Benalla (11th) v Mansfield (9th)
Mansfield has tasted victory in only one of its last eight games (including a draw with Shepp Swans) and is now ninth on the ladder, albeit just a win and a half out of fifth spot.
The Eagles face two teams in the final four weeks that they will need to knock out of contention, but it all starts with a vital win this weekend. If they can beat Mooroopna and Shepp United in the final two rounds, they could still play finals.
KEY MATCH-UPS
-Eagles’ big three v Benalla’s big three: Whichever trio is more influential out of the Eagles’ Matt King, Callum Brown and Harry Mahoney, and Benalla’s Nick Warnock, Chris Welsh and Mark Marriott, will win this game.
Prediction: Mansfield by 31 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 4, 2026 – Benalla won by 16 points
Echuca (2nd) v Kyabram (5th)
A whole lot is on the line for the in-and-out Bombers, who have switched between fifth, sixth and seventh on the ladder for the last month. These are the two best offensive teams in the competition, but both had stars missing last weekend.
Sam Reid, Tom Evans, Hugh Byrne and Liam Tenace were missing for the Murray Bombers, while Rhys Clark, Anthony Depasquale (VFL) and Brad Whitford were out of the Bombers’ line-up.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Zac Norris v Darby Jones: A Rising Star of the competition facing the league’s number one-ranked player. A must-watch.
Jack Evans v Jack Russell: The two Jacks both starred last week, with Evans collecting 40 disposals and finishing as the highest-ranked player on the ground.
Prediction: Echuca by 11 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 4, 2026 – Echuca won by 9 points
Euroa (10th) v Seymour (3rd)
Cohen Paul has kicked 11 goals in the last two weeks for Euroa, both wins for the Magpies, but he faces a Seymour team which is now 10 points clear of fourth-placed Shepparton Swans and has Riley Masey not far away from a return.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Jack Murphy v Lachie Hill: Murphy kicked four goals from the midfield last week and his running power will test the Magpies hard man, who has returned in great form.
Huw Jones v Mitch Walters: Jones will likely have responsibility for the goalsneak, who has kicked six goals in the last two weeks.
Prediction: Seymour by 27 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 4, 2026 – Seymour won by 49 points
Shepp Swans (4th) v Shepp Bears (1st)
Now only two points clear of eighth place, the Swans could drop as low as seventh on the ladder if Kyabram beats Echuca, the Bears win this game, and Rochester beats Tatura.
The winner of the Mooroopna and United game will move above them on the ladder immediately because the Swans have only the ninth-best percentage in the league.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Zac Metcalf v Zac Clohesy: If Metcalf stays forward, and why wouldn’t he after kicking four goals last weekend, he will most likely have Clohesy for company.
Ethan Warburton v Mitch Brett: This would be my match-up if I had the magnets. Brett can kick goals, is defensive by nature and could curb the star Swan’s influence.
Prediction: Bears by 41 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 4, 2026 – Bears won by 86 points
Shepp United (6th) v Mooroopna (8th)
The winner of this game could be inside the top six at 5pm on Saturday if Kyabram loses to Echuca and the Swans lose to the Shepp Bears.
United is sixth and Mooroopna is eighth, but only percentage separates them, along with Kyabram and Rochester.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Jensen Dowling v Liam Betson: Dowling is fresh from a 107-ranking point game but now faces Liam Betson, who produced a league-high 236 points on the weekend.
Matt Casey v Rory Huggard: Casey now leads the goalkicking by six goals, while Huggard has been in terrific form for the Cats, who just went down to the top team.
Prediction: United by 7 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 4, 2026 – Mooroopna won by 7 points
Tatura (12th) v Rochester (7th)
If Kyabram or United both lose this weekend and the Tigers win, Rochester will finish the weekend in fifth spot. They have been there before, and there are still some big games to be played between Rounds 16 and 18 to decide the eventual finalists.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Hugh Hamilton v Finn Radley: Radley will have Hamilton in the air, but it will be on the lead and at ground level that the Rochester star could have a big afternoon.
Bailey Wileman v Tom O’Sullivan: Both are in great form, fresh from big ranking-point games, and could both collect 30-plus possessions in this match.
Prediction: Rochester by 68 points.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 4, 2026 – Rochester won by 97 points
