Loss ends Ellinbank’s season
With their season on the line, Ellinbank took it right up to premiership fancy Nyora on Saturday.
Needing a win to keep its faint hopes of reeling in fifth-placed Poowong alive, the Eagles burst out of the blocks to race to a 17-point quarter time lead.
The Saints followed up an opening term of 1-4 with 1-6 in the second as the visitor took a 12-point advantage into the long break.
With plenty to prove, three goals apiece in the third term saw Ellinbank turn for home with their noses in front.
Unfortunately for the Eagles they failed to score a goal in the final term as the Saints ran over the top to put the Eagles out of their misery, ensuring a disappointing season ravaged by injury will not go any further than next week’s final home and away match.
Kicking three goals in the final term to turn an eight-point deficit into a nine-point victory, the result was equally as important for the Saints as they secured the minor premiership.
Iian Osman booted four goals in the 8-17 (65) to 8-8 (56) win, while Ryan Spooner, Nick Carrigy, Rhys Bancroft, Chris Hodges, Jesse Heylen and Sam Burns stood up where it counted in the final term.
Adam Cook booted five goals, while Franc D’Agostino, Mark Johnson, Brett Masterson, Ben Wragg and Michael Urie led the fight in the Eagles’ attempts to keep their season alive.
Finals for Magpies
Finals are on the agenda for Poowong after securing an elimination final berth with victory over Buln Buln, 9-14 (68) to 4-6 (30).
The victory, coupled with Ellinbank’s hard fought loss to Nyora, ensured the Magpies cannot be displaced from the top five heading into the final home and away round.
Buln Buln raced out of the blocks with three first quarter goals to open a 14-point lead at the first change.
Unfortunately for the Lyrebirds their next and only goal for the remainder of the match came in the third term as the Magpies built to a comfortable lead.
Five goals in the second term set the home team on the right path, heading into the final change with a 29-point advantage.
The Magpies scored the first and only goal of the final term to ensure there would be no comeback for the visitor.
Ben Hancock and Trevor Hooker each kicked three goals, while Chris Robinson, Jayden Sullivan, Jack Hazendonk, Tim Hancock, Michael Harris and Tim Francis also helped the Magpies overcome a slow start.
Simon Dawson, Matt Gray, Harry Wans, Thomas Axford, Isaac Lalor and Matthew Pearson helped the Lyrebirds establish an early lead.
Crows tune up
Longwarry continued to tune for finals with a big win over Lang Lang, 16-10 (106) to 2-4 (16).
The Crows kicked four goals to one in the first term and were never headed, scoring consistently to open a match winning 63-point advantage at the final change.
With finals around the corner the Crows were ruthless in the final term, keeping their opposition scoreless on the way to a big win.
Daniel Fry kicked seven goals, while Braydon McHugh finished with a bag of five majors.
Jake Delphine, Aaron Serong, Nicholas Redley and Cole Cook were other influential players in the big win.
Troy McPherson, Josh Brown, William McGindle, Lachlan Barwick and Trent Harvie battled against the odds for the Tigers.
Consolation win
Nilma-Darnum took a confidence boosting victory over Neerim-Neerim South, 10-9 (69) to 6-8 (44).
The Bombers took full toll to the scoring end, booting five goals in the first and third terms to set up the comfortable victory as they build for 2019.
Three goals in the second term helped the Cats bridge the gap, but with the Bombers kicking back out to a five goal advantage it proved a bridge too far in the final term.
Mitchell Dance kicked four goals, while Ben Campbell, Nicholas Murray, James Bourke, Chris Larosa, Thomas Shannon and Travis Dyke also stood tall for the Bombers.
Chris Charles, Aaron Fawcett, Nicholas Castle, Jackson Ward, Nathan Bayne and Steven Heath led a competitive effort from the Cats.