~ 9 July ~

Round 16

Round 15

The dreaded bye rounds are behind us. The top six still have a small break on the rest, but three games, an MSD and one more lot of DPP changes can still alter the landscape of the 2026 finals.

HODDLE STREET v WEST FISHER Fairly close for most of the weekend. It was the Wildcats best game since Round 10, but they faced a determined bunch of Knights who are fighting to avoid a slide out of the top six. It ended 117-112. Hoddle Street have likely secured a finals berth while West Fisher move to a ‘mathematical chance’ of playing in the post-season.

SHARK BAY v JEREMADRA What might be the last Derby at Mossy Point proved to be a barn-burner for most of the weekend. In an identical situation of the Knights-Wildcats game, the Shamblers were looking to end and two game skid, while the in-form FattRatts were fighting to keep in touch with the six. Heading into Sunday it was 98-98 but one team fired up and the other shat the bed. It ended 132-120… Fatt-Ratts stay alive, the Shamblers are 2-4 since the midway mark of the season.

MENINDEE v MOSSIMO Billed as the Match of the Round. 2nd vs 3rd with both clubs well and truly in the hunt for their first Minor Premiership. Since Round 9, the Mudskippers have not won or lost two games in a row and the pattern continued this week – winning 125-113. The loss ends a six game streak for the Meerkats, they slip to fourth but only need one more win to lock in a finals spot.

MACATTACK v TULLAMARINE Heading into Sunday the Injectors were a chance of ending the Mustangs month long winning streak, a chance of keeping their finals hopes alive and possibly being the spark that ignites the hopes of millions that the Mustangs could miss the finals for the first time since 2014. But Sheezel, Redman and Brayshaw averaged 145 on Sunday and crushed everything. Macattack won 127-116 and are on track to make the finals for the 12th straight year. Yawn.

CAPPER COUNTY v SYN CITY This was over at half time as the Clangers first seven players averaged 66 between them. The Blues were missing Xerri and Roberts but still managed seven 100+ scores to win easily 124-101.

The 2026 season heads into the penultimate round. Five teams have secured a finals spot, another four are still in contention.

JEREMADRA v WEST FISHER The FattRatts top scored last weekend. Last-three average of 126. Results went their way this weekend for a chance to move to the doorstep of the top-six…. But it all went to hell in a handbasket at the worst possible time. Seven players under 75, Bont tagged and Whitfield injured. The 99-117 loss to the Wildcats hasn’t ended their season, but it was a massive opportunity lost. It also ended their awesome run of 234 games of 100+ scores in the regular season. The last time a Kylie-run team scored under 100 was Round 3 in 2012!

SYN CITY v HODDLE STREET The Blues won 108-102 in a very underwhelming game given this was 1st v 3rd. Not pretty, but the Blues move a step closer to claiming their second Minor Premiership (the other time was in 2022 when they went on to win their inaugural premiership). The Knights have a spot in the post-season locked in, but they haven’t scored over 119 since Round 10, Sinclair’s gone for the season and Young just got injured again. Can Zorko save them?

TULLAMARINE v CAPPER COUNTY This was a close game heading into Sunday. The Injectors kicked to good lead thanks to Merrett and appeared to have the win in the bag… but the Clangers fired back with a Max Hall 143 before waiting until the last two quarters of the weekend to finish with a Burgoyne 99, McKercher 112 and an LDU 121. Capper County winning 119-117 and keep their finals chances alive. The loss means Tullamarine can focus on trying to defend their Vic Price Cup (and avoiding the wooden spoon in the meantime).

MOSSIMO v MACATTACK The Meerkats were not happy about their winning streak coming to an end last weekend. So they vented by crushing the Mustangs 138-118. It was their third top-score-of -the-round in five weeks. The result also ended Macattack’s five-win run and killed off any chance of a top-two finish.

SHARK BAY v MENINDEE The Muddies ended their recent run of yo-yo results with a convincing 129-124 win over the Shamblers. They’re hitting form at the right time, currently second with games against bottom-four teams to come. Shark Bay, on the other hand, have scored 120+ in their last two and lost. They’re still clinging on top 6th spot but have Macattack and Mossimo to come. MSD-4 may not help them either, given their MSD choices this year have actually made their team worse.