Yarrawonga midfielder Matt Gorman says he likes being the hunter after being the hunted for most of his time at the club.
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The Pigeons host ladder leaders Lavington and will fall two wins out of the top five with just a month left if results go as expected.
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"It's funny, when you're in this position, which I haven't been in while I've been at 'Yarra', it's exciting and it's a challenge," he said.
"They're coming to us, we're hunting them for a change, we can't wait."
Yarrawonga made six straight grand finals from 2009, taking two from the Albury juggernaut, and then played three successive preliminary finals before falling short in last year's first semi.
"We pride ourselves on playing a really good brand of footy, every week, but especially on our home deck," Gorman said.
"The brand we want to play keeps us in games, regardless of who we play, that one-on-one contested footy and make it a scrap to a certain extent."
The Pigeons lost their second star forward when Matt Casey split his liver against Myrtleford, prior to the bye.
Earlier in the year, representative big man Brandon Symes suffered a knee injury.
Jack Brooks, who's still eligible for under 18s, will be forced to shoulder some responsibility against a red-hot hot Panthers, who have added Richmond VFL player Shaun Mannagh.
Meanwhile, Yarrawonga will celebrate its 30-year premiership reunion.
The Pigeons overcame the controversial departure of coach Les (Salty) Parish with the highly-respected Neil Davis guiding the club to just its second flag in a 16-point thriller against Wodonga.
"He's hugely important, he was a real players' coach and was able to understand the players' needs," premiership player Russell Ednie said.
"His health is a concern, so it will be great for him to catch up with everybody and it will be great for everyone to catch up with him."
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