The Premier Division Preliminary Finals were played at Yarra Junction on Saturday.
Warm and sunny weather created a finals atmosphere in ideal conditions for spectators, who turned up in large numbers.
Narre Warren had already qualified for the Grand Finals in all grades as the challengers sorted themselves out.
Seniors
In the seniors it was fierce rivals Wandin and Woori Yallock who locked horns.
The Bulldogs established a 14 point lead by quarter time but had been wasteful in front of goal with 5.9 to 4.1.
After the first break Wandin’s running brigade took control as the margin grew with the afternoon wearing on.
The Tigers kept trying to the end but eventually succumbed by 93 points.
The two clear standout clubs in the Premier Division this year, Narre Warren and Wandin, will meet in the Grand Final next week.
Wandin 23.21.159 def Woori Yallock 9.12.66
Best: Wandin – Joel Garner, Cody Hirst, Todd Garner, Aaron Mullett, Brodie Atkins, John Ladner
Woori Yallock – Jordan Williams, Bailey Syswerda, Harvey Smith, Joshua Neal, Jacob Aitchison, Zach Monkhorst
Goals: Wandin – Joel Garner 5, Aaron Mullett 4, Tom Merlino 3, Clinton Johnston 2, Patty Bruzzese 2, Jordan Jaworski 2, Cody Hirst 1, Damien Furey 1, Harrison Byrne 1, Thomas Hinds 1, Patrick Hodgett 1
Woori Yallock – Joshua Neal 3, Kody Busoli 2, Robert Swan 1, Robert Allen 1, Harvey Smith 1, Zach Monkhorst 1
Reserves
Upwey-Tecoma 8.8.56 def Wandin 4.9.33
Under 19s
Upwey-Tecoma 13.6.84 def Officer 8.5.53
Division 1
Another perfect spring day greeted the footballers as they met on the expanses of Healesville on Sunday for the Grand Finals of Division 1.
It was a case of the old meeting the new.
Emerald had formed in 1904 and played in the Evelyn Football Association that year against Macclesfield, Monbulk and Woori Yallock.
They have been a stalwart of Mountain District football for nearly 120 years and have won 10 senior premierships, their first in 1931 and most recently in 2015.
Berwick Springs is a former junior club that hails from Clyde in Melbourne’s south east growth corridor and only began competing as a senior club in 2021.
They were making their first Grand Final appearance after just 3 years in existence.
Emerald had lost the Second Semi Final against Berwick Springs two weeks ago in extra time, rueing some inaccurate kicking for goal on that day.
They began the Grand Final with a slight breeze and a steely determination not to be caught out again.
By quarter time the Bombers had gotten out to a 30-2 lead.
Emerald kept up their run and carry to find marking forward targets and the game was all but over by half time when the scoreboard read 8.8.56 to 1.4.10.
The second half was party time for a vocal Emerald crowd as the clock ran down to the inevitable conclusion.
Emerald won the Division 1 flag for 2023 by a convincing 59 points.
Emerald 14.16.100 def Berwick Springs 5.11.41
Best: Emerald – David Johnson, Jordan Donadel, Steven Paull, Brendan Wilson, Josh Rich, Michael Richardson
Berwick Springs – not recorded
Goals: Emerald – David Johnson 6, Lachlan Hoye 3, Isaac Seskis 1, Jared Derksen 1, Callum White 1, Jake Pedder 1, Rogan Goonan 1
Berwick Springs – not recorded
Reserves
The top two teams from the Home & Away season met in the play off for the premiership in the Reserves.
After a tight opening quarter, Officer scored the only two goals of the second term to establish a handy 16 point buffer at the long break.
The Kangaroos then dominated the third quarter, kicking 6 goals to 3 and were leading by 35 points with one quarter to go.
The Bombers mounted an assault which yielded four goals with plenty of time remaining but Officer tightened up to restrict further scoring and they ran out 15 point winners on the back of having 10 more scoring shots.
Officer 9.12.66 def Emerald 8.3.51
Best: Officer – Lachie Ward, Matthew Rogers, Jordan McGeagh, Riley Punnett, Joshua King, Dean Leskie
Emerald – Patrick Mckimmie, Robert Cracknell, Jack Raukola, Jack McGough, Brodie Walker, Isaac Van Rossen
Goals: Officer – Lee Belton 2, Matthew Rogers 1, Trent McMahon 1, Lachie Ward 1, Jordan Hancock 1 + 3 not recorded
Emerald – Ben Cramer 2, Brodie Walker 1, Ben Lewis 1, Lachlan Crnogorac 1, Jack McGough 1, Troy Brown 1, Jay Liversridge 1
