Group Nine mid-season report card - Fierce rivals shape as teams to chase down

As we reach the midway point, gaps in the ladder are starting to grow but there is very little between the seven sides vying for the four finals spots and ultimately the title.

Position: Third (three wins and one loss)

Run home: Young (h), bye, Tumut (a), Kangaroos (a)

Pre-season tip: Fourth

Brothers got off to the perfect start and lost few admirers in a loss to Gundagai last week, even if the Tigers always felt in control.

The Brethren are a hard team to shake and they've got plenty of young talent in the side who will only continue to benefit from big game experience and they should have some stocks coming back into the side.

This could be the year they actually win a final but they might not quite up to snaring a big scalp just quite yet.

Prediction: Third

Position: Second (two wins, draw)

Run home: Kangaroos (a), Southcity (h), Junee (a), Tumut (h)

Pre-season tip: Premiers

Gundagai are yet to taste defeat this season and while the club with sky high expectations haven't reached the standard they want yet there are plenty of positive signs.

Finishing off games has been a concern but there is plenty of talent to take the Tigers a long way this season.

Just like last year home ground advantage could be crucial in the last-round clash with Tumut which would give victors a big leg up come finals time.

Prediction: Premiers

Position: Fourth (one win, two losses)

Run home: Southcity (a), Tumut (h), Gundagai (h), Young (a)

Pre-season tip: Fifth

The Junee have plenty of star power with a plethora of new faces coming into the team however they are yet to really click as a team.

And they are fast running out of chances to put it together.

They got on the board last week after taking advantage in the wet but have a tough run home and might not be able to scramble together in time.

Prediction: Fifth

Position: Sixth (one win, three losses)

Run home: Gundagai (h), Young (a), bye, Brothers (h)

Pre-season tip: Sixth

Kangaroos could rue a big missed opportunity against the Diesels last week with a tough run home.

There has been plenty of improvement shown from the Wagga club so far this season, including a close loss to Tumut, but they are yet to put in a full performance and need to do so quickly if they are to progress.

Regardless they will give their young talent a better platform to build off.

Prediction: Last

Position: Last (three losses)

Run home: Junee (h), Gundagai (a), Young (h), bye

Pre-season tip: Last

With how COVID-19 impacted the club it was always going to be a year where they dropped down the ladder.

Wins are yet to flow but they haven't been beaten by a great deal in any of their games so far and despite their player losses the Bulls still possess plenty of strike to surprise rivals in their remaining three games.

Prediction: Sixth

Position: First (three wins, draw)

Run home: Bye, Junee (a), Brothers (h), Gundagai (a)

Pre-season tip: Third

The Blues have started 2020 where they left off but aren't always as convincing .

The premiers haven't looked to have taken a backwards step but can let teams back into contests after good starts despite rallying late to secure a draw with Gundagai to start the season

The result showed there is little between the two sides but injuries to Dean and Lachlan Bristow are a concern for a team lacking depth.

Prediction: Runners-up

Position: Fifth (one win, two losses)

Run home: Brothers (a), Kangaroos (h), Southcity (h), Junee (h)

Pre-season tip: Second

There was plenty of hype around the Cherrypickers after bringing in some big names and they showed plenty of promise before the bubble burst in a big way against Tumut.

Lachlan Bristow and co cut right through the middle of the side however Young are hard to write off with Josh McCrone entering the fray next week.

He might not be able to fix all the issues the Blues highlighted but will add plenty to the side who are in the thick of the race to return to finals, and with a favourable draw.

Prediction: Fourth

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