ABERS THROUGH TO GRAND FINAL, PANTHERS SET DATE WITH THE MORES
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After an enthralling home-and-away season in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division, the first week of finals saw another series of twists and turns in one of the most memorable EDFL seasons in recent history.
On Saturday, Aberfeldie confirmed it would be contesting an eighth consecutive grand final as Adam Marcon's men defeated Strathmore by 52 points at Windy Hill.
In a repeat of the same fixture that took place seven days earlier in the final home-and-away round, it was the Two Blues getting the jump early on the Mores.
With Aberfeldie looking the more switched on of the two teams, early dominance and the stronger ability to convert saw Abers take a 17-point lead at the first break.
In a see-sawing second term stalemate, goals to Tom Denning and Nick O'Brien were cancelled out by Sam Cattapan and Sam Paea to see the lead extend by just a solitary point at half-time as Strathmore dug deep to keep themselves in the hunt for a grand final spot.
However, after coming out of the sheds from the main break, a third term showcase from Aberfeldie saw them rip the game from their opponents.
Five goals to two in the 'premiership quarter' had the margin out to 39 points at three-quarter time.
Another dominant last quarter saw Aberfeldie running out comfortable winners as they booked another date with the final day at Windy Hill.
Sam Cattapan lead the way for the victors with three goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Sam Paea, Lucas Rocci and Michael Ktona all returned to the Abers line-up to kick two goals apiece alongside Zac Hislop and Stefan Rasinac.
It was a good day to be a Cattapan, as Nicholas also proved valuable down back for Abers as the brothers filled the void of the missing Luke Davis and Jayden Foster.
For Stathmore, Matt Horne's men will need to bounce back against Pascoe Vale on Saturday in the preliminary final.
There will be a close watch on the injured Will Jury after the gun midfielder missed the semi final contest.
That qualifying semi final was just the entrée for a massive Sunday at Windy Hill.
Pascoe Vale would secure its second win in as many weeks against Keilor, with the Panthers getting up by 17 points to charge on into this week's preliminary final.
The scene was set at Windy Hill for a huge game of football with the spiritual home of EDFL football putting on near perfect conditions.
In a hotly contested first quarter, Keilor would take a slight advantage at the first break with Mick McGuane's Blues holding a nine-point lead.
Todd Stevenson and Nick O'Kearney were in the thick of the action early for Keilor, with goals on the board to Joel Sadler, Matt Clark and Jackson McMahon.
Daniel Guccione would steady the Panthers late with a beautiful swinging set shot to join Brad Inglis on the scoresheet in the first term.
From that point forward it was efficiency that would set the tone for the remainder of the day.
A comprehensive second quarter performance by Pascoe Vale saw the Panthers kick five unanswered goals as the Blues conjured five behinds to fall 20 points behind at half-time.
The Panthers were using the wide open spaces of Windy Hill to full effect, using the ball well, taking the game on and changing lanes to keep their forward forays unpredictable.
After a three-goal-to-one third term by Digby Morell's team, the margin had opened up to 32 points.
At the final break, Mick McGuane would urge his team to keep pushing for the final 30 minutes, citing some of Keilor's famous final quarter comebacks at this very venue.
The Blues would hang onto the words of their coach as they put on three goals in the space of nine minutes to draw the margin back to 15 points.
However, the comeback would stop there as the Panthers would hold out their opponents as they traded behind after behind to see out the 17-point win at full time.
Daniel Guccione would finish the day with three goals as the Panthers' only multiple goal kicker.
The division's leading goal kicker, Matt Clark, would be his team's only multiple goal scorer with two as best-on-ground honours went to his direct opponent Lachie Stredwick.
The reliable full back countered the Blues' attacks forward all day, while keeping Clark quiet by his lofty standards.
The victory sees Pascoe Vale through to the preliminary final where they will meet Strathmore.
BURGERS SEE DEMONS OUT IN STRAIGHT SETS
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West Coburg is into its first Grand Final since its Division One premiership year of 2014 after knocking off Tullamarine by 13 points at Highgate Reserve.
After being all but five minutes away from having their year ended in the final round of the home-and-away season, the Burgers have gone from strength to strength in finals with an all-telling contest with Airport West now locked in at Windy Hill this Sunday.
Kicking with a stiff breeze in the first quarter, West Coburg would do a majority of the damage early putting on four goals to one via Patrick Martin, Steven Mete, Perry Patrikios and Andrew Careri.
A first quarter goal to Matt O'Dwyer against the breeze for Tullamarine would be telling as the Demons kept West Coburg goalless throughout the second quarter.
A goal after the half-time siren from Shaun McKernan would see Tulla kick three goals to none in the second term to take a slender one-point lead into the main break.
The Burgers would come again in the third with a six-goal-to-two quarter seeing Dale May's side hold a precarious 23-point lead with a quarter to play.
Despite kicking away from the scoring end, West Coburg started the final term strongly with repeat entries but would only manage a behind for their efforts before James Vistarini got Tullamarine rolling with a goal after eight minutes.
Tulla would continue to pepper the goals and a major to Sam Laffan shrank the margin back to just 12 points.
With the Demons coming hard, a blistering run from Perry Patrikios would set up Noah Weihrauch to take a strong contested mark and kick the steadier the Burgers needed.
One final surge from the Demons courtesy of goals to Daniel Devine and Adam Scott would not be enough as the final siren sounded to the delight of the West Coburg faithful.
It means West Coburg will feature on the final day of the Rookie Me Division One calendar with one last final showdown against an almighty Airport West outfit.
Andrew Careri finished the afternoon with three goals, while Steven Mete and Jesse Martini chipped in with a pair of goals each.
Shaun McKernan would end his return to Tullamarine with a four-goal effort for his junior club but once again Dominic Dean Spagnolo would see him given best-on-ground honours in another influential display in the ruck.
KANGAS BOUNCE BACK IN PRELIM
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Oak Park will take centre stage alongside Keilor Park this weekend in the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two Grand Final after the Kangaroos saw off a valiant Coburg Districts side by 15 points at Highgate Reserve.
After going down to Keilor Park last week, Todd Clark's team made the most of the double chance as they were made to earn their spot in the big dance.
The Kangaroos would start the better of the two teams as they got their running game going at the MCG-sized Highgate Reserve.
Anthony De Lorenzi would stroll into goal to kick the first of the afternoon as Oak Park opened up an 18-point lead at the first break with a four-goal-to-one quarter.
It would be another four-goal quarter to Oak Park but the signs were there for Coburg Districts as they shared ebbs of momentum throughout the second term.
A 22-point half-time margin in favour of Roos had the Districts kept at arm's length, as every time Tom Gleeson's side brought the heat, the Kangaroos would find a way to weather the storm and absorb the pressure.
As Coburg Districts wrestled their way to get back into the game during the third quarter, inaccuracy would cost the away side as the margin remained unchanged after the Districts kicked two goals six to three straight majors.
Districts would continue to pepper in the final term but the class of Oak Park was starting to rise as the likes of Jedd Taylor, Ryan Smith and Danny Rajab started to take control through the midfield despite the presence of Coburg Districts' ruckman Cooper Keogh.
Playing coach Tom Gleeson would kick his fourth goal of the day deep into the last quarter to bring his side back within three goals but the damage was done as Oak Park held firm to get the win.
Mitch Robinson proved influential up forward with three goals for Oak Park with Mitchell Leathers, Jedd Taylor and Taylor Hotchkin all kicking two majors in a forward line missing Blair Cronin.
Gleeson's efforts up forward were supported by two goals to Chris Bottomly while Jack Slavich, Tom Lay and John Delacoe all managed solitary goals.
After leading Keilor Park for three quarters in last week's qualifying semi final, Todd Clark and his Oak Park contingency will take plenty of confidence into the grand final despite Paul Guicas' team having the Kangaroos' measure on all three occasions this season.
