Epping’s future in division 2 of the Northern Football League is in its own hands going into Saturday’s final home-and-away round.
While the top four positions have been settled for weeks, the bottom four sides are all in a scrap to avoid relegation.
Hurstbridge, bottom two weeks ago, has won its past two matches and is now fifth on the ladder, ahead of the Pingers and Panton Hill on percentage.
Sixth-place Epping (20 points) will meet bottom-of-the table Diamond Creek (16) at Epping Reserve in the season’s final match on Saturday.
“The ball’s in our court,” Pingers coach Steve Power said. “We match up well against Diamond Creek and have beaten them twice.
“It’s pretty close between all the four sides and obviously it’s a big day for the club. Hopefully, our young boys will step up.”
Last Saturday, the Pingers wasted their chances to shore up their position with a 12.8 (80) to 9.11 (65) loss to Lalor.
The Pingers trailed by 29 points at quarter time and couldn’t make up the margin.
“We had just as much of the ball in the first quarter, but we couldn’t convert,” Power said.
“They had better skill and you can’t be down by that much against good sides. We also had chances in the final quarter but kicked 3.5.”
Power said that to beat Diamond Creek, his players would have to eliminate poor starts.
“We have not got off to good starts all season,” he said.
“It’s important, and whoever gets the better start is likely to win the game.”
Power, who has been reappointed as coach for a further two years, said the club entered the season with its eyes open.
“We lost 13 key players in the off-season and have played 45 in the seniors this season,” he said.
“We’re in a development stage and our ladder position is representative of where we should be. We’ve started planning for next year and have begun speaking to players. Most say they want to see which division we’re in, and we’ll step it up in the next few weeks.
Also in division 2, North Heidelberg beat Mernda 14.12 (96) to 11.7 (73).
Tara Murray
