Round 25

"We're young, brash and we've got nothing to fear"

North coach Tim Broomhead's message - 'Come & get us'

Around the Grounds

Yarra extended their lead at every change to book entry to their 3rd straight decider.

The Rovers managed just the solitary goal until the final change - late in the 3rd mind you, but cost themselves at least some competitiveness with 9 minor scores in that time.

The Rovers might have been up against it without coach Sam's Murray (suspension) & Cattapan (shoulder), but it's no excuse considering Pigeons captain Leigh Masters (knee - season), Ryan Einsporn (wrist - season) & Nick Fothergill (hamstring) also sat it out.

Even when challenged by the Rovers in last, Yarra completely outclassed their opponents, topping the brown & gold's 4 goals with their own 6.

This game had it all - unbelievable bursts of individual & team brilliance, rapid fire scoring & vast momentum swings - You name it, it happened at WJ Findlay.

Wang burst out of the blocks with a 6 straight opener, but certainly didn't decimate the Hoppers, holding a near match high lead of 16 points at the first break.

Pie Cal Moore's 3 in as many minutes on his return must've had the Hoppers faithful concerned, but North showed their own flair with 2 in 30 seconds in the 3rd & their Doug Strang Medallist Josh Minogue finishing the day with 4.5.

It was blow for blow type stuff, the game never beyond 3 goals with North eventually saluting in their 9th match decided by under 10 points this season, progressing to their first Prelim in 14 years.

Prelim

Rovers v North

Northball might have fizzled in the big time, but it's caught fire in the O&M. The Hoppers rise from obscurity has been well documented, & enter the Prelim free from intense expectation. In its place, a drive & excitement as to how far they can push it.

Conversely, the Rovers have established themselves as the next best & likely challenger to Yarra. The hope of breaking a 30 year flag drought brings a level scrutiny, one they've been largely able to match throughout the season.

Former Collingwood teammates Sam Murray & Tim Broomhead will face off in their biggest match as coaches, both a massive part of why their teams find themselves in this position on & off the field.

North's Doug Strang Medallist Josh Minogue will take a mountain of stopping, dominating the Maggies last week with 9 shots on, and could prove a match winner if his radar is dialed in.

But that'll rely on getting the ball through one of the League's strongest interceptors in Rovers co-captain Tom Boyd.

The brown & gold certainly have the bigger name list with the likes of Lachie O'Brien, Xavier Allison & Sam Cattapan, but the young green & gold brigade of Harry Weaven, the Gardiner boys & Josh Murphy fear no one.

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

Last time: R15 - Rovers by 45 points

Tip: Rovers by 26 points

"It's priceless to see the joy on their faces"

Power coach Kyle Docherty on what their history making win means to their communities

Around the Grounds

Holbrook were held scoreless in the first, while Osborne capitalised in early use of the breeze to open up a 28 point lead. 

The Brookers fought back in the second with the advantage, restricting the Tiges to the solitary behind & pegging the margin back to 8 points.

Tiger George Alexander returned for his first game in 3 months, but threatened to be short-lived after trying to Leigh Mathews the goalpost, luckily only suffering a cork.

Little separated the 2 after the main break, but the Tiges extended their lead by 4 points to progress to their 3rd straight decider.

In a game of momentum swings, this matchup was always going down to the wire.

CDHBU jumped out to a match high 19 point lead shortly before the half, but Jindera pegged back within 2 minutes, continuing on in the 3rd to recover a slender lead at the last change.

The Doggies had thus far kept the Power's main forward targets locked out, but live wire small Corey Smith sniffed the moment, nabbing 3 sausages in the final term to drag his side to their first Hume League Prelim.

In other big news, play was forced to a halt early in the last when a missed soccer attempt landed square in the middle of Luke Garland's shin, snapping it in two & likely ending his decorated career.

Prelim

Holbrook v CDHBU

CDHBU have taken out both meetings this year, a rare feet since crossing from the now defunct Coreen League.

But they're a young team in the club's first Hume Prelim, coming up against one of the competition's mainstays that have been here, done that.

Holbrook know how to handle the moment, subduing rampaging up & comers for a spot in the decider in the past 2 seasons.

Corey McCarthy, Jock Triggs & Cody Hewat missed the R14 clash for the Brookers, but the Power were also without Ethan Hanrahan & Mick Collins.

Can the experienced Brookers find a way to arrest the fleet-footed Power, or will the merged identity prove the Teal Deal?

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

Last time: R14 - Power by 13 points

Tip: Power by 4 points

"Why not us?"

Star Roo forward Nick Donaghey on the impact of co-coach Darren Holmes' mentality

Around the Grounds

Chiltern have staged one of the great form reversals with a 69 point turnaround, a fortnight on from being belted by fierce rivals KSC.

The Swans burst out of the blocks with 4 goals to 1 in the opening, & held the Hawks scoreless in the 3rd to put one foot through the door towards the decider, leading by 5 goals at the final change.

But the brown & gold would come storming home with 10 shots on to 3 adding spice to the contest. Only issue, their efforts converted for just 3.7.

Connor Newnham did his best to drag the Hawks over the line with 4 majors, but was pipped by Swans spearhead Mark Doolan with a handful.

And thus, the Swans continued their dominance the Hawks, extending their incredible finals record in the process & with it, keeping dreams of a 3-peat alive.

Prelim

Yack v Chiltern

Contrasting tales of the success-starved & a dynasty are set to collide at the MCG of the bush this Saturday.

Tearaway leaders Yack enter the Grand Final on a 17 match win streak & newly crowned Barton Medallist Zach Leitch leading the charge - but lack the experience on the big stage, last tasting the ultimate glory in 2000.
Does that lead to being hungry, or overawed?

Meanwhile, Chiltern arrive on the back of an 8-1 record at the ground (including a win over the Roos in last year's penultimate), dual premierships & the opportunity to rewrite history. They've been up and down all season, but have overcome adversity before.
Are they wiser for it, or wishful?

Yack probably hold an advantage in attack with more reliable routes to goal chopping out Nick Donaghey - rather than the Swans, who rely heavily on veteran Mark Doolan.

Both are rock solid in defence though, so the forwards might have a tough day with Fin Lappin & Logan Martin controlling their respective back 6's.

It all counts for little if supply is restricted, but both can hurt you from the guts. The battle between midfield dynamos Kyle Cooper & Ben McIntosh will go a long way to who lifts the cup.

With weapons all across the ground, it'll come down to the one on ones. Who wants to beat their direct opponent, & who's harder for longer?

Form: Yack (5-0) - Chiltern (4-1)

Last time: R16 - Roos by 36 points

Tip: Roos by 8 points

BOG: Kyle Cooper - Chiltern

“They’d had three quarters of their best footy, and they still hadn’t put us away"

Bright coach Paul Harrison knowing they were still a sniff

Around the Grounds

In a comeback for the ages, Bright near doubled their score in the final term to steal a memorable win and heap revenge on Bonnie Doon. 

The Bombers got the game on their terms in the second quarter, jumping out to a 15 point lead at the half & extending that by a behind at the final break - Certainly not insurmountable, but it'd take something special.

Still 3 goals down with less than 15 minutes to play, the Mountain Men lead an all out assault the reigning premiers & turned the game in their favour.

Locked out of the game until that point, the O&K's Leading Goalkicker Cooper Thomason exploded, bagging 5 of Bright's 6 last quarter goals, ensuring Bright enters a second consecutive grand final showdown.

Prelim

Greta v Bright

Bright know the thirst for vengeance & the ferocity it brings, having exacted it theirs last weekend. They now get to experience it coming back the other way.

The Mountain Men dealt Greta a straight sets exit in last year's penultimate, & it's a short price bet the Blues will have that ringing in their memory.

But failing one step from the finish line hurts, and those from Pioneer won't be keen on becoming back-to-back bridesmaids.

It's probably not going to be a great day to be a defender, both sides possessing immense firepower.

Bright's Cooper Thomason, Luke Quirk & Declan Bren - plus Greta's Frazer Judd, Cody Crawford & Jimmy McClounan have combined for a ridiculous 420 goals between them this year.

This might just be the simplest of equations: Supply your forwards the most ammo & watch the shootout.

Form: Greta (5-0) - Bright (5-0)

Last time: R14 - Blues by 34 points

Tip: Blues by 17 points

BOG: Jimmy McClounan - Greta