Primed for finals action
After near-record wins, close games, upsets and massive bags of goals, the finals in Mininera District Football League are finally here.
And it took the last week of homeand-away competition for teams to confirm a final five.
After all was said and done, Penshurst emerged as the minor premier, finishing a game and a half on top of the ladder after an eight-goal win over second-placed Lismore-derrinallum.
The final position gave the team a week off in the finals.
Reigning premier Wickliffe-lake Bolac gave itself the best chance of getting an 11th-hour finals berth with a huge 20-goal win over Great Western.
However, wins to both Tatyoon and Woorndoo-mortlake prevented the Magpies’ charge and they finished the year sixth.
The finals series opens with a qualifying final between Great Western and Lismore-derrinallum at Willaura on Saturday.
The match represents Great Western’s first attempt at finals since they joined the league.
Lismore-derrinallum, since 2014, has been in finals every year with a return of two premierships from two grand-final appearances.
On the year’s performances, both teams have the talent and skill to win this game.
Although Lismore-derrinallum lost on Saturday to Penshurst, the Demons will be keen to redeem themselves with a win to set up a rematch with the Bombers.
The Demons’ long list of talent includes back-to-back Lewis medallist Michael Lockyer, who with his speed, skill and work rate has proven time and again a tough player for opponents.
Joining him are players such as Tom Millard, Jack Pitts, Todd Lamont, Beau Ketchen, Tyler Ditloff and Tim Glasson, just to name a few.
Great Western kicked only four goals last week but expectations are that the Lions will be ready to play at Willaura on Sunday.
The Lions have won 13 games and Saturday’s loss was their first in five weeks after a round-12 21-point loss to the Demons.
In the reserves Great Western plays Penshurst, and Moyston-willaura and Glenthompson-dunkeld will clash in under-16.5s.
A Sunday elimination final at Dunkeld involves a similar match, in that it is between seasoned finals veteran Tatyoon and Woorndoo-mortlake, which hasn’t had a post-season series for more than a decade.
The Woorndoo-mortlake Tigers have got themselves to the finals with convincing wins during the home-andaway season.
However, with only a draw and no wins against any other team in the top five so far in 2019, the odds will be against them.
But as we all know, anything can happen in finals and usually does.
The Tigers have shared the work load in front of goal, having had 10 players kick multiple goals.
However, they will look to Jordan Buckley, who is sitting on 97 goals, to make an impact and to reach the ton.
Other talent that will see Woorndoo make a real fight of it includes Sam Gervasoni, Grant Cameron, Jesse Johnson, Travis Ware and the Pemberton brothers, Damian and Matthew.
Sunday’s elimination action at Dunkeld also features SMW Rovers playing Woorndoo-mortlake in the reserves and Penshurst playing Tatyoon in the under-16.5s.