The Casey Scorpions and Collingwood are through to preliminary finals and Essendon eliminated Geelong from the premiership race on a memorable first day of the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Legendairy Finals Series.
In today’s qualifying finals, the Scorpions powered home in the second half to defeat Footscray by 70 points while the Magpies burst from the blocks and never let up on the way to toppling Williamstown by 46 points.
Meanwhile, the Bombers knocked off Geelong to the tune of 22 points thanks to a frenetic final-quarter comeback in the first of the elimination finals. Their victory sets up a semi final against the Bulldogs next week, while the Seagulls will meet the winner of tomorrow’s Port Melbourne vs Sandringham elimination final in the other semi final.
* CLICK HERE to read the recap of Sunday's elimination final.
1st QUALIFYING FINAL
CASEY SCORPIONS 20.8 (128) d FOOTSCRAY 8.10 (58)
Telling facts: The Scorpions exploded to their first finals win since 2008 with 13 goals to Footscray’s two in the second half at Casey Fields. The home team conceded the first three majors of the game but slowly responded to take an eight-point lead into half time. Five unanswered goals to start the third term – including two each to Sam Weideman and Angus Scott – saw the Scorpions decisively break free of the Bulldogs, and they further flexed some muscle in the final quarter by piling on the last eight majors of the match.
Leading goalkickers: Scott 4, Weideman 3, Terlich 2, Grimes 2, Hulett 2, Neal-Bullen 2 (Casey Scorpions) / Jamieson 2, D.Hamilton 2 (Footscray)
2nd QUALIFYING FINAL
COLLINGWOOD 16.6 (102) d WILLIAMSTOWN 7.14 (56)
Telling facts: The Magpies had last year’s premiers on the ropes from the get-go at IKON Park. Lachlan Howe booted two of their four unanswered goals to start the game and Collingwood began the next three quarters in similar fashion, slotting four, three and two majors respectively before the Seagulls had opened their own account. The only concern for the victors during their week off will be the fitness of captain Jack Hellier, tough VFL-lister Ben Moloney and AFL key defender Jack Frost, who were all forced from the game with injury.
Leading goalkickers: L.Howe 3, Collopy 3, Williams 2, Crocker 2 (Collingwood) / Dunell 2 (Williamstown)
1st ELIMINATION FINAL
ESSENDON 21.6 (132) d GEELONG 17.8 (110)
Telling facts: Just when the Bombers looked cooked in the fourth quarter at North Port Oval, they rallied to come from behind and shock Geelong in a classic final. Essendon produced some of its best football of the year to establish a 31-point lead by quarter-time, but the Cats responded with five unanswered goals in the second term to snatch the lead at the main break. A Nakia Cockatoo goal to start the final stanza put Geelong 22 points in front, but the Bombers then produced a withering six-goal-unanswered burst to claim a memorable victory.
Leading goalkickers: Polkinghorne 4, Holmes 3, Heavyside 2, Jamar 2, Redman 2, J.Merrett 2, Hams 2 (Essendon) / House 2, Horlin-Smith 2, Vardy 2, Cockatoo 2, Kersten 2 (Geelong)
CLICK HERE for the full results, best players and goalkickers
SUNDAY'S GAME:
Port Melbourne vs Sandringham (Channel 7, 2.30pm)
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VFL Finals Week 1 preview
TEAMS: VFL Finals Week 1
VFL MEDIA COVERAGE: September 3/4
Women's All-Star game
PLAYER FEATURE: Captain Dan a key Essendon cog
Wynstan Stats Central Rd 21: VFL stats smashers
Last Modified on 04/09/2016 17:45
