By PEPPE CAVALERI - Division 1 Seniors
WERRIBEE Districts will play finals in 2017, after stealing a place in the top five in the most remarkable of circumstances on Saturday afternoon.
Needing to beat Albion, and hope Altona lost to St Albans - a highly unlikely scenario - the Tigers overcame a sluggish first half to beat the Cats, and then received word only moments after the final siren that the Saints had stunned the Vikings by one point.
Down by 34-points to Albion at half-time - and perhaps assuming St Albans couldn't possibly beat Altona - Werribee Districts discovered the Saints were in fact in the hunt, and it inspired a thrilling turnaround.
An inspired second half by Chris Molivas, four goals, led the Tigers to victory, while Nathan Black was terrific across half back and Matty Dean cracked in hard all afternoon.
Despite the loss, Albion can take solace from Saturday's effort, as the Cats set themselves for 2018.
Playing coach Chris O'Keefe set the tone from the very first bounce, while Marty Dufty's four goals was nearly match-winning.
The other result at the weekend with final ramifications was Sunshine's victory over Deer Park, which secured a double chance.
The Kangaroos confirmed themselves as a real September danger, winning by 52 points against the main premiership fancy in Division 1.
Despite trailing by two goals at quarter time, Sunshine kicked 13 goals to four after that point, restricting the Lions to just seven goals for the afternoon.
Lachie Langwell kicked three majors for the Roos, while Kwame McHarg snagged four for the Lions.
Deer Park though - having finished first on the ladder - earn a week off to rest, recuperate and re-group.
Hoppers Crossing beat Wyndhamvale by 107-points, but it wasn't enough to move into third on percentage.
Spotswood defeated Caroline Springs in its finals warm-up, and as has been mentioned, St Albans condemned Altona to the bottom five.
Week one of finals in Division 1 will kick-off on Saturday with the Woodsmen taking on Sunshine in a qualifying final at Wyndhamvale.
Hoppers Crossing might be a tad nervous to face Werribee Districts in Sunday's elimination final at Williamstown.
And with the lingering memory of WRFL footy being the ridiculous round-18 scenarios that came to fruition, we certainly won't be ruling out another extraordinary weekend.
VIKINGS END SEASON AS MINOR PREMIERS
By CONNOR PAIN - Division 1 Reserves
ALTONA finished the 2017 season as the minor premiers, a game ahead of second placed Hoppers Crossing and six points ahead of Sunshine who ended the year in third.
The Vikings punctuated their minor premiership with a resounding 22.13. (145) to 4.5. (29) thrashing of St Albans and will now have a week off as they await their next opponent.
The 116-point win came on the back of their stout defence that held the Saints goalless in three of four terms.
St Albans season ends in seventh place as they could never string several wins together in order to amount a serious finals challenge.
Deer Park stunned Sunshine, costing the Kangaroos a chance to finish on top of the ladder as they ran out 12.11. (83) to 1.5. (11) winners.
The Lions stifled the home side throughout the day, holding the Roos to just one major in four quarters. The Deer Park attack, while not potent, did enough to maintain their advantage, five goals in the final term confirming the 72-point victory.
Deer Park’s fourth place finish will see them face the Werribee Districts in an elimination final while Sunshine will battle Hoppers Crossing in a qualifying final.
Eleven goals to four over the second and third quarters helped the Werribee Districts ease to a 70-point win against Albion.
The Cats started strongly and were ahead by two-points at the quarter time break, but they were unable to maintain their advantage as the Districts were too strong as the game progressed.
Justin Bailey Buckler led the way for Werribee in the 19.14. (128) to 9.4. (58) win with six goals. The loss confirmed Albion’s ninth place finish, a result they’ll look to improve next year.
An eight goal to one first half saw Caroline Springs down Spotswood 16.5. (101) to 3.11. (29).
Both sides could have thrown that towel in as they only had pride to play for, however the Lakers went for the four points and cruised to an 82-point win.
Caroline Springs end the season in sixth place while the Woodsmen after two places down in eighth.
Hoppers Crossing demolished Wyndhamvale 26.23. (179) to 2.2. (14) in one of the biggest wins of the year.
Todd Caulfield, Aaron Williams and Daniel Strnak combined for 14 goals, the same amount of points that the Falcons scored total.
The loss was Wyndhavale’s 18th, the Falcons finished the season winless and on the bottom of the ladder.
Last Modified on 21/08/2017 14:11