That is the sentiment echoed by coach Chris Hilet, who thinks his team’s ladder position of ninth (two wins, six losses) is a fair indication of the Magpies’ efforts in the first half of the season.

Wickliffe/Lake Bolac could quite easily be sitting in a higher position, having lost two games by one point earlier in the year, but Hilet said complacency proved costly.

“We are probably where we deserve to be,” he said.

“At the start of the year we had a few guys that lacked a bit of commitment and that’s cost us, but in saying that we are getting some guys back now, so hopefully we can turn things around in the back half of the year.

“I am reasonably confident that our best footy can stack up against any side.

“We put together about three good quarters on the weekend (against the undefeated Lismore/Derrinallum), but just ran out of legs in the end. We had a few blokes underdone and were still missing a few too.”

The Pies’ line-up is expected to be bolstered for the clash, with full forward Richard Blackburn, best and fairest Jason Quinlivian and the skilful Ed Guthrie all in the mix.

Wickliffe/Lake Bolac will need to be at its best to defeat Moyston/Willaura, which would be disappointed with its showing against Tatyoon last Sunday.

Despite matching it with the Hawks in the second half, the Pumas gave away too big a head start and will want to hit the ground running at Willaura tomorrow.

Rhys Cronin continues to give the side plenty of drive out of defence and links up well with Matt Peel, Luke Thomas and Lachie Hamilton.

The Magpies also boast plenty of in-form players, headed by recruit Jock Cameron who earned his fourth best on ground accolade last week.

“Jocko came to us from Anglesea in the Bellarine League during the pre-season. He’s a class player and really adds an extra dimension to our midfield,” Hilet said.

“He is very hard at the footy and wins a lot of his own contested ball then uses it really well.

“I’ve also been really impressed with Mick Otto, I think he’s put together his best eight weeks of footy since I’ve been at the club and also Lach Kelly is having a big year.

“In the last couple of seasons he has been a tagger, but this year we have freed him up and he is probably playing the best footy of any of our midfielders — Jock included.”

If SM&W Rovers can down Penshurst tomorrow they will move into the top five for the first time this season — assuming Caramut lose to equal top team the Demons.

The Bulldogs are starting to look dangerous with forwards like coach Joe Carmody, Derek Stephens and Nathan Searle firing in recent weeks.

Runners Tyler Mason, Tom Madden and Dave Stewart are also proving important in helping the team gain metres from the back half of the field.

Carmody said his team is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the third placed Bombers.

“It is going to be a good test this week to again see where we are at,” he said.

“I thought against Tatyoon for three quarters we were really competitive, but we were also really undermanned that day.

“We go into this game with a more experienced team and are really looking forward to trying to pressurise them as much as we can. I think that’s going to be how we can win because they are a very good side.”

Spirits are at an all-time high among Great Western’s players as they go in search of their third win of the season.

Coach Andrew Bach said the Lions had responded well to discussions over the past week about the future direction of the club and were positive going into tomorrow’s clash against seventh placed Glenthompson/Dunkeld.

“The players are still really upbeat and happy, they just want better results,” Bach said.

“They understand we are in a rebuilding phase, but they were hoping we would have had a few more wins on the board by now.”

Great Western will go into the  match without prolific ball winner BJ Burton, who injured his hamstring in the first five minutes of last week’s clash at Caramut. However, the Lions will welcome back several key players including Matthew Bourke, Danny Grellet and Leroy O’Brien, while Tom Cairns is available and Luke Cadzow is likely to play his first game of the year.

It is top versus bottom when Tatyoon travels to Alexandra Oval to take on the Ararat Eagles.

The Hawks’ midfield, led by Sean McDougall, will have far too much class for the young Eagles’ line-up.

Joseph Dukic has been a consistent performer for the Eagles in the first eight rounds and will be eager to test himself against the competition’s benchmark.

Umpire appointments

Lis/Derri v Caramut (at Derrinallum): P Walton, P Forsyth

W/Mortlake v Hawkes/Mac (at Woorndoo): L Mooney, D Reynolds

Ara Eagles v Tatyoon (at Alexandra Oval): P Spriggs, A Vermeend