Same time next week? Mounts and Grasshoppers set up qualifying final meeting after round 18 skirmish

Mount Pleasant came out the gate firing, with five majors to its name in the first quarter, while Colbo was inaccurate to start, settling for one goal and seven behinds.

While the second period was less productive for the Mounts, they still managed three maximums, with the Grasshoppers warming into the game with a tidy 2.2 tacked on to the tally by half-time.

Mount Pleasant copied and pasted its second quarter tally into the third to continue on the steady path, while Colbo upped the ante, sending five straight through the middle along with six behinds to bring the gap to eight points with a huge final quarter looming.

The Grasshoppers’ surge in the third quarter appeared to be a flash in the pan as they were shut down by the Mounts’ defenders down the stretch, with just one goal for their efforts.

Meanwhile, the host was at its blistering best, nailing four goals in the fourth to send Colbo packing 15.7 (97) to 9.16 (70).

Ben Weightman was pivotal up front for Mount Pleasant, collecting a seven-goal bag and best-on-ground honours in the match, and he will be one to watch as the finals progress.

The Grasshoppers won’t have much time to regroup. They will be back against the Mounts on Saturday, August 23, at Gunbower Recreation Reserve, with the winner heading into the second semi to face North Bendigo and a shot at a grand final birth.