Despite another defeat, the Bulldogs finished in the top three and have a double chance, which on the form of their past five games – in which they’ve lost them all by an average of 47 points – are going to need if they’re to do any damage in the finals.

“We’re trying to keep it positive and hopefully, we can turn it around  next week, (versus Huntly in the qualifying final), but it’s going to be a big job," Bulldogs coach Damien Lock said.

“The past five games haven’t been ideal, but I know if we can get it to click next week and put pressure on them, it’ll be a different game.

“Obviously, our backs will be against the wall, but we’ll work hard this week to get ourselves ready.”

Saturday’s game was in the balance at half-time when the Grasshoppers led by five points.

However, needing a win to be any chance of making the finals, the Grasshoppers kicked away in the second half, adding 10 goals to four to finish the season square at 8-8.

Colbinabbin coach Phil Morgan was disappointed to narrowly miss the finals, but pleased his side finished on a high.

“With the way things had to fall today, we were mentally prepared that we probably weren’t going to make the finals, but we wanted to make sure we finished the year well,” Morgan said.

“We did that and it was a good win by the boys.

“We’ve got a lot to look forward to next year and we don’t think we’re that far off the pace... we’re upbeat about where we’re heading.”

Ruckman Lochlan Sirett, Alex Van Ruiswyk (three goals), classy onballer Pat O’Brien (three goals) and Matthew McEvoy were the best for the Grasshoppers.

The Bulldogs were without gun midfielder Daniel Sipthorp and full-forward Michael Spooner, who missed again with a foot injury, while Lock’s game ended early as he was still feeling the effects of his neck problem suffered two weeks earlier.

North Bendigo was also a man down all game with the injured Rob Morris sitting on the interchange to qualify for finals.

“I thought we had a crack today, but we were a bit undermanned and they were too good for us,” Lock said.

Veteran Damien Webb, workhorse Ryan Alford, Tom Metherell and Aarryn Craig (four goals) led the better players for the Bulldogs.

● Leitchville-Gunbower has completed the transition from wooden-spooners to finalists in the space of 12 months.

The Bombers made sure of their first HDFL finals appearance with a 106-point victory over Elmore at Gunbower.

In what was their biggest win in their 64 games since joining the HDFL, the Bombers won 26.15 (171) to 10.5 (65).

A year after winning just one game and finishing on the bottom of the ladder, the Bombers have their first finals series to look forward to since 2007 when they were in the Central Murray league.

“At the start of the year our main aim was to get into the finals and we’ve been able to do that,” Bombers coach Marty Shadbolt said.

“We’ve come from a fair way back after last year, but now we’ll reset and look forward to next week.”

After kicking against the wind in the first term, the Bombers led the Bloods by seven points at quarter-time.

The Bombers then made the most of their turn with the breeze in the second term when they piled on 11.8 to build a 77-point advantage at half-time.

“They had a few out from last time we played them, and we were confident that on a big ground with a younger, fitter side we’d get on top of them,” Shadbolt said.

“We had an even contribution right across the whole side, whereas earlier in the year we were carrying a few blokes.

“We’ve still got a few injuries, but it makes a big difference when you’ve got everyone out there having a go and doing their bit.”

The Bombers shared their goals between 13 players, led by Lachlan Embleton, Ryan Eastman, Joel Donehue and Sam Hawkins, who kicked three each.

Russell Lee, Shaun Douglass, Jye Keath and Ben Embleton led the best players for the Bombers, who now meet Heathcote in the elimination final.

“Leitchville-Gunbower  hasn’t played a lot of finals for the past 15 or so years, so the club is really excited about the opportunity we’ve got,” Shadbolt said.

“The next step now is to win some finals.”

While Leitchville-Gunbower has a finals series to look forward to, Elmore has claimed its first wooden spoon since 2001.

The Bloods’ best on Saturday included Michael I’Anson, James Drake, who has had a superb season, Bryce Scott and Ryan Wellington.

● Heathcote will play in its ninth-consecutive finals series, shoring up its berth with a 65-point win over Mount Pleasant at Prendergast Oval.

In a game that included a melee during the warm-up, the Saints won 15.23 (113) to 7.6 (48) to end the home and away season fourth.

The Saints led by 16 points at half-time, before the second half was all one-way traffic.

They added eight goals to one in the second half – and it could have been more had the Saints not kicked inaccurately.

“Our kicking at goal was fairly ordinary today,” Saints coach Grant Ford said.

“Mounts’ pressure was fantastic and didn’t allow us any easy kicks, but we got the result we were after.

“To come out victors on our home turf with a finals spot on the line is a fantastic boost for our young players.”

The Saints’ finishing fourth on the ladder came after the side had been written off by many at the start of the year as a finals threat following a turnover of key players.

“The critics throughout the year have said we’re no good, but the boys have been able to defy the odds and I couldn’t be prouder of the group,” Ford said.

Ford, who kicked three goals, was the Saints’ best player, while Darcy McLean (two goals), Marc Millard, Jake Condon and Blake Coyle (two goals) were again prominent.

A downer for the Saints is concerns forward Lincoln Frost may have suffered a broken hand.

The 65-point loss ends another disappointing season for Mount Pleasant, which finished the year with four wins to miss the finals for the fifth season in a row.

Nick Edwards, David Coghlan (three goals), Taig Griffin and Trevor Douglas were the Blues’ best players.

Full-forward Matt Gilmore kicked one goal to end the season as the HDFL leading goalkicker with 59.

Gilmore’s tally of 59 goals is the lowest of a HDFL leading goalkicker since Mount Pleasant’s Rick Pumpa won in 1998 with 54.

● Huntly rounded out its home and away season with a 44-point win over White Hills at Hy-Line Australia Oval.

Set up by a strong first quarter, the Hawks won 15.19 (109) to 9.11 (65) to end the season unbeaten on their home ground.

The Hawks raced to a 32-point lead at quarter-time after having 14 scoring shots to two, but the Demons competed well after the first break.

“We didn’t win the game, but I thought we played some of our best footy for the year today in patches,” White Hills coach Shaun Makepeace said.

“Huntly’s quality shone out early, but we competed well with them after quarter-time and were able to play some good transition footy.”

The victory was Huntly’s fifth in a row and it ends the home and away season second with 13 wins.

Ryan Semmel, Michael Fitzgerald, Charlie Thorpe and Adam Wicks’ were the Hawks’ best. Chris Gleeson continued his good form up forward, kicking five goals.

Wingman Jason Clark and midfielders Hayden Wright, Bryce Fletcher and David Wright again played strong games for the Demons.

Matt Sawyer was the Demons’ only multiple goalkicker with four.

● This weekend:

Qualifying final: North Bendigo v Huntly - Saturday at Gunbower.

Elimination final: Heathcote v Leitchville-Gunbower - Sunday at North Bendigo.

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