Natte-Bealiba has snatched a finals berth away from Illabarook, Lexton and Ararat Eagles in the last round of the RegionalOne Lexton Plains Football League.An 18 point win over Ararat, 9.11 (65) to 6.11 (47), gave the Swans their fifth win for the year, putting them into an elimination match with long time rival Navarre at Navarre this Sunday.
But it took the whole game for the result to be known, after scores were level at the last change.
The Eagles were still clinging to a faint hope of a finals appearance, but they could not match Natte-Bealiba in the final term, and particularly the last ten minutes.
The experienced Nathan and Steve Ross and Brent Mortlock saw off the Eagles challenge.
Ararat, who finished with the wooden spoon, won three games, their best return since 2005.
Callum McElgunn, Dan O’Connell and Justin Coole were best for Ararat.
Lexton and Illabarook also failed to claim a finals spot, losing their respective games to higher ranked opponents.
Lexton lost to Navarre by 21 points, 11.12 (78) to 15.9 (99).
The Tigers started well, but were outplayed by a better team over the last three quarters.
Losing three times to Natte-Bealiba and once to Illabarook proved costly.
One win in these four games would have meant a finals appearance.
Mark Shaw kicked four goals for Lexton, while a six goal haul to Navarre’s Wayne Driscoll was too much for Lexton to counter.
Navarre must now go through elimination games from here on in.
Still feeling they can beat the top three sides, it is now time for the Grasshoppers to prove it.
Illabarook ended its season in disappointing style, going down to Rokewood-Corindhap by a massive 108 points, 7.6 (48) to 23.18 (156).
The Bulldogs, who were in the top five for a large part of the season, lost its way during the final month of the season.
But even Saturday’s margin was not expected.
Rokewood-Corindhap could not be entering the finals series in better form.
Seven goals to Carl Matheson was a great return.
Illabarook’s Shannon Berriman booted four to finish off the season.
Rokewood-Corindhap plays Carngham-Linton this Saturday in the qualifying final at Linton.
Carngham-Linton goes into the match after a narrow loss to Skipton on Saturday.
The Emus won by eight points, 14.12 (96) to 13.10 (88), and finish the season on top with just one loss from 16 games.
But things nearly turned into disaster for Skipton, with injuries threatening to turn its premiership hopes upside down.
Trailing in the third quarter, Skipton rallied to regain the lead in the last, and held on.
Cam Postlethwaite booted six unexpected goals, but with nearly 150 goals out of the side, someone had to stand up.
Carngham-Linton also had players out through injury, and put up a strong effort a week out from finals.
Jason Hill returned after three games out, and will be better for the run.
Clint Ladiges kicked four goals, and will probably be the go-to man in the forward line in the finals, an area that has been a concern all year.
Next weeks games:
Saturday
Qualifying Final at Linton
SENIORS: Carngham-Linton v Rokewood-Corindhap
RESERVES: Carngham-Linton v Skipton
UNDER 17: Carngham-Linton v Natte-Bealiba
UNDER 14: Navarre v Ararat Eagles
Sunday
Elimination Final at Navarre
SENIORS: Navarre v Natte-Bealiba
RESERVES: Illabarook v Ararat Eagles
UNDER 17: Rokewood-Corindhap v Navarre
UNDER 14: Carngham-Linton v Rokewood-Corindhap
By Rhys Brehaut
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