MACORNA’S aim of making the Golden Rivers Football League finals fell short on Saturday.
Needing to defeat Hay to finish fourth at the end of the home and away season, the Tigers went down by five points, with Jack Perrignon’s mark in Macorna’s goalsquare in the final minute preventing a home side comeback.
The Lions also failed to break into the top four thanks to Wandella’s 119-point win against Quambatook, with the Bombers to play Nullawil in this weekend’s first semi-final.
Macorna looked on track at quarter time to inflict Hay’s third consecutive defeat, with the hosts leading by 11 points.
Yet the Lions responded in the second and third terms, reducing Macorna to one goal during this period – which came in the third quarter – to lead by 33 points with one quarter to play.
The Tigers took advantage of Hay’s recent poor form in final quarters, kicking five goals to one.
However, the hosts’ inaccuracy impacted on the final score, with Macorna kicking six behinds in the last term.
Brett O’Hanlon finished his first season with Macorna with four goals, whilst Luke Spalding and Sam Anstey were best on ground.
The win moved Hay to fifth on the ladder with a 9-7 record – the same as fourth-placed Wandella and the sixth-placed Tigers.
Smallest margin
ULTIMA goes into the Golden Rivers Football League finals series with a 3-0 record against minor premiers, Murrabit.
The ‘Roos held on for a one-point win agains the Blues on Saturday, with the teams to meet in the second semi-final on August 27.
The two-time reigning premiers fought back from an 18-point deficit in the first term to claim a 12th win of the season.
Ultima struggled to contain Nathan Henry, Josh Dwyer and Greg Whelan during the first stanza, with the hosts kicking four goals to one in the opening quarter.
Basil Althouse led Ultima’s fightback in the second quarter, kicking two goals to reduce the deficit to less than a goal.
Tom Holdstock kicked the Blues’ only goal for the term, with the hosts looking to hold the ascendancy into the main break before the ‘Roos benefited from a fluke of a goal.
Murrabit defender, Nick Hein tried to rush the ball through Ultima’s goal for a behind in the final minute of the term, only for the ball to hit Mitchell Seton-Stewart’s leg to roll through for a major score and a three-point lead Murrabit’s way at half-time.
The ‘Roos hit the front in the opening minute of the third term thanks to Jacob Schaper, with the lead changing three more times in the quarter to remain the same as it was at half-time with one quarter to play.
Both teams tried to control the game, with Schaper and Bryden Morison leading each team’s midfield.
However, Dwayne Hamlyn – who finished with three goals for the victors – was the difference between the sides when the result was on the line.
Henry finished with three goals for the Blues, with Holdstock and Morison best on ground for the hosts.
Tom Bull and Kyle Symons led the way for the ‘Roos, who have won their three matches against the Blues this season.
Bombers break into finals
WANDELLA’S first win since late June came at the right time, with the Bombers booking a first semi-final berth.
The former competition leaders kicked 25 goals against Quambatook to record a 119-point victory.
Led by nine goals from coach, Paul Grayling, Wandella will go into this weekend’s first semi-final against Nullawil full of confidence.
A six-goal to one opening term opened up a 32-point lead at the first break, which expanded to 64 points at half-time.
Wandella’s lead edged close to 90 points at the end of the third quarter, with the visitors’ margin reaching triple figures during the final quarter.
Eight other Bombers players kicked goals, with Greg Dickson and Gavin Cathie booted four majors each.
Andrew Spengler and Luke Jackson kicked two goals each for the Saints, who finish the season in seventh spot.
Maroons primed for finals
NULLAWIL will go into the Golden Rivers Football League finals series on the back of three consecutive wins after accounting for Moulamein by 87 points on Saturday.
The Maroons had the chance to move to second spot on the ladder with a win and an Ultima loss at Murrabit, but will play in this weekend’s first semi-final against Wandella.
The match started scrappy, with the eight-placed Swans giving great effort using the theory that if they have the football, the opposition will not get it.
This worked in aspects of the first quarter, restricting the damage that the Maroons were able to do on the scoreboard. However, whenever the Swans turned the ball over, the hone side’s midfield took over.
Without Daniel Watts and Royce Free, younger players such as Austin Hogan and Zac Kelly took it upon themselves to be hard runners, and deliver the ball to forwards Andrew Oberdorfer (four goals) and Kal Heslop (five goals). Moulamein had enough of the ball, and some young players were superb for them. Xavia Elford and Austin Mertz are two that show a great amount of potential, Ben Booth was consistent in his effort over four quarters, and young recruit Jim Degregorio showed some highlights of good rebound across half back.
It wasn’t showing on the scoreboard, but their were some small wins for the Swans, who couldn’t be questioned with their effort.
Nullawil lifted in the second half and began to play like a side that was destined for September action.
Leaders such as Scott Mathiske, Kyle Doran and Nathan Leane stood up, and with the potency of Oberdorfer across half forward, they were never really in the slightest doubt of losing the match.
