The Mininera league is shaping up to be one almighty battle for the final five sports with talent teams scattered around the district, chasing the taste of premiership success.
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Tatyoon have established themselves as an early pacesetter in the league, undefeated and one top of the ladder after the first six games of the season.
Tatyoon are a perennial contender in the league reaching the grand final in 12 of the last 14 seasons.
But senior co-coach Jarrod Blandford said his side are more focused on improvement at this stage of the season.
"We are ticking along alright, we have had some challenges along the way. We haven't been able to sting together a four quarter game as yet so there is still plenty of improvement to make," he said.
"When we run and carry the ball quick, we can open up sides and that has been a key to being able to get on top of sides in patches."
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The Mininera league is in a holding pattern for now, as they wait for confirmation for when community sport can return to the field and the court in Victoria.
For now, Blandford said the Hawks will maximise the unplanned break.
"There's probably seven to eight teams fighting for the five spots in the finals and that is what you need in country sport," he said.
"From here on in we have to make sure we don't drop the ball.
"It is all well and good to give blokes a bit of a break and what not, but it might end up being a month off football and you just have to make sure you are ready to go when we start to go again.
"We should be back to training soon, but it sort of didn't come at a bad time for us to give some guys some time to get over a few little niggly injuries.
"It is no good for the community or anything like that, but it gave a few of our players a break, that is for sure."
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Woorndoo Mortlake are also defeated so far in the 2021 season and sit second on the ladder.
Glenthompson Dunkeld have surprised some and sit third on the ladder, dropping just one match so far.
Reigning premiers Great Western have battled through some tough games and injury concerns, but sit fourth on the ladder.
Behind them the Ararat Eagles, Moyston Willaura, Lismore Derrinallum, Penshurst and SMW Rovers will all like their chances of putting in some improved performances and hunting down a finals place when the Mininera season returns to the field.
Despite the Victorian government's announcement on Thusday regarding changes to COVID-19 restrictions in regional areas of the state, the league has decided there will be no junior sport held on Saturday.
The league will also hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss how it will fixture the remainder of the season.
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