Keilor has bounced back from its semi final loss and booked its place in the grand final after defeating Airport West by 29 points at Coburg City Oval.
The win means Mick McGuane’s men are headed to Windy Hill for the fourth time in the last five completed seasons and will have a shot at claiming another premiership.
Just like they did in 2024, the reigning premiers were able to turn things around in eight days and win their way through to the decider after losing a semi final.
Despite going down, Airport West were gallant in the defeat that puts a full stop on a remarkable 2025 campaign that saw them win five in a row on the way to the prelim.
Jermarl Daly stole the show at Coburg City Oval with the utility booting a season-high six goals and claiming the Mt Alexander Hotel player of the match award.
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With the Eagles dominating large parts of the second term, Daly stepped up late in the quarter to steady the ship and give his side a bit of breathing space.
Inspirational captain Kane Barbuto stepped up in the absence of Josh Honey and Nick O’Kearney collecting 28 disposals, while Jamie Paplia was excellent on his return.
Luca Muratore continued his heroics from last week, kicking another five goals and looked like the one who could take the game away from Keilor.
Reigning Reynolds medallist Tyson Young capped off another dominant year with 44 disposals and 15 clearances, while Hamish Morrison also finished with 40 disposals.
The big story to come out of the match was the injury to Brad Xavier.
The defender has led Keilor’s backline week in and week out and was helped off the ground at the end of the third term with what appeared to be a leg or foot injury.
The vice captain attempted to get back out onto the ground and looks like he’ll be touch and go for the grand final in six days time.
Jay White is in a similar state after only returning to play for rotation purposes.
McGuane said the side tried things differently early and was thrilled with the way his men defended the ground against the wind and stood up in the absence of several superstars.
It was Keilor’s ability to capitalise on the strong breeze early that set up the win, with the Blues kicking four goals inside the first 12 minutes before the Eagles registered a score.
Papalia opened the scoring after he was held without the ball and made no mistake from the set shot, while Chris Kosmas, Christian Olivieri, and Harvey Wilkes all followed suit moments later.
Muratore put through the Eagles' first for the day 16 minutes into the first quarter, however it did little to stem the momentum.
Daly put through his first shortly after, however Airport West were able to respond through Young for the side’s second major.
The dominance out of the middle continued for Keilor and finished the quarter with four of the final five goals to help open up a 37-point buffer.
The Eagles were able to limit the Blues' scoring in the second term and hit back with three of their own through Max Rider, Cooper Janevski, and Muratore.
Daly’s goal on the stroke of half time was a massive sigh of relief for the reigning premiers which meant the margin was three goals at the main break.
The relief was short lived as Airport West put through two of the first three which had the strong green and white contingent believing another upset was on the cards.
Two goals late to Daly meant the margin didn’t dip below three goals, however Brent Taylor’s side was still full of optimism with the wind in their favour in the final term.
When Muratore burst through a pack and ran into an open goal to kick the first of the last it looked like we were in for another spirited Airport West comeback.
With the game on the Eagles terms, the Keilor backline continued to hold firm and goals to Daly, William Burke, and Kosmas were enough to put the Blues into the grand final.
