By Luke Mathews
KEILOR 14.12 (96) def. by STRATHMORE 17.10 (112)
MATCH CENTRE
Strathmore is through to its fourth grand final in five years after defeating Keilor by 16 points at Coburg City Oval.
Despite being the lower ranked side heading into the match, the Mores successfully turned the tables on the minor premiers for the second year in a row and will be rewarded with a week off.
Keilor will be left to lick its wounds, however it is familiar territory for Mick McGuane’s side which has lost the same match the last two years and still made the grand final.
With the wind in their favour the Mores got off to a strong start with a six-goal-to-four quarter handing them a 10-point lead.
Keilor gained the ascendency after quarter time with a three-goal quarter giving them a five-point lead at half time.
The Mores however flipped the script after half time with a seven-goal term giving them the upper hand and putting them in front by 27 points.
With the game still in the balance, Keilor couldn’t capitalise on the breeze in the final term with three goals to the Mores enough to claim a 16-point victory.
“It was a very even team performance,” Strathmore coach Matthew Horne said.
“When we were able to be clean with the ball and execute, we thought we had a strong ability to score and obviously had that 15 minute patch that in the end decided the game.”
Athan Tsialtas delivered when it mattered most booting four goals, while Trent Dumont led from the front with 30 disposals and nine clearances.
Tom McGuane showed his class again with 34 disposals and a goal, while Corey Ellis and Jack Brown continued their strong seasons.
Keilor will now have another chance to reach the grand final when it meets with Pascoe Vale next Sunday at Coburg City Oval.
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PASCOE VALE 13.18 (96) def. MARIBYRNONG PARK 11.8 (74)
MATCH CENTRE
Pascoe Vale is one win away from their second grand final in two years after defeating Maribyrnong Park by 22 points at Coburg City Oval.
Saturday’s win is the Panthers' first finals victory since the 2024 semi final against Keilor and is Daniel Harris’ first finals win as Pascoe Vale coach.
This season will be viewed as a success for Marby after it won its first Premier Division final in nine years, however there is still work to be done to compete at the pointy end.
Pascoe Vale skipped out to an early lead with a four-goal opening quarter giving them an eight-point lead.
An even second term saw two goals for each side and meant the game was still there for the taking at half time, however the Panthers still had their noses in front by 12 points.
With the game destined to break open at some stage, the Panthers asserted their dominance with a six-goal quarter opening up a 30-point three quarter time lead.
Pascoe Vale had plenty of chances to ice the game in the fourth quarter, however three final quarter goals to Marby cut the final margin to 22 points.
Jared Eckersley claimed the Doutta Galla Hotel player of the match award for his best on ground performance, while Ben Allan and Noah Hijazi stood tall all day.
Blade Sulzberger backed up last week’s performance with another bag of five goals, while Rory Atkins was dominant again with two long range goals.
Pascoe Vale will now gear up for a highly anticipated preliminary final with Keilor next Sunday at Coburg City Oval.
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By Eric Forman
OAK PARK 10.13 (73) def. MOONEE VALLEY 4.23 (47)
MATCH CENTRE
Oak Park is through to its third grand final in four years following a 26-point win over Moonee Valley in the preliminary final at Section Road.
It was a wasteful day in front of goal for both sides, but mostly for the Fog with a whopping 23 behinds from 27 scores.
Neither team goaled in the first quarter before the Kangaroos opened up the game with the first four goals of the second quarter.
Moonee Valley halted the run with its first major approaching time on to bring the margin back to 15 points.
The game would not get closer than that with Oak Park keeping the Valley at arm's length all day, inaccuracy a major factor.
Kane O'Halloran led the scoring with three goals, while Adam Del Busso, Tom Gleeson, and Liam Molloy each added two.
Taylor Hotchkin and Max Gleeson were named the best for the Kangaroos, each managing 11 intercepts for the game.
Richard Potter kicked two of the Valley's four goals, with Nathan Williams (29 disposals, 10 inside 50s, and seven tackles) a solid contributor all day.
It draws to a close a strong season for Moonee Valley's senior side, one to be extremely proud of with a grand final dream almost realised.
For the Kangaroos, it's a return to the big dance with a chance to right the wrongs of last year's decider.
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By Jake Reeves
Westmeadows has won its first senior men's premiership in 42 years in a thrilling one-point victory against Coburg Districts at Windy Hill.
