Both clubs return to action this weekend following the week off and still have plenty to fight for in both senior football and A-grade netball.
Let’s start with Avenel.
The Swans’ football outfit currently sits in top spot, despite suffering its first loss of the 2022 campaign last time it took to the field.
Arch-rival Nagambie was the one to knock off Avenel that day and playing coach Kasey Duncan said it may be what his ladder-leading outfit needed before finals.
"We are going okay. We had a few resting on the day and missed a few key players, but credit to Nagambie — in the third quarter they really put the foot down on us," Duncan said.
"Lesson learnt by a few of the boys and it might have been the little kick in the butt we needed leading into finals."
The Swans return to the park with an away game against Dookie United this weekend.
United is fighting to save its season and is one win outside of the top eight.
Duncan’s charges will be without tall forward Jake Sutherland, after he was suspended for intentionally striking another player in the loss to Nagambie.
Gun forward Tim Brook is set to face the tribunal this week after he was unavailable to attend last week.
Brook was reported in the loss for behaving in an abusive, threatening or obscene manner towards or in relation to an umpire.
Duncan said his side would be focused on securing the minor premiership this weekend.
"That trip to Dookie is never easy. It’s a beautiful ground with a beautiful backdrop and hopefully the sun is out and we get a few players back and can kick back into gear," he said.
"If we can get the win this weekend, it would lock away the minor premiership and we won't have to be stressing heading into that last game against Violet Town.
"These two games are a great chance for us to hit our straps again."
Meanwhile, Nagambie currently sits in seventh spot and faces a huge game against Merrigum on Saturday.
The Lakers will welcome the eighth-placed Bulldogs in what is a potential elimination final contest for both sides.
In the final round, the Lakers hit the road to take on Shepparton East — a side they surprisingly defeated in round 13.
Nagambie will be without a vital player in Saturday’s important clash.
Mitchell Sanderson was reported in the win over Avenel for intentionally striking another person and he accepted a two-week sanction.
On the netball court, Nagambie is sitting in a comfortable spot inside the top two.
The second-ranked Lakers take on Merrigum (sixth) this weekend, before another top-of-the-table clash with Shepparton East in round 16.
Avenel’s A-grade outfit is much like the Lakers’ football side and faces a tough challenge to sneak into finals action.
The Swans sit in ninth spot and are tied on points with Girgarre (eighth).
Ash Hansen’s charges take on top-four side Dookie United and fifth-placed Violet Town to round off the season.
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