After fighting out a tight four-month battle with North Heidelberg for second place, late season losses mean the sides will play in this weekend’s cut-throat battle, with the loser to make a premature exit from the 2012 premiership race.
Both head into the encounter on the back of defeats, with Diamond Creek falling to Epping and Lalor over the past fortnight, while Fitzroy Stars slumped to a shock Round 18 loss to a more determined Hurstbridge – the result keeping the Bridges in the second division next season.
The finals stage is something Diamond Creek is certainly used to, having played off in the past three Division 2 preliminary finals. And after never sitting lower than third on this year’s ladder, there’s no doubting the Demons will see anything less than another preliminary final berth as a disappointing result.
The side started the season in blistering form, winning both its opening two matches by triple-digit margins before injury struck and severely dented its top-two ambitions.
The Creekers admirably held strong during the injury crisis and emerged with more depth with a number of under-19 footballers getting an earlier than expected taste of senior football.
Ruckman Jai Norman has been a standout all season and would be the front-runner for his side’s best and fairest award. He has also moved forward with great success and has booted 15 goals in the second half of the season – including bags of five and four against the Stars and minor premier, Epping, respectively.
For Fitzroy Stars the finals stage it is certainly a new environment. Saturday will be the club’s first venture into finals football since joining the NFL in 2007 and after a six-year wait there is no doubting it is eager to make its first appearance a memorable one.
The Stars have been the surprise-packet of the Division 2 competition this season, finishing the season in fourth-place with 12 wins – a big improvement on last season when they won just seven times for a fifth-placed finish.
Despite playing the opening third of the season away from home, they topped the table after five rounds following a five-week unbeaten streak and have beaten fellow finalists North Heidelberg and Diamond Creek – proving they are not to be taken lightly in this year’s finals series.
Inspirational skipper Lionel Proctor has again been the club’s standout player but unlike past seasons, he has had plenty of support this campaign. Youngsters Jye Brennan and Jai Burns have equipped themselves quickly to senior football, while forwards Patrick Davis and John Hayes have combined for more than 100 goals.
The sides played out a thrilling five-point shootout in their most recent encounter. The Stars were victorious in the 145-140 result at Bill Lawry Oval, however the result could well have been different, with Norman marking just 20m out from goal a fraction of a second after the final siren sounded.
One can only hope for another gripping contest this weekend.
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2012
Round 14: Fitzroy Stars 22.13 (145) def Diamond Creek 21.14 (140)
Round 7: Diamond Creek 20.7 (127) def Fitzroy Stars 12.10 (82)
