Heidelberg has secured its place in the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 Grand Final, while Greensborough eliminated Diamond Creek following a hard-fought semi final.
The results have set up a blockbuster preliminary final between fierce rivals Montmorency and Greensborough at Preston City Oval on Sunday, with the winner to face Heidelberg in the Grand Final the following weekend.
Heidelberg 20.15 (135) def. Montmorency 6.11 (47)
Heidelberg produced a dominant performance against Montmorency, running away with a 88-point victory to book its place in the Division 1 Grand Final.
The Tigers controlled the contest for much of the afternoon, consistently finding avenues forward and making the most of their opportunities in front of goal.
Jack Andrew, Brayden Sier and Jordan Smith were all dangerous inside 50, finishing with three goals each, while Luke Bunker, Tom Keys, Zane Barzen and Josh Shepherd each contributed two.
Bunker was one of Heidelberg’s best, starring through the midfield with 28 disposals and eight clearances to go with his two goals.
Jess Gedi provided plenty of run on the wing, collecting 27 disposals and laying six tackles, while Dylan Clarke was also influential with 22 disposals and seven marks.
Montmorency struggled to find the scoreboard consistently but had some strong individual performers. Jordan Steele was outstanding from half-back with 32 disposals, while Marcus Lentini finished with 28 disposals through the midfield.
Nash Holmes also battled hard, collecting 21 disposals and eight clearances.
Ben Davis and William Bella were Montmorency’s only multiple goalkickers, finishing with two goals apiece.
The victory sees Heidelberg earn a week off before returning for the Division 1 Grand Final for a fifth-straight year aiming to make it a remarkable five premierships in a row, while Montmorency now faces a do-or-die preliminary final against Greensborough.
Diamond Creek 12.8 (80) def. by Greensborough 16.8 (104)
Greensborough has kept its season alive after defeating Diamond Creek by 24 points in a tightly contested clash at Preston City Oval.
The two sides produced an even contest across all four quarters, with neither team able to completely take control before Greensborough eventually pulled away in the closing stages.
Zak McCubbin proved the difference in attack, booting six goals in a dominant display, while Harrison Andronaco added three goals to go with his 17 disposals.
Blake Watson led the way through the midfield for Greensborough, finishing with 25 disposals and six clearances, while former AFL star Tom Mitchell continued his strong form with 22 disposals and seven clearances.
Andronaco was also an important contributor, combining his scoreboard impact with plenty of involvement around the ground.
For Diamond Creek, Taj Logan was one of the standout performers, collecting 27 disposals, eight marks and six clearances.
Jacob Booth also battled hard through the midfield, finishing with 26 disposals and eight clearances.
Liam Farrar and Nicholas Barro both finished with two goals for Diamond Creek, but the Creekers were unable to match Greensborough’s scoreboard pressure as the Borough advanced to the preliminary final.
The loss brings Diamond Creek’s season to an end in straight sets, while Greensborough now turns its attention to a massive preliminary final against Montmorency.
Preliminary Final
The stage is now set for a blockbuster clash between Montmorency and Greensborough at Preston City Oval on Sunday.
The two fierce rivals will meet with a place in the Division 1 Grand Final on the line, with the winner earning the right to face Heidelberg the following weekend.
With both sides desperate to keep their seasons alive, Sunday’s preliminary final shapes as one of the biggest games of the NFNL Division 1 season.
