A seven-goal haul from star forward Sam Bourke, including four in what proved to be a pivotal second-quarter performance, has ensured St Mary’s will be part of GFNL finals action for an eighth consecutive year.
The Saints defeated Newtown & Chilwell by 39 points at Elderslie Reserve, but despite their impressive performance in knocking over the previously top-of-the-ladder Towners, they will start their finals campaign from an elimination final.
Sitting third going into today, some of the gloss of victory was removed by news that Colac’s 63-point result against Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve was enough for the Tigers to snatch a qualifying final berth by a mere 1.26 per cent.
Newtown & Chilwell’s loss saw it drop to second, and a meeting with Colac in the qualifying final, leaving St Joseph’s with the minor premiership for the second straight season after they had the better of Geelong West by 69 points at Drew Oval.
St Mary’s will meet Bell Park in the elimination final after the Dragons held off two-time reigning premier Leopold by 21 points at Hamlyn Park.
Wins by the Saints, Colac, and Bell Park left South Barwon – grand finalists in the past two seasons – without a chair when the music stopped.
A nine-goal haul from Jonty Broughton helped the Swans to a 120-point win, but it left them two points outside the top five.
South Barwon’s 50 points is the best home-and-away return by a team in GFNL history not to play finals.
At the bottom of the ladder, despite a six-goal haul from Jason Davenport, North Shore has claimed the wooden spoon after losing to the previously winless Lara by six points at Windsor Park.
The Cats’ percentage was good enough to ensure it avoided the dreaded kitchen utensil.
X: @krockfootball
FINAL GFNL LADDER
| WON | LOST | DRAWS | POINTS | % | |
| St Joseph’s | 15 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 182.54 |
| Newtown & Chilwell | 14 | 4 | 0 | 56 | 200.00 |
| Colac | 13 | 5 | 0 | 52 | 196.89 |
| St Mary’s | 13 | 5 | 0 | 52 | 195.63 |
| Bell Park | 13 | 5 | 0 | 52 | 181.39 |
| South Barwon | 12 | 5 | 1 | 50 | 195.59 |
| Leopold | 10 | 7 | 1 | 42 | 178.20 |
| St Albans | 6 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 86.65 |
| Geelong West | 5 | 13 | 0 | 20 | 83.85 |
| Grovedale | 4 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 68.81 |
| Lara | 1 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 19.83 |
| North Shore | 1 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 14.64 |
NEXT WEEK – FINALS WEEK ONE
Saturday, September 6
Qualifying Final
- Newtown & Chilwell vs. Colac @ West Oval, 2:10pm*
Sunday, September 7
Elimination Final
- St Mary’s vs. Bell Park @ West Oval, 2:10pm*
*krockfootball.live Match of the Day
