The Parrots’ record has the club languishing in last position leading into Saturday’s clash against Hillwood, who defeated them 14.20 (104) to 7.11 (53) in round 3.

“Hillwood are the form team in the competition at the moment but we are playing some good footy, we just aren’t able to sustain it for four quarters,” Mackrell said.

“They’ve got a talented midfield so we will look to shut down a few key players and see how we go.”

Lachlan Bonney will return for Bridgenorth.

The Sharks are circling after bringing down Bracknell and sitting comfortably in third spot.

SOUTH LAUNCESTON take on an under pressure Longford who started the week with a change of coach.

Tom Reinmuth is out and Country Tigers’ caretaker Roydon Peters wants business to continue as usual with just one subtle change – a more consistent effort. 

“For most games this year that we haven’t won we’ve been in them for long periods… the competition is very even and you’ve got to bring your best every week,” Peters said. The Bulldogs were 55 points too sharp last time around but coach Leigh Harding is taking nothing for granted.

Jordan Tepper, Todd Spilsbury and Jake Laskey have been ruled out by injury.

“They’ve got some quality midfielders, who I really respect, and can give their forwards enough looks and the forwards to kick a winning score,” he said.

ROCHERLEA will be without Daniel Cox for its Aboriginal round clash with Deloraine after he accepted a set two-week penalty at the tribunal.

The Suburban Tigers will replace Cox with two-time Brisbane premiership player Darryl White, who coach Lyndon Stubbs said would play as a utility around the ground. “We had one good quarter against Longford (kicking nine goals to one) and three that weren’t quite up to our standards,” he said.

The Kanagroos were overwhelmed by the reigning premiers 15.14 (104) to 6.8 (44) in April, but notched up their second win against George Town last week.

“We played well and everyone got rewarded,” coach Brett Smith said.

He said the Roos have made two changes with Ollie Smith and Shaughan Killalea replacing Jarrod Scott and Josh Smith. The seniors match starts at 2.30pm.

BRACKNELL faces George Town following its first loss of the season.

Redlegs will regain Callum Mulder and coach Gary Shipton wants his charges to get back on the winner’s list without delay. The Saints’ will be strengthened by the return of six senior players including coach Allan O’Sign, Sam Cooke and Ben Tuthill after five-straight losses.

FOOTBALL will return to Fingal on Saturday for the first time since the Blues folded in 2015.

East Coast hosts Tamar Cats (4-6) in an important match up for both sides.

A win would keep the Swans ahead in the race for a top-three finish, while a Cats loss would see them slip further away from a finals berth.

“It has been a while since there has been football in the valley and we hope we get a good following,” East Coast coach Ned Hyland said.

“Our captain Pearce Robinson will come back in after missing two weeks.”

The Swans have won their past five matches in the same time Tamar coach Brennan Cresswell has gone winless.

“They have got a lot of top-end talent that we’ve got to be wary of and try and shutdown,” he said.

“We are looking to improve our defence.”

OLD LAUNCESTONIANS will celebrate their 1997 seniors and reserves premierships at Invermay Park against St Pats – the team they defeated in both grand finals.

The Blues are precariously placed at 5-5 and coach Wayne Kirby knows a tough run home awaits.

“So long as we can keep that 50 per cent record we are still well in the hunt,” he said.

“The boys are aware of where we sit on the ladder (seventh) and what is at stake… as we’ve got Evandale, East Coast, Perth and Lilydale to finish the year.”

Tim Wheeler, Jeff Connelly and Luke Johnston will return for the Blues, while Saints coach Alex Russell will miss. Start times have been changed with the seniors to begin at 3.30pm, half an hour into the reunion.

PERTH boss Damien Rhind is disappointed in his team’s effort in the past two weeks and is after a complete performance at home against last-placed Meander Valley.

“It is the little things that we need to get right in order to compete with those top sides,” he said.

“We are in the same position as Old Launcestonians… so we need to win all the games we’re expected to win in the last six rounds to get to where we want to be.

“If we can bring full effort I think we can secure the four points.”

Rhind said he the Pies would go in unchanged

BRIDPORT runs into a difficult task in Evandale after clinching its third victory of the season last week.

Seagulls coach Brett Laskey said the win has given his charges a boost in morale.

“Evandale are a hard side to catch. At their very best they’re very good but they seem to be a little bit inconsistent,” Laskey said.

“We are just taking the game on and having a crack and if we go down swinging, I’m happy with that.”

Bridport lose Dominic Hawksley for the bout.

LILYDALE coach Thane Bardenhagen said he feels like the Demons are starting to capture their best form after a mid-season lapse sparked by a horror run of injuries.

He said he is confident of a positive outcome at home against Uni-Mowbray.

“Hopefully we are going to come good at the pointy end of the season and our ball movement is starting to pick up,” Bardenhagen said.

“Andrew McLean comes back, Josh Griggs is away and Joby Reynolds is out.”

OLD SCOTCH and Prospect are set for battle under lights at NTCA Ground on Friday. Seniors start at 6.15pm, followed by the reserves at 8.30pm.

A decade has passed since Lilydale completed a clean sweep of the North East Football Union.

The Demons’ under-18s coached by Barry Hawes, reserves led by Bruce Lockhart and seniors guided by  Neville Rattray went through the entire 2007 season undefeated in banking three premierships.

Branxholm seniors were the only team to get close, drawing with Lilydale in a home and away fixture.

The feat is believed to be a national record.

It has also been 25 and 30 years since the Demons’ won flags in 1992 (seniors) and 1987 (reserves), respectively. 

All three occasions will be celebrated on Saturday with a reunion at the club with today’s crop of stars set to take on Uni-Mowbray.

This year’s Lilydale side boasts 12 players from the 2007 under-16 team and two senior members, including coach Thane Bardenhagen.

The reunion starts at 1pm with the senior game to kick off at 2pm.

The club’s team of the decade will also be announced about 7.30pm.

SENIORS

LILYDALE 23.11 (149) d SCOTTSDALE CROWS 15.8 (98). Goals — LILYDALE: J. Betts 6, A. Viney 4, L. Tuthill 3, D. Bardenhagen, M. Routledge, T. Woods, B. Hawes 2, J. Swinson, K. Dwyer. SCOTTSDALE CROWS:A. Waterhouse 5, D. Briggs 3, J. Barron, J. Green 2, A. Smith, J. Rainbow, T. Gunn. Best — LILYDALE: L. Tuthill, K. Curtis, B. Hawes, R. Flynn, A. Viney, M. Routledge. SCOTTSDALE CROWS: A. Dean, J. Green, C. Sturzaker, D. Briggs, S. Smith, S. Jones. 

RESERVES 

LILYDALE 12.10 (82) d WINNALEAH 9.6 (60). Goals — LILYDALE: L. Dwyer, S. Lockhart 3, T. Arnold 2, C. Dixon, G. Nutting, P. Whiting, C. Lockhart. WINNALEAH: L. Jones 4, C. Smith 2, D. Windzar, G. Rowe, J. Hayes. Best — LILYDALE: S. Lockhart, L. Dwyer, G. Nutting, K. Tuthill, N. Venn in a team effort. WINNALEAH: D. Harvey, G. Rowe, J. Hayes, D. Gonninon, A. Taylor, C. Jones. 

UNDER-16s

LILYDALE 9.10 (64) d BRIDPORT 7.10 (52). Goals — LILYDALE: J. Ovent 3, M. Zanetto 2, B. Hawes, B. Arnol, J. McLelland, J. Griggs. BRIDPORT: J. Robinson 3, C. Barnes, N. Barnett, C. Harper, C. Burke. Best — LILYDALE: J. Lockhart, B. Tuthill, T. Bardenhagen, J. Tuckerman in a team effort. BRIDPORT: Outstanding team effort

Rocherlea host Scottsdale and Evandale travel to Prospect in the final round of TWL North with finals to be held at Rocherlea the following Saturday. 

Rocherlea would love to finish the roster season on a high at home against the Magpies but the ladder leaders will need to be on their game. 

Angela Dickson has had a magnificent season along with Britany Carter and coach Amanda Sweeney adds experience to the line-up. Dearne Taylor, Alex Hall and Rebekah Mcgougall will lead the Magpies charge. 

Evandale will look to build momentum at Prospect  as they head into next week’s decider. 

The Weagles welcome back Maddi Bugg, Maddi Chick and Brittany Grice but lose Kartley Broad to work commitments. 

Sarah Radford has been dominant since crossing from Launceston and will lead the Prospect charge along with Alissia Pearson and Kate Marshman.

Deloraine Football Club has nominated Duncan and Glenn Armstrong as candidates for the NTFA volunteer of the week.

The Armstrong family have a long history with the footy club.

Both men have been involved as players since junior days and their mum Pat being a stalwart of the catering and shop committee.

Glenn is a life member of the club, having played over 300 games and Duncan was a reserves player over many seasons.  

Both currently hold places on the committee, with Glenn being vice-president and Duncan treasurer. 

Glenn also assists with coaching and is the bar manager.

Both men dedicate many voluntary hours every week to making sure the Deloraine Football Club runs as efficiently as possible. 

They are both loyal and passionate members of the Deloraine club and community.