And Girgarre will play finals for the first time in 21 years after slipping into eighth spot at Merrigum’s expense with a win over Longwood on Sunday.
Stanhope boosted its percentage enough in its walloping of Tallygaroopna to edge Shepparton East out of fourth spot.
The Lions boosted their percentage from 221.90 per cent to 251.91 with its 219 points demolition of the home side who failed to kick a goal for the game.
Shepparton East also sounded a clear warning to all flag aspirants with a 134-point win over fellow finalist Nagambie, but it was still not enough to hold Stanhope out of securing fourth spot on percentage.
Stanhope coach Mark Patten said it was mentioned before the game that if his side could keep Tally goalless it would greatly improve its chances of replacing Shepparton East in fourth spot on percentage. And that’s what happened.
The Lions put on a clinic with Ryan Semmel (10) and Tom Rennie (8) bagging 18 goals between them.
Semmel, who was a given a reprimand on an attempted striking charge from the previous week’s game against Murchison-Toolamba, showed again why he is the hot favourite to win the McNamara Medal.
Luke Semmel, Nathan O’Reilly, Dan Flynn and the Jyes — Patten and Adamson — were also outstanding for Stanhope in the whitewash.
- Lancaster ended Dookie United’s finals ambitions and cemented a double chance with a clinical display at Lancaster.
The Wombats set up the 78 points win with a dominant first half which had produced a 51-point lead at the main break.
Midfielders in Cam Simpson and Zac Cerrone and ruckman Coby O’Neill got their side rolling and Rikki Busch with six goals and Jake Mills with five did the finishing off work around goals.
Phil Carroll and Luke Davies were the standouts in defence for the Wombats who rest this weekend in preparation for their qualifying final clash with Murchison-Toolamba on Sunday week.
- Merrigum never raised the hopes of its supporters of beating Murchison-Toolamba to hold its spot in the top eight.
The Bulldogs were outplayed from the first bounce and were smashed by 97 points with Michael Coad and Aidan Lloyd, five goals each, doing the damage at the goal front.
Brodie Sanders, Stephen Burns, Adam Macgibbon and Jacob Holmes also had good games for the winners.
Merrigum’s most consistent player Jack Sinclair was again the standout for his team, while Rohan Hearn, David Matthews, Jake Ross, Jacob Chessells and Harley Constable tried hard.
- Undera finished the season with a resounding win over Rushworth with Keelan Mitchell seven goals and Dylan Moncur (five) active in the forward half.
Kieran Malone was again Rushworth’s best and he got the most support from Jebb Bickerdike, Josh Newton, Brett Pateman, Patrick Rattray and Tom Stevens.
- Shepparton East sounded a warning to all flag aspirants with its dominant win over Nagambie.
A seven-goal to one first quarter onslaught set the mood of the game in which Adem Barolli, Tyler Pedretti, Jamie Spencer and Duane Hueston dominated for the winners.
For Nagambie, Tom Madden, Daniel Haysom, Tyrone Muir and Mark Wilson tried hard, but with little support.
The Lakers meet Violet Town in a cut-throat elimination final this weekend and will need to do some soul searching this week to turn things around.
Violet Town showed it can’t be discounted in premiership talks after rallying in the last quarter to topple ladder leader Avenel.
The Towners kicked eight goals in the last term to come from 25 points down at the last change to snatch a one-point win.
Jack Exell booted seven goals for the winners to reach the magical 100 goals for the season milestone.
- Girgarre’s win over Longwood in Sunday’s game was highlighted by a 14-goal haul from its coach Damian Cupido which took his tally for the season to 101.
Cupido was well supported by Ryan Butler, Jordan Clarke, Brock Pierce, Billie Gahan and Corey Wanganeen as it booked its first finals appearance for 21 years.
14°C