Lower Plenty will face Diamond Creek in the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 preliminary final after a 53-point triumph over the Fitzroy Stars.
Playing their first final since the 2011 Division 2 grand final, the Bears were undaunted as Darcy Barden and Patrick Flynn led with virtuoso performances in the first semi final.
The Stars had the better of the early chances and were rewarded when Richard Bamblett snapped a goal at the six-minute mark.
Flynn struck the first blow in a riveting ruck duel with Clinton Edwards, taking an uncontested mark near goal, which he duly converted, before the Bears hit the front when Tom Keys was able to find room deep in the forward 50.
Fitzroy kept pushing and looked dangerous every time it drove the ball deep into its forward line. Gary Joseph Saunders goaled after receiving a free kick to put the Stars in front.
It would be the last time they would be in front for the season, as Lower started to kick into gear. In particular, Flynn took control in the air and Barden started getting his hands on the ball after a relatively slow start in tricky conditions.
Flynn was the beneficiary of a free kick and kicked his second, before helping to lay the foundations for Fabian Dorbolo to kick a great goal over his shoulder.
John Hayes responded with a similarly brilliant effort off a stoppage, however the Bears had the final say, with Barden putting through a goal as the siren went to restore Lower’s 11-point advantage.
Malcolm Dow had a strong first quarter, and started the second with a great goal to reduce Lower Plenty’s lead to five points.
However, it seemed the Bears, and Flynn, had answers to the Stars’ advances. Flynn launched his bid for the mark of the year with an enormous pack mark halfway through the second quarter, converting his third goal before Bowen Zimbolani added another.
However, Fitzroy had the last say of the half, with Lionel and Kain Proctor combining for a splendid goal.
Lower fired the first shot of the second half as Barden cleverly marked with one hand from a Dorbolo clearance, and converted within the opening minute of the third. After that, Clint Monger kicked a goal from 55m to give the Bears a 23-point cushion.
Needing a response, Bamblett kicked the Stars’ opening goal of the half. However, that would be the only shot the Stars would fire during the third quarter.
Ben Paterson started a run of five consecutive goals for the Bears when he turned a player inside-out deep in the forward line for the easiest of goals, before Porter extended the margin to five goals after a great mark.
Ensuing goals to Matthew Duckworth and Barden meant Lower kicked three goals in less than two minutes and the margin, suddenly, was out to 41 points.
Barden capped off a stunning quarter with a great pass to Keys, who converted. Duckworth kicked another to give the Bears a seemingly unassailable 55-point lead at the final change.
Michal Ryan was impressed with his midfielders at the coalface, and implored his charges to play smart footy to wrap up a spot in the preliminary final. Jason Mifsud asked for fast ball movement for the Stars as they looked for quick goals.
Lower Plenty succeeded in heeding Ryan’s instructions and was able to restrict the Stars to just one behind in the opening 15 minutes of the last quarter. Barden then capped off a day of highlights with a brilliant goal against the breeze on a difficult angle.
While Hedley Smith and Clinton Benjamin were able to kick goals for the Stars, it was to no avail, as Duckworth capped off an impressive second half performance with his third goal to cap off the 17.10 (112) to 8.11 (59) win.
The Bears do have some injury concerns heading into the preliminary final. Cameron Elmore hurt his knee after landed awkwardly during the second half, while Kallum Hinchcliffe left the field early in the last quarter after hitting his head on the turf in a tackle.
Nevertheless, the Bears had plenty of impressive performances alongside those from Flynn and Barden. Paterson successfully quelled Dow’s influence, while Jordan Sacco had a good outing.
The Stars had few winners, but Bamblett and Rivva Karpany were their better performers. At game’s end, both teams gathered in a guard of honour for retiring Fitzroy Stars legend Lionel Proctor, who was given a rapturous round of applause.
Final score: Fitzroy Stars 8.11 (59) def by Lower Plenty 17.10 (112)
