CAMPBELLS CREEK V MALDON - 2.35pm Saturday at Campbells Creek.
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Last time: Round 16, 2013: Maldon 20.9 (129) d Campbells Creek 10.13 (73).
Since 2004: Maldon 14; Campbells Creek 1.
CAMPBELLS CREEK - chasing a rare win over Maldon. The only time the Creekers have defeated the Bombers in the past decade was round 6, 2005, when they won by 31 points. Favourites at home this week.
MALDON - will need to convert much better than last week’s 3.13 (31) against Harcourt to be a chance of winning their first game of the season. Have struggled in front of goal all season, kicking 51.74.
TIP: Campbells Creek by 28.
CARISBROOK V DUNOLLY - 2.35pm Saturday at Carisbrook.
Last time: Round 16, 2013: Carisbrook 35.22 (232) d Dunolly 4.6 (30).
Since 2004: Carisbrook 18; Dunolly 1.
CARISBROOK - improved to 5-2 last week with their 61-point win over Avoca. Not the same calibre of side that belted Dunolly 202 points in round 16 last season, but will still be far too strong for the Eagles.
DUNOLLY - coming off the biggest loss of the season so far last week when thumped by Navarre by 150 points. Now come up against a side they have lost their past three games against by at least 115 points.
TIP: Carisbrook by 85.
ROYAL PARK V HARCOURT - 2.35pm Saturday at Hedges Oval.
Last time: Round 6, 2013: Harcourt 19.14 (128) d Royal Park 6.12 (48).
Since 2004: Harcourt 14; Royal Park 0.
ROYAL PARK - started the season 5-0, but came up short in their two biggest tests so far the past fortnight when beaten by Lexton and Newstead. Dropped out of the top four on the back of those losses.
HARCOURT - will go in as underdogs against a team they haven’t lost to in the past decade. The Lions beat Maldon last Sunday by 69 points to climb into the top eight for the first time this season.
TIP: Royal Park by 20.
LEXTON V TRENTHAM - 2.35pm Saturday at Lexton.
Last time: Round 16, 2013: Lexton 25.15 (165) d Trentham 5.2 (32).
Since 2011: Lexton 4; Trentham 0.
LEXTON - while unbeaten Navarre and Newstead continue to attract plenty of attention, the Tigers have strung together six wins in a row, during which the highest score kicked against them has been 60.
TRENTHAM - been a steady decline down the ladder from fourth at the end of round three to now ninth after four losses in a row. Gave a good account of themselves in a 13-point loss to Newstead last week.
TIP: Lexton by 65.
NAVARRE V ROVERS - 2.35pm Saturday at Navarre.
Last time: Round 12, 2013: Navarre 32.22 (214) d Rovers 1.0 (6).
Since 2011: Navarre 4; Rovers 0.
NAVARRE - overall winning streak has now reached 10 following last week’s 150-point thumping of Dunolly. Been quick to put away sides early this year, already leading by an average of 44 points at half-time.
ROVERS - doubled their tally of wins for all of last year in the past fortnight with back-to-back victories over Harcourt and Campbells Creek. But the level of competition goes up significantly on Saturday.
TIP: Navarre by 92.
NEWSTEAD V NATTE BEALIBA - 2.35pm Saturday at Newstead.
Last time: Round 16, 2013: Newstead 11.8 (74) d Natte Bealiba 9.14 (68).
Since 2011: Newstead 2; Natte Bealiba 2.
NEWSTEAD - remain undefeated after downing Trentham by 13 points last week in a hard-fought contest. The Steaders are -31 points in first quarters the past three games, but +90 points in final terms.
NATTE BEALIBA - got themselves up into the top four and now have the chance to stake their claim as a genuine side to watch against the second-placed Steaders in the match of the round.
TIP: Newstead by 21.
TALBOT V AVOCA - 2.35pm Saturday at Talbot.
Last time: Round 10, 2013: Avoca 16.10 (106) d Talbot 11.8 (74).
Since 2005: Avoca 15; Talbot 2.
TALBOT - need to get their season rolling if they’re to push for their first finals series since 2008. Next three games starting with Avoca all winnable, which would get the Hawks square at 5-5 if there’s no slip-up.
AVOCA - still yet to notch their first win of the season, but have had the wood over Talbot since joining the MCDFL in 2005, winning 15 of their 17 meetings, including the past nine by an average of 43 points.
TIP: Talbot by 19.