Old Collegians are fifth on the WDFNL ladder with three rounds to play, equal on points with sixth-ranked South Rovers.

But they face a tougher run home and could yet drop to sixth. A testing assignment against Allansford in round 17 splits matches against East Warrnambool and Deakin University.

South Rovers, by contrast, play Panmure, Timboon Demons and Nirranda in the run home and have a realistic chance to snatch fifth spot.

Should that happen, the Lions will have finished ahead of the Warriors despite losing the sole match between the pair by almost 10 goals.

They have also failed to beat a top-four side – something the Warriors achieved in round five when they held off Dennington.

But Beechey said a top six in the WDFNL was unwarranted, despite the 12-team competition creating an uneven draw each season.

“It’s not a huge issue for me. If we had have beaten Kolora-Noorat once – we lost to them twice this year – we would have been safe,” he said.

“The second time we played Dennington, we lost to them. You’ve got to beat sides above you (to earn a finals spot).”

Beechey said South Rovers making finals on the back of its comparatively easier fixture was “the luck of the draw”.

“The draw is the draw, there was an element of luck with it for some sides and not so for others,” he said.

“There’s no point getting too caught up in it. If we’re playing good enough footy, the rest will take care of itself.”

Who the contenders meet twice

South Rovers: Russells Creek, East Warrnambool, Dennington, Deakin University, Panmure, Timboon Demons, Nirranda

Old Collegians: Dennington, Merrivale, Timboon Demons, Kolora-Noorat, East Warrnambool, Allansford, Deakin University

The differences

Both sides meet East Warrnambool, Dennington, Timboon Demons and Deakin University twice.

South Rovers’ other fixtures are against Russells Creek, Panmure and Nirranda.

Old Collegians’ other fixtures are against Merrivale, Kolora-Noorat and Allansford.