After five months of hard toil – full of highs, lows and everything in between – the final round of the 2013 home and away season is upon us.
Despite the top four sides having confirmed their finals place a month ago, the final day of the regular season always brings great excitement. The finalist look to head into their respective finals campaigns with winning form, while those outside the top four will hope to end the season on a positive note.
A day of high-drama last Saturday ended with confirmation that Watsonia – wooden spooner last season – had claimed the double chance in the finals series.
The Saints, who sit out the final week of the home and away calendar, trailed Parkside by 12 points at three quarter time in what shaped as a massive upset. However, a six-goal to two final term saw them record a 14-point victory to set up a second semi final clash with Panton Hill in a week’s time.
Following last week’s results, this week’s three clashes are dead-rubbers in a sense, with no significant changes to the ladder able to occur regardless of Saturday’s outcomes.
The pick of the Round 19 games takes place at Ben Frilay Oval where minor premier Panton Hill takes on third-placed Reservoir.
The Redbacks last week handed Heidelberg West an almighty belting, winning by 105 points after keeping the Hawks to just one goal and five scoring shots for the afternoon.
Ben Finnin and Abe Williams combined for eight goals in their side’s ninth win in succession, while another superb effort by the club’s defence kept their opponent to just three behinds in the opening three quarters.
Reservoir took its final bye of the season last Saturday and heads into this clash on the back of four consecutive victories, its best streak since winning the opening three games of 2013.
The Mustangs have not beaten today’s opponent for over two years, having suffered 81 and 23-point losses to the Redbacks this season. But without a loss since early June, and with star playmaker Jarrod Skinner returning to fitness, the Mustangs will be confident of causing an upset and taking confidence into next week’s first semi final against Thomastown.
After last week’s disappointing draw against St Mary’s, Thomastown returns home to take on wooden spooner Heidelberg West.
The Bears were plain ordinary in the opening three quarters of their clash with the Burra and trailed by 39 points at the last change. They then sprung to life, but not even a seven-goal to one final quarter was enough to secure the four points – with third place now the highest they can finish on the ladder.
The Hawks will hope to finish the season on a better note than last week’s huge loss to Panton Hill. They have decent form against Thomastown after winning the final three quarters in their 22-point loss to the Bears in Round 12.
Parkside and St Mary’s will both be vying for their fifth win of the season when they meet at Pitcher Park, where the victor will also finish the year in fifth place.
Without key midfielders Brad Hockey, Shane McLaren and Jamie Gresham, the Devils very nearly pulled off an unlikely win at Watsonia last week before fading late. Young gun Billy Hogan again impressed and booted four goals in his third senior game, while Michael Thompson and Chris Smith were the two best talls on the ground.
St Mary’s will ultimately have been disappointed to draw with Thomastown after playing arguably its best football of the season in the first three quarters. Dillan Ronalds and Liam O’Donnell booted three apiece and Lee Minuz was named best afield in the tie, where a final quarter fadeout cost the Burra a win in their last home game for the season.
