Last time: Round 18, 2013: YCW 20.20 (140) d Inglewood 14.5 (89).

Since 1995: YCW 30; Inglewood 8.

YCW - coach Pat Jess is maintaining the faith that the Eagles can still make a charge for the finals.

At 1-5, he’s certainly an optimist, but any team that is good enough to lead Bridgewater at three quarter-time has ability.

However, the Eagles continue to be plagued by inconsistency and defensive lapses.

INGLEWOOD - the season started with signs of improvement for the perennial battler Blues.

But the scoreboard over their past two games has had that all-too-familiar ugly look about it, with back-to-back defeats by 193 points to Newbridge and 103 points to Bridgewater.

Kicked just seven goals in those past two games.

MARONG v BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE - 2.15pm Saturday at Marong.

Last time: Round 12, 2013: BL-Serpentine 21.14 (140) d Marong 9.9 (63).

Since 1995: BL-Serpentine 24; Marong 15.

MARONG - the start of what will be a challenging run of matches for the Panthers.

The Panthers are 4-1, with their four wins against opponents all currently outside the top five.

They now round out the first half of the season with games against the Bears (5th) on Saturday, Bridgewater (1st) and Newbridge (3rd).

BL-SERPENTINE - sitting in fifth position at 3-3.

Blew the chance to inflict Pyramid Hill’s first loss of the season last round when they led by 22 points at half-time, only to lose by five points.

Josh Shaw, Jye Sandiford, James Orr and Nick Arthur have been the four standouts so far.

Crucial clash for both the Bears and Panthers.

PYRAMID HILL v BRIDGEWATER - 2.15pm Saturday at Pyramid Hill.

Last time: Qualifying final, 2013: Bridgewater 8.19 (67) d Pyramid Hill 9.8 (62) in extra time.

Since 1995: Bridgewater 24; Pyramid Hill 21.

PYRAMID HILL - big opportunity for the Bulldogs to make a statement when they host Bridgewater.

Like their opposition, the Bulldogs are unbeaten, which sets the scene for what will be a hotly-contested battle.

The Bulldogs have kicked a triple-figure score in all their games so far, but can they break down the Bridgewater defence?

BRIDGEWATER - the Mean Machine will have set themselves for what shapes as their toughest test of the season at Pyramid Hill.

The Bulldogs will prove a major step-up in class for the Mean Machine, whose past three wins have come against the three bottom sides in Mitiamo (93 points), YCW (24) and Inglewood (103).

MITIAMO v NEWBRIDGE - 2.15pm Saturday at Mitiamo.

Last time: Round 14, 2013: Newbridge 14.15 (99) d Mitiamo 8.4 (52).

Since 1995: Newbridge 22; Mitiamo 17.

MITIAMO - the 125th anniversary season that started with so much optimism continues to prove a disappointment for the winless Superoos.

Kicked just four goals last round in a 93-point hiding to Bridgewater in the first game where the Superoos failed to be competitive.

Full-forward Michael Spooner has left for St Albans.

NEWBRIDGE - travelling along nicely in third position.

Only blemish so far has been a 40-point loss to Bridgewater in round three.

The Maroons’ recruiting is already reaping benefits, with their four most consistent players so far the ex-Castlemaine quartet in Jordan Gilboy, Lachlan Ford, Rhys Ford and Angus Fortune.

LVFL LADDER