BOTH Hay and Macorna will go into this weekend’s first semi-final off the back of final-round losses, albeit at different ends of the scale.
The Lions were resolute in defeat, going down by just six points to premiership favourites Ultima, while the Tigers would be bitterly disappointed to succumb to Wandella by 21 points.
Despite missing the finals, the Bombers proved too strong for Macorna to win 12.13 (85) to 9.10 (64).
Wandella were quick out of the blocks, kicking four of the first five goals, before the Tigers hit back in the second quarter to trail by just two points at the main break.
That was as close as it got, with Wandella again kicking clear in the third term, before holding firm in the final quarter as the two teams went goal-for-goal in an entertaining finish.
Onballer Adam Ward kicked three goals for the Bombers in a best-on-ground performance, while Darren Rushton also contributed three majors.
While Jack Featherby, Xavier Wishart and Lachlan Thompson were among the Tigers’ better players, the Bombers’ midfield was simply too strong, with Russell Rich also influential in the red and black and giving Macorna plenty to think about ahead of their must-win final against Hay.
The Lions, by contrast, will be confident after pushing ladder leaders Ultima to within a goal, falling 10.13 (73) to 10.7 (67) after frantic last quarter.
Kade Benfield kicked four goals for the Roos to lead the way up front, while Hay spearhead Declan Watson also kicked four majors to finish the home-and-away season with 44 goals and runner-up to Murrabit’s Damian Cupido (52 goals) as the Golden Rivers leading goal scorer.
Jack Fletcher returned from injury for the Roos and was among their better players, along with Luke Doolan, Jye Purtill and Benfield.
Jack Cattanach, Luke Arandt and Clint Brunnenmeyer were influential contributors for the Lions.
Moulamein doubled the score of wooden-spooners Murrabit on the way to a 41-point victory.
After leading by just four points at the main break, the Swans kicked five unanswered goals in the second quarter to blow the game open and take a 38-point lead into half-time.
The Blues responded in the second half to stay with the second-placed Swans, but were unable to bridge the gap, going down 10.22 (82) to 6.5 (41).
The final margin could have been much wider if not for the away side’s inaccuracy in the last quarter, kicking 1.7 over the final 30 minutes.
Amos Farrell and Rodney Reeves both finished with three goals, with Reeves one of the Swans’ best along with Blake Azzopardi and Luke Shannon, while Ed Aujard, Michael Grant and Tobie Cameron all performed well for Murrabit.
