It's not easy being a fourth seed. Tack Porterhouse's Grassy Skirts had scratched and clawed all season, and now were hot at the right time. After losing to East leader Stawell to finish the third quarter of the season, Grassy had won 5 of 6 against the other division. Now Grassy, as the fourth seed, prepared to finish their home schedule against first seed Stawell over the weekend of Week Nine.

Two-time defending East division and ABL champion Stawell had followed their extra-inning triumph over Grassy in Week Eight with a 16-2 pounding of Rum Jungle. That win put Stawell at 29-17, 6 up with 14 to play for a magic number of only 9. Then, unaccountably, they'd lost 4 of 5 to Rum Jungle and the Salmon Gums Fisheaters. No matter, now they were back in the East and still 3 games up on Grassy. A sweep would guarantee at worst a tie. Manager Credence Carlisle was hopeful of getting his rotation set for the Kangaroo Cup.

Game one blew up cold and wet from the Southern Sea. Stawell plated 3 runs in the 3rd and led 3-2 as the game went to the bottom of the 5th. With 2 out and not a baserunner in sight, the storm took on dangerous proportions, and the players were called in. They would not return as the game, just 1 out away from going the required length, was washed out. A doubleheader was scheduled for Sunday.

Game one (again) was played on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Grassy's swingman lefty Terry Mulholland drew the start and dominated Stawell's vaunted offense. Dmitri Young homered for the Skirts, and 3 batters drove in 2 runs each as Grassy won easily 7-1. Suddenly Stawell's lead in the East was just 2 games.