A preview of week two of the 2015 WaterMarc Junior Finals Series, with all junior competitions reaching the preliminary final stages.
In the Under-18 Girls competition, Epping tackles Darebin for a spot in the Grand Final next week. The winner will face off against Montmorency next Sunday, after the Magpies won through to the premiership decider with a 50-point win over Epping last week. The Falcons head into this week’s game after a confidence-boosting win over Greensborough, winning the first semi final in convincing fashion. Epping will however look to brush last week’s loss aside quickly and has the backing of knowing it has beaten the Falcons before, winning their last encounter in Round 3 by 19 points.
In the preliminary final of the Under-17 Blue competition, Eltham takes on Mill Park. Both will vie for a spot in next week’s Grand Final, where the winner will meet South Morang. The Panthers went down last week to the Lions – who in turn secured the week off – by 21 points, after conceding four goals to nil after half time. The Stallions are fresh off a 30-point win over Montmorency in last week’s knockout clash and will be looking to continue the momentum. All looks set for an enthralling battle, with Eltham victorious by a mere five points when these sides last met in Round 12.
The Under-17 Red competition sees Epping and Wallan do battle in the preliminary final, with a spot in the Grand Final against Whittlesea up for grabs. The Eagles went straight through to the Grand Final after they accounted for Epping by 34 points in a high-scoring second semi final. Wallan heads into this week’s big match fresh off a 37-point win over Thomastown. Epping and Wallan have had their fair share of tight encounters through the year, with their most recent clash in Round 11 where the Blues held on to win by 15 points.
Epping and Wallan also tackle each other in the Under-16 Blue preliminary final. The winner will face South Morang in next week’s Grand Final, after the Lions defeated Epping by four goals last Sunday. Wallan had a successful start to its finals campaign as it pipped Diamond Creek by eight points, after trailing by 19 points at the last break. But the Blues have recent form over the Magpies, which includes a 29-point win when the sides met in the final home and away round a fortnight ago.
Eltham and Greensborough face off in the preliminary final of the Under-16 Red competition. The winner will face Research in the Grand Final, after the Searchers beat Eltham by 23 points in last week’s second semi final. The Boro had a much more positive opening weekend to the finals than the Panthers, recording a 49-point win over Montmorency to advance to this week’s Grand Final playoff. However, Eltham was a big winner when these sides met in Round 13, recording 36 scoring shots to 11 in a big home win.
In the Under-15 Blue competition, Montmorency and Whittlesea go to battle for a spot in the Grand Final. The Magpies are coming off a 47-point loss to South Morang in the second semi final – just their second defeat of the season. Whittlesea prevailed in a four-point thriller over Laurimar Black in last week’s first semi final at Eltham Central Park – where the Eagles led by a goal or less at the conclusion of each quarter. Montmorency and Whittlesea had a close match the last time they faced each other, with the Magpies prevailing by a 13-point margin in Round 12.
Epping and Research meet in the Under-15 Red preliminary final, where the victor will earn the right to play West Preston-Lakeside in next Sunday’s premiership decider. After finishing on equal points as the Roosters at the conclusion of the home and away season, Epping couldn’t keep pace with their rival last Sunday in a 27-point defeat, despite leading by 31 at quarter time. Research also had a quick start but maintained its four-goal quarter time advantage over South Morang for a 32-point win. The Searchers had a four-goal win the last time they played Epping.
Diamond Creek Womens Blue will be looking to make amends in its Under-15 Girls Blue preliminary final against West Preston-Lakeside. The minor premier suffered its first loss of the season in last week’s upset eight-point loss to Epping in the second semi final. West Preston-Lakeside was a 14-point winner over Wallan to advance to the preliminary final. The Roosters will be looking to cause a boilover this week after falling to an eight-goal loss in their last outing against Diamond Creek Womens in Round 14.
The right to play Montmorency in the Under-15 Girls Red premiership decider is the prize for Eltham and Greensborough when they meet in this Sunday’s preliminary final. Eltham stormed home against the Magpies last week, but fell nine points short of a come-from-behind win. Greensborough was an impressive winner over Diamond Creek Womens Red – keeping its opponent scoreless for the opening three quarters, before registering a 55-point win. The Boro were victorious in their last outing against the Panthers – winning their Round 6 encounter by 19 points away from home.
Whittlesea will be on the rebound when it takes on Mill Park in the Under-14 Blue preliminary final. Despite winning their previous outing against South Morang in Round 12, the Eagles were no match for the Lions in last week’s second semi final. Mill Park recorded a nail-biting win over Eltham in the first semi final. Despite kicking a wayward 7.16, the Stallions prevailed by a solitary point in a see-sawing game. Whittlesea was a 25-point winner in its last outing against Mill Park just a fortnight ago.
After finishing second and third on the ladder respectively, West Preston-Lakeside and Mernda meet fittingly in the Under-14 Red preliminary final. Both sides endured show-stopping semi finals, with the Roosters falling to minor premier Epping by a solitary point, while Mernda overcame Diamond Creek by five points. The Roosters had opened up a handy 25 point lead at three-quarter time but couldn’t prevent the Blues from storming home, while Mernda booted four goals to one in the last quarter to come from behind. The last clash between Mernda and West Preston-Lakeside was in Round 12, with the Roosters clinching an eight-point win.
The Under-14 Green preliminary final sees Research take on Wallan. Research couldn’t inflict Northcote with its first loss of the season in last week’s second semi final, falling to 46-point defeat to an impressive Cougars outfit. Wallan was on the right side of a 46-point result in the first semi final, with the Magpies controlling the last three quarters against Panton Hill at Lalor Reserve. Research was a 17-point winner in its most recent encounter against Wallan, a Round 12 match that was played at Wallan Recreational Reserve.
Good luck to all sides competing in their preliminary finals this weekend!
