Flew under the radar during the pre-season and now flying above the pack. The Magpies’ only loss was to hot favourite Koroit with their away win over 2017 grand finalist Port Fairy the pick of their eight victories to date.

The 2017 preliminary finalist is a long shot to reach September with a 3-6 win-loss record. The Bombers’ best player, ruckman Levi Dare, is now under an injury cloud which will only make their task harder.

A club which has appeared in seven consecutive finals series is now trying to avoid the wooden spoon. The Eagles are winless after nine rounds as they undergo a rebuild. Four losses under two goals have hurt.

Can anyone defeat the Saints? Recent history says no. Undefeated and as powerful as ever, averaging 90 points for and 50 points against per game, the four-time reigning premier’s only obstacle might be itself.

Eight of the nine rounds have included at least one match decided by two goals or less. Four rounds – one, four, five and seven –  featured three games which went down to the wire.

South Warrnambool is a better team with this former AFL midfielder on the park. Saunders’ return from a knee reconstruction has been seamless, named in the Roosters’ best in eight of his nine appearances.

Clever forward who can change a game. A one-touch player who has booted 22 goals in his first season at Warrnambool to sit third on the league goal-kicking tally.