Mininera finals up for grabs

With the competition so close that results of the final home-and-away round changed final-five placings, Mininera and District Football League fans are anticipating a huge finals series.

On their day, any team that has managed to finish in the top five could win this year’s series.

Moyston-willaura, having lost only two games for the season and with the competition’s best percentage, found itself in top spot and with a week off for the first week of finals.

The Pumas await the results of Saturday’s qualifying final between Lis- more-derrinallum and Wickliffe-lake Bolac at Caramut to determine which team their first bout will be against.

Lismore-derrinallum lost top spot with a 38-point last-round loss to SMW Rovers.

The game was close all day with the lead changing many times.

However a last-quarter burst by the Bulldogs saw them hold on and take away the victory.

Michael Lockyer was still a force for the Demons, kicking four goals and named in the best along with fellow midfielder Brandon Greenwood and defender Brent Rogers.

The Demons will certainly take the loss into consideration and hit this week at full tilt to regain their dominance over the league.

Wickliffe-lake Bolac, on the other hand, used its massive 114-point win over Caramut to jump into third spot on the ladder and secure a finals second chance.

Danny Smith led the charge for the Magpies in front of goal, booting three in a game where his team dominated from the first bounce.

Caramut was unable to score in the first or third quarters and only managed 1.2 for the day.

Tom Gibson, Nathan Curtis and Tristan May were best players for the Magpies, who, as last year’s runners-up, certainly know what it takes to get to the final week. The qualifying final is set to be a great clash.

In Sunday’s elimination final at Derrinallum, Penshurst takes on Tatyoon in a game for keeps.

Penshurst has finished its season well, winning its last two games to secure a finals berth and carrying momentum into this week’s elimination.

Chris Eales, Luke Ferguson and Grant Ewing all shone in front of goals for Penshurst last week, booting three apiece and showing the depth of the Bombers’ forward line.

Joseph Franklin provided plenty of support and along with the leadership of Justin Eales, helped them come away five-goal victors over Woorndoo-mortlake.

Tatyoon on the other hand, which has lost its past two games – the most recent one at the hands of Moyston-willaura by 14 goals – will need to find something extra to get back on the winners list.

No one from Tatyoon kicked multiple goals last week, however, with Lachie Marr, Jake Williamson and Shaun Orr in good form, along with the everreliable Jarrod Blandford, Tatyoon is far from being an easy-beat.

With a history of finals success the Hawks are certainly not to be taken lightly.