There are five rounds left of Goulburn Valley League football, and nine teams are still a viable chance to play finals.

Every game will matter, each result will impact the ladder, and every percentage decimal could be the difference between a run at a flag, or sitting on the sidelines in September.

With the tightest, most thrilling close to a season in recent times, we’ve previewed each GVL club’s run home and predicated its win-loss record and ultimate ladder position at season’s end - time will tell if our forecast is the correct fate.

Shepparton

Current record: 12-1 (first)

Run home: Mooroopna (home), Shepp Swans (away), Benalla (home), Kyabram (away), Rochester (home)

The Bears have been nearly faultless in 2026, falling only to Echuca by 10 points this season.

However, its run home is not easy by any stretch of the imagination.

The Bears face four finals contenders in its last month and a half of the home and away season, plus a Saints side happy to play the villain after their near-upset of Echuca in round 12.

Yet, it is impossible to bet against Shepparton, and with a strong bill of health, its best 22 should win on any given day.

Run Home Prediction: 5-0

Echuca

Current record: 12-1 (second)

Run home: Rochester (home), Kyabram (home), Seymour (home), Shepp United (away), Mooroopna (home)

A favourable run home travel-wise for the Murray Bombers could play into their hands before finals time.

While Echuca has had its scares and blemishes against its upcoming opponents, its advantage on ‘home’ decks - whether it be at Echuca South, Tongala or Moama - could provide the extra advantage against sides desperate to make finals in 2026.

However, with a top-two spot sewn up, the potential to play with less intent to avoid injury pre-finals could see one of its opponents take advantage later in the year, and that’s why we’ll chalk up an extra loss - albeit it doesn’t suggest Echuca will enter the finals with any less formidableness.

Run Home Prediction: 4-1

Seymour

Current Record: 9-4 (third)

Run home: Mansfield (home), Euroa (away), Echuca (away), Shepp Swans (home), Tatura (away)

Seymour is just about safe in regards to a top six spot, three games clear of seventh-placed Kyabram.

With games against cellar-dwellers Euroa and Tatura, two more wins would almost guarantee its spot in finals - and we expect the Lions to knock off a couple contenders at King’s Park as well to nail themselves in third.

Run Home Prediction: 4-1

Shepparton Swans

Current record: 7-5-1 (fourth)

Run home: Shepp United (home), Shepparton (away), Rochester (home), Seymour (away), Benalla (home)

Here’s where things get interesting.

The Swans are a win and a half clear of falling outside the finals equation, but two eight-point games, two matches away against premiership contenders, and a finish against potential season-spoilers Benalla paints a mountainous task - the Swans are far from home.

The Princess Park tenants also have a rocky record as of late, 2-3 in its last five and its wins haven’t been convincing, evident by its lowly percentage of 88.6.

The Swans’ draw with Mansfield may be the club’s season saving grace, but enough losses on the run home could bundle it out of the six.

Run Home Prediction: 2-3

Rochester

Current record: 7-6 (fifth)

Run home: Echuca (away), Tatura (away), Shepp Swans (away), Euroa (home), Shepparton (away)

The Tigers have roared back to life after a surprisingly poor start to the season.

Rochester looked well off the pace, but a four-game winning streak against a group of finals contenders suggests the Tigers of last year are back.

Games against the top two sides will challenge Rochester’s determination to not just be a finals contender, but a flag contender.

If they can pinch one against Echuca or Shepparton they’re in, but losses there leaves it up to fate.

Run Home Prediction: 3-2

Mooroopna

Current record: 7-6 (sixth)

Run home: Shepparton (away), Shepp United (away), Euroa (home), Mansfield (home), Echuca (away)

The Cats are the contender-killers.

Not many would’ve expected Mooroopna to be in the finals hunt this late in the season, but in John Lamont’s last campaign, the young Cats are putting together a spirited run.

While it boasts a 3-1 record across the last month, Mooroopna can be inconsistent, as seen with its round seven loss to Euroa.

But the Cats still turn up against the best, so their projected record reflects a prediction they’ll lose one they shouldn’t, and win one they shouldn’t either.

Run Home Prediction: 3-2

Kyabram

Current record: 6-7 (seventh)

Run home: Tatura (home), Echuca (away), Mansfield (away), Shepparton (home), Euroa (away)

Simply put, if the Bombers want to contend for a flag in 2026, they must beat one of the current premiership favourites.

The Bombers are ahead on the ladder of Tatura, Mansfield and Euroa, so let’s say they win those three, they’ll still have only nine wins on the table - last year that would’ve guaranteed no higher than eighth.

But Kyabram hold a strong percentage in its favour, meaning dropping one game will likely still give it a mathematical chance of making the top six.

However, its form does not present well enough to back them in, having not won two consecutive games all year, so don’t expect the reigning premiers to feature in September.

Run Home Prediction: 3-2

Shepparton United

Current record: 6-7 (eighth)

Run home: Shepp Swans (away), Mooroopna (home), Tatura (away), Echuca (home), Mansfield (away)

Can the Demons soar out of the depths of hell (a bottom six finish)?

The Demons have already doubled its win tally from 2025, but finals are firmly on the cards from the off-season’s biggest recruiters.

Three eight-point games could go either way for United. Win those plus a second Bulldogs percentage booster could do the trick for its first finals berth since 2013.

We think they’ll fall one win short.

Run Home Prediction: 3-2

Mansfield

Current record: 5-7-1 (ninth)

Run home: Seymour (away), Benalla (away), Kyabram (home), Mooroopna (away), Shepp United (home)

The season has dramatically slipped away from the Eagles.

80 and 92-point wins kickstarted its campaign, and a third of the way through were 4-2.

Since then, just one win and a draw has added premiership points to Mansfield’s tally.

The Eagles will need to win every game to be a chance of finals, but an early nail in the coffin could sour the spirits for the season’s remaining games.

Run Home Prediction: 0-5

Benalla

Current record: 3-10 (10th)

Run home: Euroa (away), Mansfield (home), Shepparton (away), Tatura (home), Shepp Swans (away)

The Saints won’t be viewed as this season’s angel side if they play the villain and spoil a couple of teams’ finals hopes.

While Benalla is out of the finals race, games against Mansfield and Shepp Swans will play a hand in shaping the ladder.

Run Home Prediction: 2-3

Euroa

Current record: 3-10 (11th)

Run home: Benalla (home), Seymour (home), Mooroopna (away), Rochester (away), Kyabram (home)

Likewise to Benalla, the Magpies could also play a part in the finals structure as it faces three contenders in the current ladder logjam.

Euroa’s three wins have come at home, so round 18’s clash against Kyabram could land a surprise blow to the Bombers, and will be one to watch.

Run Home Prediction: 1-4

Tatura

Current record: 0-13 (12th)

Run home: Kyabram (away), Rochester (home), Shepp United (home), Benalla (away), Seymour (home)

The Bulldogs’ competitiveness this season can only be admired, but do they have one perfect storm in them to claim an elusive victory?

Against four finals contenders, Tatura may face ruthless opposition hunting for a top six spot in its run home, so they certainly won’t be reprieved by an opposition’s complacency.

The Bulldogs fiercely challenged Benalla last time out, so circle round 16 as their best bet for Andy Ciavarella’s maiden victory as senior coach.

Run Home Prediction: 0-5

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Wednesday, 1st May 2030

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