MAIDEN Gully moved inside the Loddon Valley top five after defeating Newbridge in a four-point thriller in round 12.
The 14.10 (94) to 14.6 (90) victory lifted the fifth-placed Eagles to 18 points – two points more than sixth-placed Inglewood.
While Maiden has a tougher run home than Inglewood over the final six rounds, fifth place could well come down to the round 17 clash between the Eagles and Blues.
The Eagles trailed the Maroons at every break in a hard-fought contest, but they added 5.2 to 4.1 in the final term to pinch a crucial victory.
Daniel Russell, Mitch Hill and Josh Worsley were best for the Eagles, while co-coach Angus Monfries kicked three goals in his first game for more than a month.
The Maroons, who have lost five games on the trot, named Ben McKinley, Andrew Padbury and Jed Zimmer as their best players.
Pyramid Hill bounced back to form with a commanding 147-point win over Mitiamo.
After being outplayed in all facets of the game by Marong the previous week, the Bulldogs responded with a ruthless performance against the Superoos.
A bag of 10 goals from key forward Ben Bisset was the highlight of the 25.20 (170) to 3.5 (23) win.
The Dogs kicked seven goals to one in the first quarter and closed the game out with a blistering 10-goal final term.
Bisset now has 55 goals for the season and closed to within 15 goals of league-leader Lachlan Sharp in the LVFNL goalkicking title.Ruckman Lachlan Sidebottom missed the second-half of the loss to Marong because of a back complaint, but he recovered in time to control the air against the Superoos.
Midfielder/forward Ben Knight continued his great form, adding another three goals to his name. Knight has kicked 13 goals in Pyramid Hill’s past five games.
 Matt Gilmour, Zak Myers and Cody Tuohey were best for the Superoos, while Seth Wright, who kicked the match-winning goal against Calivil United the previous week, booted two of Mitiamo’s three goals against Pyramid Hill.
Flag favourite Marong improved its record to 11-0 on the back of a 114-point thumping of bottom side Calivil United.
The Panthers controlled the game from start to finish and won comfortably, 20.12 (132) to 2.6 (18).
Livewire midfielder Jimmy Gadsden was at his brilliant best for the Panthers and big man Matt Willox gave the Marong on-ballers first use.
Ryley Taylor (seven goals) and Michael Bradbury (four goals) had a day out inside forward 50.
Mitchell Stephens, Jake Lawry and Riley Walsh were best for an undermanned Calivil United outfit.
Marong’s home clash with Bridgewater is the highlight of round 13 action this weekend.
In other games, Mitiamo travels to Marist College to tackle Maiden Gully, Pyramid Hill hosts Bears-Lagoon Serpentine and Inglewood is at home to Newbridge.
- ADAM BOURKE