By Armin Richter
Premier Division had ideal conditions as the Semi Final matches took place on Saturday at Yarra Glen and Healesville. In football Narre Warren secured their fourth straight Grand Final appearance, having previously beaten Berwick in 2019 and Woori Yallock in 2022 and lost to Wandin last year. The Magpies secured their spot with a 15 point win over Woori Yallock at Healesville after the Tigers had gotten out to a 20 point lead by quarter time. Wandin were too accomplished for Olinda-Ferny Creek in the other Semi Final as they stay in the race to defend their title.
Narre Warren had a strong 16-2 season to head the ladder in netball but came up against their nemesis Mt. Evelyn, who had been responsible for their two defeats. The Rovers again controlled the game on the scoreboard as they came away 6 goal victors.
Division 1 Preliminary Finals were played at Woori Yallock under a more overcast and windy situation on Sunday. For football, in a low scoring match, Seville had only managed two goals by three quarter time. In the last term they attacked hard but the return of 2.5 wasn’t enough and they fell short by 14 points. The Blues had been minor premiers but went out in straight sets as Warburton-Millgrove will now face Healesville in the Grand Final this Saturday at Woori Yallock.
It was a good day for the Kookaburras as Warburton-Millgrove also progressed to the Grand Final in A Grade after overcoming Yarra Glen.
FOOTBALL
Premier Division
Seniors: 2nd Semi Final – Narre Warren 11.7.73 def Woori Yallock 8.10.58; 1st Semi Final – Wandin 15.11.101 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 4.8.32
Reserves: 2nd Semi Final – Upwey-Tecoma 7.12.54 def Narre Warren 4.3.27; 1st Semi Final -Wandin 12.8.80 def Pakenham 5.6.36
Division 1
Seniors: Preliminary Final – Warburton-Millgrove 7.8.50 def Seville 4.12.36
Reserves: Preliminary Final – Belgrave 8.9.57 def Seville 6.5.41
Under 19s: Qualifying Final – Pakenham 9.7.61 def Narre Warren 5.8.38; Elimination Final – Officer 11.12.78 def Upwey-Tecoma 5.7.37
Under 18s: Preliminary Final – Woori Yallock 6.10.46 def Healesville 5.9.39
NETBALL
Premier Division
A Grade: 2nd Semi Final – Mt. Evelyn 48 def Narre Warren 42; 1st Semi Final – Wandin 53 def Pakenham 45
B Grade: 2nd Semi Final – Narre Warren 51 def ROC 46; 1st Semi Final – Wandin 45 def Pakenham 43
C Grade: 2nd Semi Final – Narre Warren 30 def Wandin 27; 1st Semi Final – Pakenham 37 def Mt. Evelyn 28
D Grade: 2nd Semi Final – Narre Warren 38 def ROC 30; 1st Semi Final – Pakenham 26 def Wandin 20
Division 1
A Grade: Preliminary Final – Warburton-Millgrove 63 def Yarra Glen 43
B Grade: Preliminary Final – Belgrave 56 def Yarra Glen 44
C Grade: Preliminary Final – Yarra Glen 29 def Belgrave 27
D Grade: Preliminary Final – Yarra Glen 26 def Belgrave 24
Under 17s Mixed: 2nd Semi Final – ROC 33 def Wandin 25; 1st Semi Final – Pakenham 32 def Narre Warren 29
Under 15s: 2nd Semi Final – Monbulk 26 def ROC 24; 1st Semi Final – Narre Warren 32 def Berwick 24
