Finalists locked

The home and away season ended with a bang in Ovens and King, as ladder positions and match-ups for the first week of finals were figured out once and for all. Milawa will enter their elimination final against Bonnie Doon next week brimming with confidence, after belting the Bombers in the second half of their round 20 fixture. The Demons found their feet in the second half, kicking away to a 19.11 (125) to 4.8 (32) win. It was highly contested early, with the margin within two goals at quarter time and half-time. Bonnie Doon was able to not only weather the storm, but counterattack, and could’ve led at the major break if they’d made the most of their chances. Sensing their opportunity, the Demons pounced. A 7.4 third term for the home side, coupled with a miserly single behind conceded, saw Milawa shoot out in front of the Bombers, holding all the momentum and a 55-point lead heading into the last term. Bonnie Doon seemed out on their feet as the Demons continued to carve up the turf, running out winners by 93 points. The match would see Milawa’s Brady Bartlett bring up his 100th goal for the season, while Demons Corey Dunn, Aaron Law and Dane Fountain were all in stellar form. For the Bombers, Campbell Smedley would lead from the front with two goals, while Joel Sanford, Patrick Smith and James Fox put the work in all match. Milawa coach Matt Graham said once Barlett found his 100th, the entire team seemed to lift. “We started the game really well – Brady Bartlett ended up kicking the first three goals of the game and ended up on 99 – and all 18 players on the field ended up anxious,” he said. “It took a little while to get the monkey off the back, and once that happened, I think the switch flicked and the boys started playing a lot more team-first football. “We started to see the results of that team-first mentality when we were able to put together two really good quarters of football.” Elsewhere, Greta cinched the minor premiership with a brutal hammering of the struggling Benalla All Blacks. An eight goal to one opening term spelled disaster for the Panthers, as the Blues ran away winners 35.17 (227) to 4.8 (32). Greta’s defensive structure was too well set up to allow many of the probing Panthers plays to find their way to goal, but it was the Blues’ forwards who would do the damage. It was a goal-fest, with Harry Moran taking top honours with his nine goals, with multiple majors coming from Frazer Judd (eight), Lachie Kennett (five), James McClounan (four), Cody Crawford (three), and Josh Bell (two). For the Panthers, David Button and Tom Levy were in the best. In other matches, Whorouly full forward Michael Newton continued to rain down goals on opposition defenders, helping the Lions to a 20.6 (126) to 8.11 (59) win over Moyhu. Newton would finish with 13 majors, the equal most haul of his season, finishing on 129 goals from the home and away season. The Lions would start slowly, chipping away at the Moyhu defence, but as time wore on, Whorouly was able to spread the Hoppers and advance with speed. A 10-point margin at quarter time was extended to just shy of six goals by the half, and although the Hoppers fought hard, they weren’t able to stem the tide. Moyhu ruck Harry Verdon was named best on ground for the Hoppers, his craft and persistence at stoppage helping his midfielders burst and take the game on, while for the Lions, defenders Max Scott and Daniel Boyle were impressive. Whorouly will have to be content with fifth on the ladder behind Goorambat, whose 13.13 (91) to 10.9 (69) win over North Wangaratta sees them take fourth place ahead of the Lions by 0.11 per cent. The Bats had to fight back from a lacklustre opening term to be within a goal at the major break. It would be the third quarter when Goorambat were able to stretch their legs, using their speed from the contest to carve through the Hawk’s defensive structure and pile on seven goals to three. Jamie Dunn was at his scintillating best for the Bats, while Josh Nanson and Kyle McQuade did the work for North Wangaratta to round out their season. It was a procession at Whitfield where Bright thumped King Valley 29.19 (193) to 3.6 (24). Cooper Thomason (10 goals), Wayland Wales (six) and Tyler Thomason (five) did the damage for the Mountain Men, while Daniel Young, Dylan Browne and Charlie Davies fought hard all day. With the regular season done and dusted, the finals series is primed to begin. In the senior grade, an elimination final between Milawa and Bonnie Doon at North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve will kick off proceedings, before a knockout match between Goorambat and Whorouly at Whorouly on Sunday.

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