Round 23

“Derbies are as close to finals as you’ll get in the home and away season, so we’re privileged that we got those types of games. To be now playing in a derby final, it doesn’t get any bigger”

Rovers coach Sam Murray ahead of the first Wang Derby final since '89

The Headline

Finals will look a bit different this year with the yellow & black missing for the first time since '08.

Cross town rivals North have snuck on though for the first time in 9 years, just 2 years after claiming the spoon with a lone win.

The Pies cracked the top 3 after the start from hell (0-4), after being widely tipped as the main contender to the Pigeons.

Around the Grounds

Wang pinched the double chance with a 148 point mauling of the Raiders.

Although undermanned, the star power of Cam Ellis-Yolmen & Tom Bracher would likely have done little to quell the Pies domination, Mick Newton the main recipient with a bag of 9.

A scoreless 3rd quarter against the Hoppers nearly cost Wodonga everything.

As luck would have it for the Doggies though, it's the same quarter the Saints stood up with 7 majors against the Tiges to sink their top 5 hopes.

Rovers v Yarra looked every bit a top 2 clash at the half, the Rovers with a 10 point lead despite even scoring shots.

With 8.12 to 2.3 from that point though, the Pigeons gave no illusion as to their intent for the next month.

Goalkickers

🏉 Josh Minogue - North Albury - 61

🏉 Leigh Williams - Yarrawonga - 59

🏉 Sam Dunstan - Corowa-Rutherglen - 51

1st Qualifying

Rovers v Wang

In a 35 year first, there's an all Wang final... played in Corowa.

A tale of two seasons comes to a head here, the Rovers building ever constantly towards a drought breaking premiership while the Maggies have had to claw their way back from near written off.

Wang star Brad Melville has been named to return, but fellow gun Cal Moore is still a 50/50 even at this late stage, while the Rovers welcome back Dylan Stone.

Both face-offs have been rippers, so expect another.

Form: Rovers (3-2) - Wang (4-1)

Last time: R10 - Rovers by 3 points

Tip: Rovers by a point

Elimination

North v Wodonga

What's that saying, 'a week's a long time'?

Although last week's result wasn't a belting, the Doggies will be looking to Beechworth in the TDFL for inspo ahead of the return fixture.

They've borne the brunt of injuries this season, but refuse to lie down. And despite dropping both meetings to the Hoppers this season, it's been by a combined 4 points.

1 kick'll do it, and they only have to beat the Hoppers once.

Form: North (2-3) - Wodonga (3-2)

Last time: R18 - North by 3 points

Tip: North by 11 points

"I bet you Athanitis is rubbing his hands together about gaining that huge advantage"

Power Footy Manager Paul Rippingale on RWW hosting a final from 6th spot

The Headline

Fears of entering concussion protocols with finals around the corner have robbed young Power forward Ryan Beveridge of the outright League Leading Goalkicker.

Beverage was unable to convert a couple of early shots before being crunched in a contest, wearing an errant whack to the jaw.

He spent the remainder of the match on the timber with bigger fish to fry in the coming weeks, and was forced to settle as joint leader.

Around the Grounds

Jindera looked in big danger after conceding 6 straight in the first to Lockhart, but rebounded strongly with 12 goals to 7 to renew their status as a genuine threat.

The win has the potential to heap the pressure on the Dees ahead a repeat fixture in a cut-throat Elimination against the Dogs at Henty.

Despite losing their most potent forward, the Power had little trouble against Henty, finishing off the home & away in 3rd spot.

Corey Smith returned to form, filling the void with a handful, while coach Kyle Docherty & Jack Andison chipped in with 3 apiece - the Power only conceding 2 goals for the match.

BB climbed from the bottom of the ladder with a gutsy come from behind over Murray.

It looked unlikely, but an avalanche of 19 shots to 6 after the half for a return of 10.9 saw the Saints avoid the wooden spoon and put a bitter end to the Pies season.

Goalkickers

🏉 Luke Gestier - Holbrook & Ryan Beveridge - CDHBU - 58

🏉 Shannon Terlich - Henty - 51

🏉 Trent Castles - Jindera - 48

1st Elimination

CDHBU v RWW

Just the single meeting this season - one the Power will rue after wasting many an opportunity to ice the game, before being overrun by the Giants.

Form backs the Power in their search of a first finals win since '16, while the Giants hopes of going one better than last year's prelim looks in trouble with an injury riddled list... but it is at home.

Form: CDHBU (5-0) - RWW (2-3)

Last time: R7 - Giants by 11 points

Tip: Power by 16 points

2nd Elimination

Lockhart v Jindera

Again similar to Beechworth, Lockhart will be hoping to reverse their fortunes a week on from conceding defeat to their Elimination opponents in Jindera.

They're on the road again, away from their fortress, but at least this is a neutral venue.

Jumping the Doggies in the opening term last week was the only positive, so they'll be hellbent on making that a 4 quarter performance.

Form: Lockhart (3-2) - Jindera (3-2)

Last time: R18 - Doggies by 15 points

Tip: Dees by 8 points

"A week is a long time in football. Things can change quickly"

Beechworth captain Cam Fendyk on turning the tables against Thurgoona

The Headline

Reigning League B&F, Beechy's Cam Fendyk, Yack ruckman Zack Leitch and Barny midfielder Jarrad Farwell have shared the Barton Medal in just the 2nd 3-way tie in league history, each polling 22 votes.

Around the Grounds

Beechworth exacted revenge for last week's humiliation, eliminating Thurgoona.

The Bushies made a statement with the early breeze kicking 4.4 in the opening term, before building out to a 30 point lead early in the second.

The Doggies responded with the next 5 majors, bringing the margin back to the solitary behind in the 3rd, but were unable to maintain the rage.

All missing from last week's clash with the Dogs - Kayde Surrey, Lachie Armstrong & Ed Cartledge made immediate impact - Armstrong & Cartledge multiple goalkickers & Surrey in the best for the Bushies.

Warnings don't come much louder than KSC's 51 point thumping of the reigning premiers.

The Hawks held the Swans scoreless in the second, but only led by 4 points at the half before converting 10 of the next 12.

Hawks B&F Connor Newnham got off the chain with 6 sausages, while Raiders recruit Alex Daly blanketed the Swans only reliable route to goal in Mark Doolan, keeping him goalless.

2nd Qualifying

Yack v KSC

Hard to go past this as a Grand Final preview.

Yack haven't missed a beat since dropping their first 2 matches.

A gun midfield supplying boundless opportunity to potent forwards, all backed up by a rock solid defence has all the makings of a premiership team.

Coincidentally though, it was KSC who dealt Yack their first taste of defeat.

Although that R1 victory seems a lifetime ago, and the Roos have since enacted revenge, the Hawks are shaping as THE genuine threat to deny the Roos as their list regains its potency, with the form to back it.

Form: Yack (5-0) - KSC (5-0)

Last time: R12 - Roos by 23 points

Tip: Roos by 4 points

Semi

Chiltern v Beechworth

These guys have met in week 2 of the finals for the past 2 years running - the Swans having things on their own terms both occasions - but one gets the feeling a different outcome is brewing this year though.

They've split the points so far, the Swans winning at Baarmutha in R1 & the Bushies at Chiltern more recently at the end of June.

Interestingly, the Swans have played the remainder of the top 5 on 9 occasions in season '24 - they've failed to register 40 points in 5 of those meetings.

Form: Chiltern (3-2) - Beechworth (3-2)

Last time: R12 - Bushies by 7 points

Tip: Bushies by 13 points

“It feels like both of these two teams are built for finals"

Greta coach Chris Dube ahead of their clash with Bonnie Doon

Around the Grounds

Despite trailing at the first break, Goorambat had shown their hand with twice as many scoring shots than Milawa, against the breeze.

Clearly all in, the Bats slammed on 7 unanswered to open up a 43 point lead at the half over a depleted Dees outfit.

They'd continue on that fashion with 10 goals to 6 from there, charging to a Semi berth.

King Valley gave Bright a wakeup call, hitting the lead early in the 3rd after a tight opening half.

That must've sounded the alarm bells for the Mountain Men though, as they kicked 9 of the remaining 12 goals for the match with league leading goalkicker Cooper Thomason bagging 6.

Qualifying

Bonnie Doon v Greta

The standout teams of the comp do battle for just the second time this season, the Bombers escaping with a 6 point win the first time around.

Greta's scoring power is undeniable, hitting the scoreboard with 400+ more points than the League's next best in the Bombers.

But the Doon have the ability to control the tempo & run the game on their terms, evidenced by restricting the Blues to their lowest score in 25 matches in R4.

Form: Bonnie Doon (5-0) - Greta (5-0)

Last time: R4 - Bombers by 6 points

Tip: Bombers by 3 points

Semi

Bright v Goorambat

Confidence can be a dangerous thing.

The Bats return to finals is now backed up by the domination of their nearest competitors, and will have their tails up believing anything is possible.

And despite the Mountain Men being a cut above all season, will now have to make sure they don't book this in as a surety at the risk of looking fools.

Form: Bright (5-0) - Goorambat (4-1)

Last time: R11 - Mountain Men by 47 points

Tip: Bright by 18 points

History has a habit of repeating itself, as those out Bullioh way will tell you.

One of their more famous premierships came in 2019, when they rolled a Cudgewa outfit on a 15 game win streak after a series of tight tussles throughout the home & away.

So this time around, despite the Blues being on a streak of 27 & 11 straight over the red, white & blue, the Doggies remained quietly confident.

Keeping the Blues goalless in the opener was a good start, but when the reigning premier responded with 5.5 to 1 straight in the second, the gauntlet was well & truely thrown down.

The Doggies hit back with 6 of their own to take a 21 point lead into the final term, but they'd found themselves in this situation many a time this season, unable to finish the job.

Not this time around though. Refusing to die wondering, Bullioh threw everything at the Blues with 9 shots on in the final for 3.6, which would see them home to premiership glory.

Big Doggy forward Ash Murray starred with 6 snags in a best on performance - while in a story as old as footy itself, the underdogs reign supreme!