNETON (7-4-1) v SANDHURST (7-4-1) - 2.20pm Saturday at Kyneton.

Two of the past three meetings between these two sides have produced a draw and kick-after-the-siren win to the Tigers.

The stage is set for another epic, with both sides on 30 points and the Tigers keeping the Dragons out of the top five by 1.57 per cent. 

Tigers’ star Ben Weightman is in red-hot form with 23 goals in his past two games, prompting his coach Luke Beattie to label him country Victoria’s best small forward.

Last time: Sandhurst 13.18 (96) dr Kyneton 14.12 (96).

GOLDEN SQUARE (10-2) v EAGLEHAWK (10-2) - 2.20pm Saturday at Golden Square.

Top-of-the-ladder clash between two of the BFNL’s big clubs who each have 10-2 records and carry into the game combined winning streaks of 15.

The Bulldogs have won their past eight games to take hold of top spot, while the second-placed Hawks have won seven in a row.

Golden Square hasn’t lost since suffering an eight-point defeat to the Hawks in round four and will confront a much more potent Eaglehawk side than they did earlier in the season. 

After averaging just 70 points per game over their first six matches, the Hawks have since averaged 140 in their past six.

Last time: Eaglehawk 9.12 (66) d Golden Square 8.10 (58).

SOUTH BENDIGO (8-4) v CASTLEMAINE (1-11) - 2.20pm Saturday at QEO.

Opportunity for the young Castlemaine players to experience where the big games are played in September against a finals contender in the Bloods, who may well have found an unlikely answer to their need for a key forward in Brad Wright, who booted seven goals against Maryborough last week.

Last time: South Bendigo 19.18 (132) d Castlemaine 6.11 (47).

STRATHFIELDSAYE (9-3) v GISBORNE (4-8) - 2.20pm Saturday at Strathfieldsaye.

A fortnight ago the Storm were touted as the team to beat – sitting a game clear in top spot and having just beaten Sandhurst to win their eighth in a row.

Two weeks on the Storm have lost back-to-back games to Golden Square and Eaglehawk by a combined 91 points ahead of a clash against the Bulldogs, who pushed Strathfieldsaye all the way in round four.

So consistent has the Storm been in recent years, they haven’t lost three in a row since 2012. Can the Bulldogs change that?

Last time: Strathfieldsaye 14.8 (92) d Gisborne 13.9 (87).

• Round 13 tips:

Kieran Iles (53) - Kangaroo Flat (45), Kyneton (7), Golden Square (3), South Bendigo (70), Strathfieldsaye (44).

Richard Jones (51) - Kangaroo Flat (33), Kyneton (14), Golden Square (11), South Bendigo (68), Strathfieldsaye (30).

Luke West (50) - Maryborough (5), Kyneton (10), Golden Square (12), South Bendigo (70), Strathfieldsaye (32).

Adam Bourke (48) - Kangaroo Flat (10), Sandhurst (6), Golden Square (9), South Bendigo (75), Strathfieldsaye (33).

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CALIVIL UNITED (12-1) v MARONG (3-10) - 2.15pm Saturday at Calivil.

The Demons will be on the rebound from their first loss of the season to Bridgewater, but should hit back with vengeance against the Panthers, who face a tough run to the finish line with their last three games all against the top three sides.

Last time: Calivil United 25.16 (166) d Marong 8.15 (63).

NEWBRIDGE (9-4) v BRIDGEWATER (11-3) - 2.15pm Saturday at Newbridge.

Possible qualifying final preview between second and third on the ladder. Although, if the Maroons were to drop this one there’s a possibility they will be out of the top three come Saturday night.

The Maroons upstaged Bridgewater by 27 points in round seven in what was the Mean Machine’s last loss – they have since won seven in a row by an average of 55 points.

Last time: Newbridge 15.6 (96) d Bridgewater 10.9 (69).

INGLEWOOD (1-13) v PYRAMID HILL (6-7) - 2.15pm Saturday at Inglewood.

It has been a season where the Bulldogs have been playing catch-up for most of it in terms of fighting for their spot in the five.

Again they find themselves out of the top five after last week’s 67-point hiding from Mitiamo, but they should be back in on Saturday night with a win over the Blues, whose past five games include three losses by more than 100 points. 

Last time: Pyramid Hill 19.20 (124) d Inglewood 7.9 (51).

BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE (8-5) v MAIDEN GULLY YCW (3-10) - 2.15pm Saturday at Serpentine.

Win and the Bears will be at least two games inside the top five with two rounds left to play, with the possibility that they could also jump into the top three if Newbridge loses to Bridgewater.

While the Eagles can’t make the finals, they can still have a major say in shaping them with their last three games against the Bears (4th), Pyramid Hill (6th) and Mitiamo (5th).

Last time: BL-Serpentine 21.15 (141) d Maiden Gully YCW 7.4 (46).

• Round 16 tips:

Adam Bourke (46) - Calivil United (75), Bridgewater (18), Pyramid Hill (64), BL-Serpentine (48).

Luke West (45) - Calivil United (70), Bridgewater (24), Pyramid Hill (65), BL-Serpentine (40).

Kieran Iles (42) - Calivil United (66), Bridgewater (31), Pyramid Hill (62), BL-Serpentine (36).

………………..…...………..

NORTH BENDIGO (12-0) v COLBINABBIN (9-4) - 2.15pm Saturday at North Bendigo.

The Grasshoppers are in good nick with four wins in a row and with their double chance destiny in their own hands.

They have matched up well with North Bendigo in recent seasons, and with the Bulldogs certainly not firing on all cylinders at the moment – albeit they are undefeated with a percentage of 330.1 – this has the makings of a competitive contest.

Last time: North Bendigo 18.16 (124) d Colbinabbin 7.13 (55).

HEATHCOTE (3-10) v MOUNT PLEASANT (2-9-1) - 2.15pm Saturday at Heathcote.

Heathcote v Mount Pleasant evokes memories of the great rivalry between the two clubs of the 90s when they played in five grand finals in six years against each other between 1990 and 1995.

But in 2017 it’s vastly different. They both sit in the bottom three and combined have won just five of their 26 games.

Last time: Heathcote 15.9 (99) d Mount Pleasant 11.7 (73).

HUNTLY (7-5) v LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER (11-1) - 2.15pm Saturday at Huntly.

The Hawks will need to win the midfield battle to keep the ball out of the red-hot Bombers’ forward line given they have kicked consecutive scores of 218, 212 and 203 and won their past three games by 185, 170 and 188 points – and they aren’t even the top side.

Last time: Leitchville-Gunbower 22.16 (148) d Huntly 8.7 (55).

WHITE HILLS (6-6) v LOCKINGTON-BAMAWM UNITED (3-10) - 2.15pm Saturday at White Hills.

On recent history this clash has the potential to go the distance given in their past four meetings, three times the margin has been just two points in favour of the Demons.

Last time: White Hills 9.11 (65) d LBU 9.9 (63).

• Round 15 tips:

Kieran Iles (48) - North Bendigo (19), Heathcote (13), Leitchville (27), White Hills (17).

Adam Bourke (46) - North Bendigo (30), Heathcote (6), Leitchville (27), White Hills (14).

Luke West (45) - North Bendigo (20), Heathcote (1), Leitchville (22), White Hills (12).