Neerim South thirds handed second loss by Ellinbank
Top of the table Neerim South, that had lost only one game, was toppled by Ellinbank on Saturday in the final home and away round.
A sharp shooting Liam Lisle, who kicked six goals in second placed Ellinbank's tally of 7-1, steered the Eagles to their upset victory against an opponent that wasted plenty of chances to snatch the win in a desperate final quarter.
The game was close most of the way, Ellinbank's 12-point lead at the last break - 6-1 to 3-7 - the largest margin at any of the changes.
South dominated general play in the final term and peppered the sticks but was only able to put through one goal while also kicking six behinds to fall just short at the siren.
The result sets up a tantalising re-match if, as likely, the sides meet again during the finals.
Best for Ellinbank were Jack Champion, Adam Campbell, Lisle with his six goals, Thomas Bingham, Jonty Kennedy and Ripley Pyle.
The Eagles' other goal scorer was Blake Handley.
Neerim South's better players were Ayden Ramm, Riley Ferguson, Jack Haley, Jarrod Meggetto, Chad Owen and William Johnson.
Its goal were kicked by Aden Guy (two), Blake
Appleby and Tom Zeldenryk.
Lang Lang v Longwarry
In the only other under 18 game at the weekend Longwarry had a big win against Lang Lang.
In an 11-club league only six of them field teams in the Under 18s and its to Lang Lang's great credit that its side shows up each week, often with fewer than the desired number of players, to compete in what would have been an extremely difficult year in which the team didn't win a game.
On Saturday Longwarry, that will play i n next Saturday's qualifying final, notched a 14-6 to 3-5 win.
Longwarrys' best were Sam Blake, Joshua Cantwell, Josh Downes, Cody McInnes and Kieren Willis.
Tyler van der Heyden led the goals with four, Fintan Fox got three and single goals were kicked by Blake, Brock Standfield, Dominic Keane, Lachie Spinks, Harrison Colvin, Ned Ashton and Brock Davis.
For Lang Lang Thomas Brennan, Dylan Halden, Ben Geyer, Stanley Geyer and Alexander Brennan put in great efforts with Ben Geyer, Liam Casey and Bradley Buttigieg kicking the goals.