Waikikamoocow Incorrigibles 1286 def Wagga Wagga Wombats 1218
In the square off of 3rd vs 8th, both teams had strong motivations to cement finals positions.

Solid work in Def by the ‘Bats was brought undone by Dempsey's injury affected score, while Shiel went well underground after monstering the last 5 weeks.

Beams' sub par effort late in the game will have coach Lenny fuming.

Cox got big but it wasn't enough to hold off a great team effort by the ‘Cows.

Plenty to like about Chels' outfit with Fyfe finding great touch and Crouch living up to expectations.

Prediction - WWW by 16
Actual - WI by 68

Birdsville Battlers 1110 def by Venus Bay Vultures 1117
This low scoring affair of 4th vs 9th, went right down to the wire, with Fitzy desperate for a win to keep his finals hopes alive.

Watson/Blair vs Cloke in the dying minutes was a heart-stopper. However Cloke's 4 majors late in the piece was far from influential.

The unfortunate injury to Brown-dog was pivotal in the wash-up, lets hope he heals up well and rolls around for another year.

Stand out performances were light on in this tussle, with Watson and Wells the only tons recorded for the game.

Prediction - VBV by 57
Actual - VBV by 7

Darraweit Guim 1157 def by Powlett Plains 1174
Another low scoring nail-biter with 6th vs 7th both looking to shore up a top 4 berth.

Some big scores from Harvey and Hutchings had the Packers down early, but Ball, Harry O and Bellchambers fired late to snatch the glory.

Both teams trotting out some below average scores up Fwd to confound selectors.

Prediction - DGD by 138
Actual - PPP by 17

Marble Bar Misfits 1328 def by Mount Beauty Uglies 1457

With a comfortable win to the Uglies favoured by many, the Misfits came with nothing to lose and almost snaffled a win.

With the Bar hosting a bevvy of Giants affiliates, these young kids got the team flying with Ward, Bruce, Smith and Cameron all shining.

However eight tons (and two 97's) from the Uglies was a sight to behold, especially the last quarter heroics from Side-ass and Wingard.

Prediction - MBU by 110
Actual - MBU by 129


Foul Bay Chooks 1267 def by Gariwerd Cockies 1403

Plenty of feathers flyin' in this dust up, with coach Ant looking to muster something special from his boys to knock of the highly fancied Chooks and stay in the hunt. And hunt they did...

Eight tons and a couple of high 90's saw the Cockies soaring to new heights. Gibson,

Tuohy and Pedersen all surprised, while a workman-like Gariwerd midfield held their own.
Foul Bay rallied well at the end with Danger and Vince valiantly trying to get their side across the line. The late withdrawal of Ibbotson and Tomahawk's spud were enough to give the Cockies the breathing space needed to steal the win.

Prediction - FBC by 87
GC by 136


Iron Knob Codpieces 1340 def by Charlie's Opening Spelunkers 1397
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]This match of the round shoot out of 1st vs 5th did not disappoint.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Jack (141) did the job of two mids for the Spelunkers with his 30 possessions, 13 tackles and two goals whilst Griffen (126) amassed 41 possessions for the opposition. Ablett did decide to show up, but his lack of influence early was telling.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Giles out-muscled the tag team Ruck combo of Goldy/Minson to take the points in the duel of the big men.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Yet another late in the game cliff-hanger saw Reid (109) turn on the magic with 3 goals when it mattered.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Prediction - IKC by 40
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Actual - COS by 57
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Larrikin Lagoon Lefties 978 def by Gundagai Grasshoppers 1367
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]An absolute boil-over at the Lagoon in the battle for the timber-ware.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Many pundits will be screaming Tankers&amp;rdquo; after the Larrikin Lagoon Lame-ducks couldn't manage a 4 digit total.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Late outs in Priddis and Bailey coupled with a Golby injury and Coniglio sub did the home side no favours, however team selection is still of concern with Mzungu (82), Duryea (74) and Grundy (77), all on the pine.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Take nothing away from the Hoppers though with a solid performance across all lines and a spell-binding display from Rocky (166).
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]The final needle has been removed from the Grasshopper VooDoo doll, with the almighty acupuncturist now showing no mercy on the rancid Lefties.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]
Prediction - GG by 64
Actual - GG by 389

<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Nunawading Nuffers (1095) def Cradle Mountain (1050)
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]The battle of the depleated Rucks was a close fought contest, with below average scores par for the course.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Dixon (102) removed another nail from his coffin as he and Lake (112) quelled an indirect Devil's attack.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Stevie J (106) and Redden (126) shone for the Devils but could not do enough to lift their battle-weary side.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]Simpson (128) and Pendles (106) went head to head all day but the latter was well held in a tight finish.
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Prediction - CMD by 200
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Actual - NN by 45
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Lilacs 1160 Def Whitsundays 1065
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Another bottom of the ladder match up, with both sides showing patches of brilliance in recent weeks.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]The usual suspects for the Whits in Barlow (110) and Boak (114) shared the spoils of four tons for the home side, but their abbreviated backline struggled with Morris struggling to handle to Fwds at once.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]As a result, Wellingham (128) and Balla (99) went to town, showering the goal square in purple.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]The Lilacs Def was not without its own headaches with JJK (101) and Motlop (103) toiling hard to stem the tide.
<p style='line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Although not up to his usual lofty standards, Swan's 108 at the death was enough to seal the win.
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Prediction - WW by 113
<p style='margin-bottom: 6.55pt; line-height: 10.45pt; vertical-align: baseline;]Actual - LBL by 95

The Ladder after Round 16 (thanks to Lenny):
Iron Knob 56 22227
Waikikamoocow 52 20242
Foul Bay 48 21424
Charlies Opening 44 20705
Birdsville 44 19724
Powlett Plains 44 19582
Darraweit Guim 40 19433
Venus Bay 38 19237
--------------------------------------
Wagga Wagga 34 19805
Gariwerd 34 19343
Mt Beauty 32 18708
Cradle Mountain 24 18730
Whitsundays 24 18056
Nunawading 20 17450
Lovely Banks 14 18288
Marble Bar 12 18131
Larrikin Lagoon 8 18517
Gundagai 8 15429

Venus Bay, Wagga Wagga and Gariwerd will battle it out for the final spot in the eight in the final round of ORFFA action this coming weekend.

Round 17 (AFL 20) 9/8 - 11/8

Left Footers Round
To finish off our regular season, we have another theme returning from 2012.

August 13 is International Lefthanders Day. Last year, we tweaked that to have a round celebrating Left Footers and their contribution to football.

And this season, it takes on even greater significance, with the arrival of the Larrikin Lagoon Lefties whose home ground actually suits and develops left footers!

Naturally, they have been awarded a home match to finish the season.

Larrikin Lagoon v Marble Bar
Nunawading v Gariwerd
Birdsville v Waikikamoocow
Whitsundays v Iron Knob
Darraweit Guim v Mount Beauty
Powlett Plains v Charlies Opening
Lovely Banks v Wagga Wagga
Venus Bay v Cradle Mountain
Foul Bay v Gundagai