Bairnsdale has effectively been playing finals for the past two rounds – each game now do-or-die in a sense – and now comes a golden opportunity to show it is a worthy Gippsland League finals threat.
The sixth-placed Redlegs travel to Wonthaggi – the longest road trip of the season – with the chance to end the Power’s season and keep their finals dream alive.
Both teams are on 32 points, two points outside the top five, with
just a small percentage separating them.
A victory for either side, given the closeness of the season, could see it jump to fourth, while a loss will make any finals attempt extremely slim.
After losing four games. By under 10 points across the first 11 rounds, Bairnsdale has shown it has the mettle to win tight affairs and that could be the case again this weekend with Wonthaggi in blistering recent form.
The Power has won five of its past six games, the only loss coming to three-time reigning premier Leongatha. Before the wins started to blossom the Power lost to Moe by three points.
Its recent wins include that of current top five teams Morwell, Sale and Traralgon.
If there was ever a time for Bairnsdale to show its true character, that time is now.
