FIVE rounds to play and the top there are still nine teams in the race for the top FOUR! Everybody strap in for what is set to be an exhilarating end to the 2023 campaign!
Boroondara remains in the top spot after another victory, while Bulleen leapfrogged South Melbourne into second position, while Southern and FV Emerging continue to occupy the bottom two spots on the table.
Alamein and Heidelberg could have the advantage on the run home, having a game up their sleeve due to their Round 16 clash being postponed.
Who's in the box seat and facing an uphill battle to finish inside the four? Check out your club's finish to the season below.
1) Boroondara Eagles
32 points (10 wins, two draws, four losses), 19 goal difference.
Boroondara proved they were the real deal once again last week, defeating Calder United 4-3 away from home.
This week, the Eagles take on Southern United who are yet to register a victory this season, followed by the bye.
In Round 20, Boroondara will the tough task of Heidelberg, with victory paramount for the Bergers on their hunt for a finals finish.
In the final weeks of the season, Boroondara takes on FV Emerging in another winnable game, followed by a top-three battle against South Melbourne.
A first-place finish looms likely for the Eagles, however, if things go pearshaped they could slide down to third place.
The Run Home
- R18: Southern United @ Veneto Club
- R19: BYE
- R20: Heidelberg United @ Veneto Club
- R21: FV Emerging @ Knox Regional Football Centre
- R22: South Melbourne @ Dorset Recreation Reserve
2) Bulleen Lions
30 points (eight wins, six draws, one loss), 10 goal difference.
Bullen moved into second place last week with a huge victory over Bayside United at home 4-2.
In Round 18, the Lions enjoy another home match, this time against Box Hill United, which will be another test against a top-four opponent.
Over the following three weeks, Bulleen faces Alamein, Preston, and Calder in a three-week stretch that will make or break their season.
To end the season, Bulleen faces the winless Southern United in a clash where they should springboard into finals full of confidence.
The Run Home
- R18: Box Hill United @ Veneto Club
- R19: Alamein @ Dorothy Laver West Reserve
- R20: Preston Lions @ B.T. Connor Reserve
- R21: Calder United @ Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
- R22: Southern United @ Veneto Club
3) South Melbourne
28 points (eight wins, four draws, three losses), 12 goal difference.
South Melbourne slipped to third place last week after they split the points with Box Hill United in Round 19.
In Rounds 19-20, South faces two tough challenges in Preston and Calder - win both and a top-two finish should be locked away.
In the final rounds of the season they face Southern United in a clash they should win, following a top-three battle against Boroondara.
South's finals spot is all but secured, however, a premiership is still within reach if Bulleen and Boroondar falter on the turn home.
The Run Home
- R18: Alamein @ Dorothy Laver West Reserve
- R19: Preston Lions @ B.T. Connor Reserve
- R20: Calder United @ Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
- R21: Southern United @ Selandra Recreation Reserve
- R22: Boroondara Eagles @ Dorset Recreation Reserve
4) Box Hill United
23 points (seven wins, two draws, seven losses), -2 goal difference.
Box Hill moved into the top four with an important draw against South Melbourne last week.
The run home is one of the most difficult in the league, however, their fate is in their hands - keep winning, and their in.
This week, they hit the road to face Bulleen, followed by Bayside United at Wembley Park.
In Round 20 Box Hill has the bye and ends the season with another two tough matches against Alamein and Preston.
The Run Home
- R18: Bulleen Lions @ Veneto Club
- R19: Bayside United @ Wembley Park
- R20: BYE
- R21: Alamein @ Wembley Park
- R22: Preston Lions @ B.T. Connor Reserve
5) Bayside United
23 points (seven wins, two draws, seven losses), -3 goal difference.
Bayside let a golden opportunity slip to entrench themselves in the top four last week, losing to Bulleen 4-2.
This week they have a bye and could be further behind the pack, but will be given a golden opportunity to bring themselves back into contention against Box Hil United in Round 19.
Bayside faces a really hard run home, coming up against Alamein, Preston, and Calder, but if they can come away with a couple of wins they will still be in the hunt.
Bayside will be up against it to make the finals, but if they go on a winning streak, anything is possible.
The Run Home
- R18: BYE
- R19: Box Hill United @ Wembley Park
- R20: Alamein @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
- R21: Preston Lions @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
- R22: Calder United @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
6) Calder United
22 points (six wins, four draws, five losses), 7 goal difference.
Calder United finds themselves in sixth position, one point out of the top after going down to Boroondara last week.
This week, they face Heidelberg who has their finals hopes hanging by a thread but will go into the clash confident of getting a result.
The defending Champions will also go in as favourites in their next match against FV Emerging, however in Round 20 they come up against South Melbourne in a massive clash for both sides.
Calder has a tough run to end the season, with Bulleen and Bayside United on the road to end the year.
A top-four finish is still on the cards if Calder can get a run-on, or they may fall just short.
The Run Home
- R18: Heidelberg United @ The Grange Reserve
- R19: FV Emerging @ Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
- R20: South Melbourne @ Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
- R21: Bulleen Lions @ Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
- R22: Bayside United @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
7) Alamein
21 points (five wins, six draws, four losses), -1 goal difference.
Alamein kept its finals hopes alive with a spirited 3-1 victory over FV Emerging last weekend.
The next two weeks could determine where Alamein finishes the season with South Melbourne and Bulleen ahead and both matches are to be played at Dorothy Laver West Reserve in a boost for their chances.
In their last two matches, Alamein hit the road to take on Bayside United and Box Hill United, two teams who are neck-deep in the race for the last spot in the top four.
To end the season Alamein has a bye and will be sweating on results to see if they will be playing in the pointy-end.
The Run Home
- R18: South Melbourne @ Dorothy Laver West Reserve
- R19: Bulleen Lions @ Dorothy Laver West Reserve
- R20: Bayside United @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
- R21: Box Hill United @ Wembley Park
- R22: BYE
8) Preston Lions
20 points (five wins, five draws, five losses), 3 goal difference.
Preston remained within arm's length of the top four with a 3-0 victory over Heidelberg last week.
The Lions will have the weekend off but will face FV Emerging on August 4 due to a clash with the NTC Challenge.
All other of their matches on the run home is against sides battling it out for a top-four position, however, Preston has the talent on the park to get the job done and make the finals.
The Run Home
- R18: FV Emerging @ Knox Regional Football Centre
- R19: Alamein @ Dorothy Laver West Reserve
- R20: Bulleen Lions @ B.T. Connor Reserve
- R21: Bayside United @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
- R22: Box Hill United @ B.T. Connor Reserve
9) Heidelberg United
19 points (five wins, four draws, six losses), 0 goal difference.
The Bergers let a chance slip to close the gap on the top four, losing to Preston Lions 3-0.
In Round 18, Heidelberg faces off with Calder United in a big game against a fellow finals contender at a neutral venue at The Grange Reserve.
Heidelberg will be confident of claiming the three points against Southern United, but before their bye in Round 21, they face off with the top-of-the-table Boroondara.
The Bergers will have a chance to finish the season off on a good note, taking on FV Emerging, while they still have a game in hand against Alamein.
The Run Home
- R18: Calder United @ The Grange Reserve
- R19: Southern United @ Selandra Recreation Reserve
- R20: Boroondara Eagles @ Veneto Club
- R21: BYE
- R22: FV Emerging @ Knox Regional Football Centre
11) FV Emerging
11 points (two wins, five draws, eight losses), -13 goal difference.
FV Emerging put up a good fight last week but ended up going down to Alamein.
Emerging's run home is tough, facing three finals hopefuls and the ladder-leading Boroondara Eagles.
In Round 20, Emerging travel to Selandra Recreation Reserve to take on Southern United in what looms to be their most likely victory in the last five matches.
A bottom-two finish appears to be FV Emerging's fate this season with eight points separating them from ninth place.
The Run Home
- R18: Preston Lions @ Knox Regional Football Centre
- R19: Calder United @ Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
- R20: Southern United @ Selandra Recreation Reserve
- R21: Boroondara Eagles @ Knox Regional Football Centre
- R22: Heidelberg United @ Knox Regional Football Centre
12) Southern United
2 points (0 wins, two draws, 13 losses), -32 goal difference.
Southern United is still on the hunt for its first win of the season and will be fresh after having the bye last week.
This week will be tough for the battling side, coming up against Boroondara, but they will like their chances of a result in the following two weeks against Heidelberg and FV Emerging.
To end the season, Southern faces two top-four sides in South Melbourne and Bulleen Lions, can they cause some havoc on the run home?
The Run Home
- R18: Boroondara Eagles @ Veneto Club
- R19: Heidelberg United @ Selandra Recreation Reserve
- R20: FV Emerging @ Selandra Recreation Reserve
- R21: South Melbourne @ Selandra Recreation Reserve
- R22: Bulleen Lions @ Veneto Club