FINALS fever has arrived in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Community Bank Football and Netball League.
In the Veteran’s Grand Final played at Woori Yallock last Sunday, Wandin with precision defeated a gallant Marysville outfit and in Division 2 finals, Powelltown put an end to Yarra Junction’s finals campaign with a seven point victory and Yarra Glen perhaps caused an upset by defeating the highly fancied Seville team by three points.
Division one finals begin this Saturday with both the elimination and qualifying final played at Alexandra and Yea respectively and Division 2 finals continue at Mt Evelyn and Warburton.
For all fixtures and results check out www.yvmdfl.com.au.
VETERANS GRAND FINAL
Wandin v Marysville
IN FRONT of a huge crowd Wandin and Marysville fought it out for the Veterans Premiership.
Wandin came out firing having eight scoring shots to three in the first and taking a 15 point lead into the first break.
Wandin piled on another three goals to one in the second quarter to lead by 28 points at the major break.
Wandin came out reinvigorated and kicked 5.4 to zip in the third.
Unfortunately for Marysville, the writing was on the wall and Wandin ran away with a Premiership
The player judged Best on Ground was Andrew Coppins.
Wandin 15.11 (101) d Marysville 4.3 (27)
DIVISION 1 ROUND 18
Belgrave v Warburton Millgrove
A FANTASTIC game from start to finish.
If Belgrave win, then third spot could be its; if Warby won then it would play finals whereas a loss would see it miss out.
As it was Belgrave did win but not before one hell of a contest.
The first half was a real arm wrestle and by half time it was Belgrave by just one goal.
The second half was just as tight with the biggest lead being just 12 pints in Belgrave’s favour at the last change.
The last quarter was a ripper, Warby’s season was on the line and it gave everything, both sides had their chances but it was Belgrave that bravely held on to secure the victory and grab the all-important third place and the double chance leaving Warby to contemplate what might have been.
Belgrave 13.15 (93) d Warburton Millgrove 13.10 (88)
Emerald v Monbulk
EMERALD has marched into the finals after disposing of Monbulk in emphatic style.
Emerald led this game by just 14 points at the main break but that was as close as Monbulk got as Emerald’s third quarter was exceptional, it booted 5.7 to Monbulk’s 1.1 to take a 44 point lead into the last quarter.
The last term was by no means a pretty affair with both sides only scoring the one goal but Emerald certainly didn’t care as it never was in danger of dropping this one and it now finishes fifth on the ladder and take some good form going into finals.
Emerald 11.17 (83) d Monbulk 5.7 (37)
Upwey Tecoma v Mount Evelyn
LEAGUE leaders Upwey showed no mercy to Mount Evelyn as it opened the game with an outstanding 10 goal to one quarter and the game was all but over from that point on.
Upwey continued its dominance booting five goals to one in the second term and leading by a massive 81 points at half time.
The second half was at least a little more even with Upwey outscoring its opponents nine goals to six, to eventually run out 97 point victors and show the rest of the finals competition it are going to take some beating.
Upwey Tecoma 24.15 (159) d Mount Evelyn 8.14 (62)
Wandin v Woori Yallock
WANDIN was terrific for the first three quarters as it held Woori Yallock to just one goal while it booted 11 majors and by three quarter time this game was well and truly over as Wandin led by 62 points.
Woori looked nothing like a finals side in the first three quarters and it needed to show something in the last for their supporters and at least it did outscore Wandin four goals to one to finish the day but Wandin was by far the superior side on the day and will go into its finals campaign full of confidence.
Wandin 12.7 (79) d Woori Yallock 5.11 (41)
Gembrook Cockatoo v Olinda Ferny Creek
THIS was a game for pride with Gembrook sitting at the bottom of the ladder and Olinda sitting just one game above it.
This, in fact, was a pretty good game of footy with both teams going all out to finish the season on a high. Olinda did look a little slicker in the first half and went into half time with a slender 14 point lead. Gembrook turned this game on its head in the third with an outstanding eight goal term and holding Olinda to just three and by three quarter time Gembrook held a three goal lead and look every bit the winner.
The last quarter saw both teams register three goals but it was Gembrook that always held sway and by final siren it came away with a much deserved 17 point win.
Despite the win Gembrook will still finish bottom and unfortunately face relegation next season
Gembrook Cockatoo 18.8 (116) d Olinda Ferny Creek 15.9 (99)
DIVISION 2
Qualifying Final (Seniors)
Yarra Glen v Seville
YARRA Glen got its first win over Seville in four attempts this season and it picked a pretty good time to do it.
Yarra Glen looked the cleaner and more composed side early in the game as it got out to a 16 point lead at quarter time.
Seville settled in the second quarter and started to find some of their familiar running game and by halftime it were right back in the contest trailing by just five points.
The third term belonged to Yarra Glen as all of a sudden it pretty much took control, it booted six goals to one on the back of some exceptional running play and by the last change Yarra Glen led by what looked like a match winning 31 points.
Seville has finished off games very well this season and this was to be no exception, Seville ran the ball at every opportunity and all of a sudden Yarra Glen was caught on the back foot, Seville slowly ate away at the lead and in fact had a shot late in the quarter to put it in front that was just off line.
Despite Seville’s gallant last quarter effort Yarra Glen was the better team for longer on the day and certainly deserved its win while Seville will be feeling it was one that got away.
Yarra Glen will now play Healesville for the chance to play off in the Grand Final while Seville comes up against Powelltown in a last chance showdown.
Yarra Glen 17.7 (109) d Seville 15.16 (106)
Elimination Final (Seniors)
Powelltown v Yarra Junction
For a final this really wasn’t one to remember as it was just a real slog for the first half with only six goals kicked, Powelltown having the better of it leading by two goals at half time.
The third quarter saw a lot better standard produced and it was Powelltown that looked more fluent and started to get some control over the game, it booted five goals to four for the term and held a 19 point lead going into the last quarter.
Powelltown didn’t score a major in the last leaving the door open for Junction but it wasted a number of opportunities booting 2.5 for the quarter enabling Powelltown to hold on to record a seven point victory.
Powelltown will now face Seville in another knockout final next week while Junction looks towards season 2014.
Powelltown 9.16 (70) d Yarra Junction 8.15 (63)
Qualifying Final (Reserves)
Seville v Yarra Glen
For the first half of this encounter it was a scrappy affair with neither side grabbing a real advantage, in fact there wasn’t a goal scored in the second term at all which certainly didn’t make for an exciting spectacle however Seville did manage to lead by 11 points at the half.
Seville broke the game open in the third term with an outstanding seven goals while Yarra Glen could hardly get their hands on the ball, Seville’s usage was first class and by three quarter time Seville had a 49 point lead and it was virtually game over.
The last quarter was nothing more than both teams going through the motions as there was only one goal apiece kicked.
At the end of the day the difference was Seville’s third quarter that Yarra Glen just couldn’t come back from.
Seville will now play Healesville for the chance to play off in the Grand Final while Yarra Glen will face Alexandra in a knockout.
Seville 12.6 (78) d Yarra Glen 4.6 (30)
Elimination Final (Reserves)
Alexandra v Yarra Junction
Despite the low scores of this game Alexandra was never in any real bother of losing this contest as it pretty much controlled the tempo of the game throughout.
Alex led by nine points at quarter time, 14 at halftime, 20 at three quarter time and ended up winning by 24 points in a game that it had all the answers to for whatever Yarra Junction threw at it.
Alex move forward and will play Yarra Glen in a knockout final next week while Yarra Junction’s season comes to an end.
Alexandra 9.10 (64) d Yarra Junction 5.10 (40)
UNDER 18
Qualifying Final
Healesville v Warburton Millgrove
Healesville shot out of the blocks in the first quarter and slammed on 5.5 kicking with the aid of a breeze while holding Warby to just one behind and it looked like the Bloods were in for a big win, Warby however had other ideas as it made the most of their turn with the breeze in the second term and turned this game completely around booting eight goal to one and at half time Warby was leading by 11 points.
The third quarter saw the game turn again as Healesville booted four goals while Warby only managed two behinds, at the last change it was Healesville by 13 points but was it going to be enough, as it turned out it was more than enough as Healesville’s defence was brilliant in the last quarter and it actually outscored Warby against the breeze to record a great 19 point victory.
Healesville 12.11 (83) d Warburton Millgrove 9.10 (64)
Elimination Final
Mount Evelyn v Belgrave
Mount Evelyn looked in control for a good portion of this match and by three quarter time it had got out to a 29 point lead thanks to a terrific third term where it booted five goals to one and looked like it were relatively safe, Belgrave however gave it one hell of a fright as it started to get their hands on the ball and create plenty of opportunities, Belgrave certainly had its chances to win this one but a wasteful 4.6 let it down whereas Mount Evelyn may have only booted the one major in the last quarter but it was enough to get it the victory.
Mount Evelyn 10.9 (69) d Belgrave 9.10 (64)
