Eagles have landed

By Ben O’Brien
FINALS action got under way in the 2006 Cadbury-Schweppes finals series on Sunday, with the Second Division semi-finals being played at Gembrook and Colchester Road, and some cracking football and netball being played, as reflected in the scorelines.
At Gembrook, it was Yarra Junction that moved through to this week’s preliminary final after accounting for South Belgrave, 21.12.138 to 21.6.132.
Junction led by 21 points at the first break, which was the greatest margin for the day, before South hit back hard in the second term, kicking seven goals to five to only trail by 11 points at the long break.
The second half was essentially goal-for-goal, with scores being level inside the last five minutes, before the Eagles slotted one, courtesy of Darren Sharp, to get across the line. Sharp and Leigh Newstead kicked six and five goals respectively, for the victors, while Mark Rogerson (six goals) was ably assisted by South’s best for the day in Stephen O’Meara.
Yarra Junction will face Thornton-Eildon this week, who eventually succumbed to Warburton-Millgrove, 21.10.136 to 17.14.116, in one of the best games seen in the YVMDFL for some years.
The Shinboners were slow out of the blocks, trailing by 28 points at quarter time, a gap that proved significant in the final analysis. The other significant factor was Vincent Muccitelli, whose 13 goals were, literally, more than the difference between the two sides. Whenever Thornton-Eildon threatened and got within two kicks, invariably the ball would end up with Muccitelli, and the three-goal buffer would be restored. The contest actually increased in pace in the second half, with both teams’ midfielders zipping the ball up and down the field and both forward lines capitalising fully. Thornton’s Lucas Smith, with six goals, was his side’s leading player, and with a re-match of their Round 18 clash coming up this week between Thornton and Junction, another classic contest looks likely.
In the netball semis, top side Yarra Junction had too much firepower for Alexandra, winning 40 to 19. Junction moved through to the grand final, while Alexandra line up again this week against local rivals Thornton-Eildon, who were too good for Warburton-Millgrove, winning 29 to 17.
The finals round of footy in the Compass Group First Division, played on Saturday, actually paled in comparison to that played on Sunday, but with First Division finals starting this week, the sides ranked second to fourth get the chance to strut their stuff.
Monbulk has finished the season as minor premiers, after they defeated Belgrave by just less than 20 goals. Luke Tolliday kicked five, and Michael Hughson was best-on-ground, as the Hawks now have a week off before they face either Healesville or Upwey-Tecoma.
Healesville insured that Mt Evelyn’s season ended ordinarily, with the Rovers copping their third successive hiding, this time by 133 points. Jye Conrau kicked 11 goals, to finish the home/away season on an impressive 114 goals, with Ryan Carruthers taking BOG honours. Jon Dalton kicked five for Mt Evelyn, and should figure prominently in next Monday’s Ramage Medal count.
Upwey finished second, after defeating fellow finals’ contender Woori Yallock in a solid workout before the finals, by 42 points. Dropping their last two games would not have been in Woori’s plans, especially as they come up against a rampaging Silvan this week in the elimination final.
The Cats poleaxed a disappointing Wandin by an even 100 points, with Mazins and Moorcroft each kicking a handful.
In the final match, Gembrook-Cockatoo finished the season with a wet sail, accounting for Olinda by 31 points.
FINALS THIS WEEK
Saturday
2nd Division (Gembrook) – Thornton-Eildon v Yarra Junction (Sen); Yarra Junction v Alexandra (Res); Sth Belgrave v Warburton (U18).
Sunday
1st Division (Warburton) – Upwey v Healesville (Sen); Monbulk v Healesville (Res); Upwey v Gembrook (U18).
1st Division (Yarra Junction) – Silvan v Woori (Sen), Gembrook v Silvan (Res), Monbulk v Belgrave (U18).