Cobras advance as Stars bow out
It was Cora Lynn that advanced to the West Gippsland football finals with a comfortable victory over Garfield, 13-7 (85) to 7-5 (47).
The Cobras, who advanced to the finals for the 13th consecutive season, set up the win with a barnstorming first half.
Nine goals to four set up a 32-point lead at half time, and while the Stars fought back to win the third quarter it was the finals hardened Cobras that kicked the final three goals of the match to run away with it.
Jeremy Monckton, Chris Johnson, Jai Rout (three goals), William Thomas, Kevin Vandenberghe and Jackson Dalton helped the Stars to victory.
Tanner Stanton, Jayden Goumas, Daniel Helmore, Tyler McDonald, Noah Glen and Alex McMillan were the better players to cap a gallant season for the Stars.
An epic under 18 match where the top of the table Cobras came from three goals behind to defeat fourth-placed Garfield had set the scene for a mini elimination final in the afternoon.
Goon, Demons win double
Nar Nar Goon and Koo wee rup each recorded strong wins to secure the double chance and set up an enthralling qualifying final at Koo wee rup on Saturday.
The Goon were far too strong for Dalyston, with the carnage beginning from the first bounce with an eight goal first term.
The Magpies were never able to recover, with the Goon all but having the result in their keeping at the long break.
Six goals to no score in the final term pushed the margin out to beyond 100 points, 21-16 (142) to 2-3 (15).
Tom Dovaston and Troy McDermott each kicked five goals, while Brendan Hermann, Jake Smith, Tyler Payroli, Trent Armour and Troy Toussaint were also prominent in the big win.
The Demons also won by more than 100 points, with an explosive second half of 12 goals to one setting up the 19-15 (129) to 3-4 (22) win over Kilcunda-Bass.
Seven goals to two in the first half meant the Demons always had the match in their control.
Daniel Calteri booted six goals, supported by Jason Wells and Anthony Giuliano who bagged seven majors between them.
Luke Walker, Nathan Muratore, Tim Miller, David Collins and Ben Kerrigan also helped give the Demons a ruthless edge.
Eagles drop to fourth
Terrible kicking saw Inverloch-Kongwak slide to fourth spot and an elimination final date against Cora Lynn on Sunday.
It was Phillip Island who had the ascendency for much of the match as they kicked away to secure top spot on the ladder and a week off.
While they could only manage two behinds in the final term, the Sea Eagles could only manage 1-8 and missed an opportunity to get back into the match.
The Sea Eagles will host the Cobras on Sunday.
Giants exact revenge
Korumburra-Bena exacted some revenge on Bunyip in the only dead rubber of the round.
The Bulldogs have had the Giants’ measure of late and would have been confident as they headed into the final change with a narrow eight-point lead.
However the home side sensationally failed to score in the final term, as the Giants kicked three goals to run away with it, 9-5 (59) to 5-14 (44).
Reid Jenkin, Damien Swzaja, Brad Walker, Brent Heus, Cleyton Bertoncello and Anthony Young helped put the Bulldogs in a winning position, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Finals begin
West Gippsland Football Competition finals schedule: Qualifying finals at Koo wee rup: Seniors: Nar Nar Goon v Koo wee rup. Reserves: Nar Nar Goon v InverlochKongwak. Thirds: Phillip Island v Kilcunda Bass. Fourths: Koo wee rup v Nar Nar Goon. Elimination finals at Inverloch: Seniors: Inverloch-Kongwak v Cora Lynn. Reserves: Phillip Island v Kilcunda-Bass. Thirds: Garfield v Koo wee rup. Fourths: Bunyip v Korumburra-Bena.