The race to finish in the Division 2 top four will head into the final home and away round after the Fitzroy Stars recorded a 55-point win over Thomastown in Round 17.
Needing a win to remain a finals hope, the Stars produced a dominant four-quarter performance to upstage the Bears in a 18.13 (121) to 9.12 (66) result at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
There are now just four points separating second-placed Whittlesea and fifth-placed Fitzroy Stars, with only ladder-leader Lalor a certainty to play finals.
After winning its first seven matches of 2015, Thomastown faces the possibility of falling outside the top four for the first time this season at the conclusion of Round 18, ahead of a final-round clash with Lalor.
The Stars are one of the form sides of the competition, winning six of their past seven matches to storm into finals contention, ahead of next week’s road trip to Panton Hill.
Thomastown had the better of the majority of the first half against the Stars, but inaccurate kicking cost it dearly. Once the momentum shifted after half time, Fitzroy never looked in doubt.
Fitzroy did nail the first three goals of the game through Daniel Francis, Malcolm Dow and Douglas Briggs, as it opened up a 20-point advantage only 10 minutes into the game.
It took the visitors almost 15 minutes to register a score such was the attacking pressure of the Stars.
Matthew Ferraro was able to snag one to give Thomastown a lift. That was answered by Peter Hood almost instantly for the Stars, but a pair of goals to Jacob Osei-Duro saw the Bears cut the margin to five points.
Osei-Duro’s efforts were soon replied to by Francis, as he booted his second goal after the Bears squandered two relatively easy chances to gift the Stars a nine-point quarter-time advantage.
Thomastown was able to quickly forget its last minute blunders of the first term as David Folino nailed a goal early in the second quarter. The Stars were able to reply with two of their own, before Osei-Duro found the middle of the sticks again to reduce the margin to nine points.
Thomastown proceeded to dominate the remaining 10 minutes of the second term with relentless attacking thrusts forward. However, the Bears weren’t able to convert their control into scoreboard pressure, booting five straight behinds to take a five-point deficit into half-time.
Fitzroy seemed to benefit from the half-time break, as early goals to Djaran Whyman, Jungala Ellis and Francis saw the home side open up a 24-point advantage.
Ferraro replied for the Bears after taking a big pack mark as he and Francis exchanged back-to-back goals. But when Allan Norris and Hood were then able to reply for the Stars, the home side was able to take a game-high 30-point advantage into the final change.
Goals to Ellis, Hood and Hayes early in the last quarter all but clinched the victory for Fitzroy, as the margin extended beyond 50 points.
Majors to Ferraro and Folino cut the deficit momentarily, however late goals to Djye Morgan and Hayes blew out the final margin to 55 points.
Fitzroy was well led by Dow, Norris and Francis, who finished with four goals. Thomastown’s best three were Frank Multari, Joseph Vaccaro and Anthony Fazzari.
Final score: Fitzroy Stars 18.13 (121) def Thomastown 9.12 (66)
