The NFNL Division 1 home-and-away season has come to an end, with the finals picture now locked in following a mostly one-sided final round.
Heidelberg, Montmorency, Diamond Creek, Bundoora and Greensborough have secured their places in the top five, with the five sides now preparing for a September campaign.
Heidelberg secured its fifth minor premiership in a row after another dominant campaign, while Montmorency secured second spot in emphatic fashion with a huge win over North Heidelberg.
Diamond Creek finished third, with Bundoora and Greensborough rounding out the top five despite meeting each other in a final-round clash that went down to three-quarter time and will now play each other again this weekend in the elimination final.
Banyule narrowly missed out on finals despite finishing the season with six consecutive wins, falling just short on percentage. Hurstbridge also finished outside the top five after a tight win over Eltham.
Eltham, North Heidelberg and West Preston-Lakeside will miss the finals, with West Preston-Lakeside also set to be relegated to MC Labour Division 2 next season.
Hurstbridge 18.10 (118) – Eltham 17.11 (113)
Hurstbridge finished its season with a thrilling five-point victory over Eltham, holding on after the visitors launched a massive final-quarter comeback.
The Bridges were able to establish enough of a lead earlier in the contest to withstand Eltham’s late charge, with the result providing a fittingly close finish to both sides’ seasons.
Joel Naylor was the major difference for Hurstbridge inside 50, booting seven goals in a match-winning performance.
Liam Middleton was also crucial in defence, finishing with 26 disposals and 15 rebound 50s as Hurstbridge looked to move the ball out of its defensive half.
Cam Wild provided plenty of drive around the contest with 22 disposals and nine clearances.
Eltham was led by Jason McCormick, who produced a strong performance with 28 disposals, seven clearances and a goal.
David Evans was influential both in the ruck and around goal, finishing with 22 disposals, 40 hitouts and three goals, while Jaden Collins provided a strong defensive presence with 15 disposals and 10 intercept marks.
Greensborough 9.10 (64) – Bundoora 15.7 (97)
Bundoora produced one of the biggest comebacks of the final round, overturning a one-point three-quarter-time deficit to defeat Greensborough by 33 points.
The Borough looked to be in control heading into the final term, but Bundoora completely turned the contest around, booting six goals to zero in a dominant final quarter.
The result means the two sides will not have to wait long for another meeting, with Bundoora and Greensborough set to face each other again in an elimination final next week.
Jackson Hasler was one of Greensborough’s best performers, finishing with 21 disposals, 11 tackles and seven clearances, while Tom Mitchell continued to win plenty of contested ball with 21 disposals, including 17 contested possessions, and nine clearances.
Bundoora’s forwards came alive in the final term, with Liam Mallia and Tom Fry both finishing with four goals.
Mallia also collected 22 disposals and nine marks, while Fry finished with 22 disposals and six marks as the Bulls finished the season with plenty of momentum.
Heidelberg 21.16 (142) – Diamond Creek 4.2 (26)
Heidelberg sent a huge statement heading into finals, dismantling second-placed Diamond Creek by 116 points in the battle between the top two sides.
The Bergers controlled the contest from the opening stages, with a dominant first half effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
Luke Bunker was outstanding throughout the afternoon, racking up 49 disposals, 18 marks and 11 clearances to have a major influence around the ground.
The Bergers’ forward line also had a field day, with Brayden Sier and Jordan Smith both finishing with five goals.
Smith’s five-goal haul saw him finish the home-and-away season as the leading goalkicker in Division 1, while Zane Barzen’s three goals secured him second place in the competition’s goalkicking.
Jess Gedi also played an important role with 27 disposals and nine marks.
Despite the heavy defeat, Darcy Macpherson was a standout for Diamond Creek, finishing with 29 disposals, 10 marks and a goal.
Heidelberg now heads into finals as the team to beat after ending the home-and-away season with another commanding performance.
Banyule 26.13 (169) – West Preston-Lakeside 3.9 (27)
Banyule finished its season in dominant fashion, crushing West Preston-Lakeside by 142 points.
The Bears have been one of the form teams of the competition late in the season, with the victory marking their sixth consecutive win.
Despite their remarkable run, Banyule was unable to break into the top five, missing finals on percentage after an impressive finish to the home-and-away campaign.
Kye Yodgee was outstanding with 40 disposals and three goals, while Jean-Luc Velissaris continued his strong form with 36 disposals, eight clearances and two goals.
Jack Langford also had a major influence, collecting 33 disposals, seven clearances and three goals.
James Kayrooz added four goals from 22 disposals, while Oliver Poole finished with 26 disposals and nine marks.
For West Preston-Lakeside, Aleksandr D’Arro battled hard with 40 disposals and 11 clearances, while Matthew Harman contributed 22 disposals, eight clearances and 32 hitouts.
The result brings an end to West Preston-Lakeside’s Division 1 campaign, with the side set to drop into Division 2 next season.
Montmorency 34.17 (221) – North Heidelberg 6.6 (42)
Montmorency produced one of the most dominant performances of the season, smashing North Heidelberg by 179 points to secure second spot on the ladder.
The Magpies were in complete control throughout the contest, piling on 34 goals in a ruthless attacking display.
Nash Holmes was outstanding around the contest, finishing with 37 disposals and 11 clearances while also hitting the scoreboard with four goals.
Stefan Uzelac controlled the ruck with 36 hitouts, alongside 20 disposals and six clearances, while Marcus Lentini also had plenty of the football with 32 disposals and a goal.
Montmorency’s forward line was virtually unstoppable, with Ben Paterson booting six goals and Ben Davis adding five.
The Magpies had six players finish with four or more goals, highlighting the depth of their attacking options heading into finals.
Jamison Shea was one of North Heidelberg’s better performers despite the heavy defeat, finishing with 26 disposals and eight marks.
Montmorency’s huge victory ensures it heads into finals with plenty of confidence and momentum, while North Heidelberg’s season comes to an end.
The Division 1 finals series now looms, with Heidelberg, Montmorency, Diamond Creek, Bundoora and Greensborough earning the right to continue their premiership campaigns.
After 18 rounds of home-and-away football, the competition now enters its most important stage, with the remaining sides looking to turn their regular-season form into September success.
