KANGAROO Flat moved one step closer to wiping out the memories of its 2000 grand final loss by disposing of South Bendigo in 2001s qualifying final.
The Roos impressive 28-point win set up a second semi-final clash against top-of-the-table Sandhurst.
And in the elimination final seven years ago Golden Square ended Eaglehawks season with a comprehensive 49-point win.
The knockout semi victory was the eighth on the trot for the in-form Bulldogs.
Phil Hetherington and Heath Neville were the top goalkickers for the first round of the finals. Hetherington got eight for South in the Sunday game while Neville bagged six for the Dogs against the Two Blues.
Amazingly, losing qualifying final teams in the early 2000s were handed one less recovery day compared with teams which had finished below them on the ladder.
So South Bendigo had only six days to prepare for the cut-throat first semi-final against Golden Square.
Unlike today, the fourth and fifth-placed clubs played each other on Saturdays. Higher rated second and third-placed teams were scheduled to play on Sundays.
IT was a busy night at the selection table for the four clubs involved in Week One of the 2001 finals.
The Flat went into the big match without suspended Andrew Trimby and injured Craig Scoble. After an injury-plagued season full-back Troy Rodda had played in Round 18 and was ready for a big finals series.
South brought in spearhead David McCormick and on-ballers Nathan McNally and Luke Lowndes.
Coming off six, straight defeats Eaglehawk made a raft of changes for the eliminations final. Sam Curran, Rowan OHara, Alan Morris, Chris Lloyd, Jason Hill and Travis OConnell were the ins.
Out of the side went Rory Doolan, Dwayne Smith, Mark Hayes, Gavin Bowles, Leigh Mathews and Sam Steel.
Square selectors had key defender Greg Cox, forward Chris Carter and backman Daniel Van Den Ham available.
It was a tight contest in the first half with Square ahead by just two points: 5.7 to the Two Blues 5.5.
Then the Bulldogs took off. Booting 10 goals to two after the main break --- following a half-time spray from coach Brian Walsh --- Square won comfortably: 15.9 (99) to 7.8 (50).
On-baller Marty OReilly and experienced defender Greg Cox were the catalysts behind the Bulldogs win.
For the second time in the 2001 season OReilly cut up Eaglehawk through the middle of the ground while Cox, who went into the final with a bit of an injury cloud hovering above him, controlled the game from centre half-back and shut down Rodney Ross.
The Hawks took the ball inside forward 50 nearly as many times as Golden Square but Cox, Mark Billings, Cameron Walsh and Paul Davies rebounded continually.
The Bulldogs midfield of OReilly, Gary Learmonth, Matt Dillon, Paul Frew, Chris Carter and Matt Neve took over in the second half.
Lucas Matthews, who had to have his head taped after leaving the ground with blood gushing from the side of his head, finished his season in fine style. He turned in another strong performance for the Hawks.
Ruckman Al Morris, centreman Craig Hayes and full-back Scott Langan were all solid contributors.
Hayes said Eaglehawk wasnt far behind from the top three teams.
This club is probably five players away. We just lack those experienced players that Golden Square has, he said.
Where we finished is probably about where we should have finished. Im really proud of our blokes.
Walsh said the Dogs hadnt played well at all in the first half. Eaglehawk employed some good tags and they were hard at the ball as well, he said.
LIKE the day before the qualifying final was a tight contest in the first half. South led 6.6 (42) to 4.12 (36) at the big break.
The Roos struggled inside their forward 50m in the first half before key forwards David Lancaster and Scott Tully fired up in the third quarter as the Flat piled on eight goals to four to set up its 15.19 (109) to 12.9 (81) win.
Kangaroo Flat had to withstand a fine first half performance from South Bendigo forward Phil Hetherington.
Hetherington proved too elusive for Grant Leader, kicking the first three goals of the game and having Souths first five goals by the 15-minute mark of the second quarter.
Flats brains trust finally moved number one defender Troy Rodda onto Hetherington after his fifth goal and the switch worked immediately.
By half-time the Roos had managed only four goals from 16 scoring shots, but the third term proved to be a different story.
The Roo midfield gained control with Wayne Landry, Ash Wilson, Shannon Milward and Aaron Hawkins regularly pumping the ball forward and wresting control from Mark Keck, Luke Lowndes and Devin Brown.
In contrast to the first half Kangaroo Flats forwards made the most of their opportunities. Lancaster turned the game kicking three goals himself and having a hand in three others.
Hollywood Daves marking and kicking were on song and his second efforts, tackles and subtle knock-ons were equally as effective.
Tully started to show his best form kicking two goals for the quarter as the Roos took an 18-point three-quarter time lead.
The Green and Whites added 3.6 to 2.2 in the last quarter to consolidate their eventual 28-point victory.
Richards tips for finals, week 1: South Bendigo, Golden Square. Seasons total: 60.
By Richard Jones
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