IMPORTANT NOTE: This Saturday’s Women’s Finals (26 August) have been moved from Heatherton Recreation Reserve to Meade Reserve, Haughton Road, Clayton.
By Jarryd McGuane
@JMcGuane
The regular season is now our over and we enter into an exciting finals period beginning on Saturday at Meade Reserve.
Elimination Final 2
Endeavour Hills (6th) vs Hallam (7th)
The first final is a rematch from the final round which saw the Falcons were relegated to sixth to face the in-form Hawks at 9am.
Endeavour Hills have shown to be an up and down side, will need to be at their best to advance to move forward to the Semi Finals.
Hallam were in danger of missing finals with four rounds to go before a rich vein of form with a range of contributors to the side.
Hallam will enter the game the more confident side and their form will stay true to continue their season another week.
Hallam by seven points.
Elimination Final 1
Highett (5th) vs Lyndhurst (8th)
It took Highett up into the final round to push into fifth place to guarantee a rematch with Lyndhurst at 10:55am.
The Bulldogs were in the race for a top four spot for most of the season before a form slump dropped them as low as sixth.
Lyndhurst made finals on percentage and have shown they can come out with victories if the opponent’s score is kept down.
Highett should have just enough class to get another chance at the top four sides.
Highett by 13 points.
Qualifying Final 2
Mordialloc (2nd) vs East Brighton (3rd)
At 12:50pm, Mordialloc will have to arrest a form slump as they face East Brighton, who also come into finals on their own losing streak.
The Bloods were one of the two strongest sides all season until the lost the last two games of the regular season, and will need their strong core to lift to get the week off.
East Brighton have shared the load across 10-12 players throughout the season and will carry a level of confidence following their six-point loss to Murrumbeena.
I’m predicting an upset with the Vampires to get the chocolates in a nail-biter.
East Brighton by two points.
Qualifying Final 1
Murrumbeena (1st) vs Oakleigh District (4th)
Murrumbeena will have to carry pressure of a possible undefeated season when they face Oakleigh District at 2:45pm.
Beena have been the class of the inaugural season of the SFNL women’s league and they hurt sides with both their pace and skills.
The Oaks have been one of the sides that have shown a high level of resilience by playing a lot of games short or without of the assistance a bench.
Oakleigh District has been brave throughout the season but will have to go the long way to the Grand Final as they will fall to Murrumbeena.
Murrumbeena by 25 points.
