Local footy wrap: Werrimull wins first premiership in 11 years, finals chaos across state

The Saints were chasing their fifth straight flag but Werrimull had other ideas, stunning Bambill in the final.

The contest was over at half time as Werrimull kick nine goals to two to lead by 41 points.

Despite a comeback on the second half, the Magpies were not to be denied, the final score was 11.6. (72) to 6.8. (44).

Werrimull won the flag from fourth and defeated Gol Gol, Cardross and Bambill on three finals to win.

An incredible achievement.

ONE GAME AWAY

Myrtleford is one step closer to ending a 55-year premiership drought, beating Lavington in the qualifying final of the Ovens and Murray league.

The Saints kicked three goals to two in the final term to win after being 11 points behind at the first change.

Lachlan Murphy-Dale kicked three goals with Ryley Sharp adding two.

The Saints now face the Wangaratta Rovers next week for a spot in the grand final.

BULLIOH GOES BACK-TO-BACK

Bullioh has completed back-to-back premiership wins in the Upper Murray league with a comfortable 38-point win against Cudgewa in the grand final.

After scoring an upset win against Cudgewa in the grand final last year, Bullioh followed up its second semi-final victory with an even more dominant performance. The victory caps off a brilliant season for 40-year-old playing coach and league best and fairest Clint Brunnenmeyer who led the team to glory again.

“I’m just happy to get on the field week in, week out at my age and contribute still,” he said.

Bullioh led by 12 points at halftime and blew the match open with the first four goals of the second half including one from Brunnenmeyer.

Best-on-ground honours went to Aiden Heinrich who booted two goals in the first half with Lachlan Meehan another great contributor with a goal in every quarter.

Cudgewa century goalkicker John Spencer kicked only two goals with teammate Ben Hall keeping the Blues in the match with five.

Since the last time Bullioh last won back-to-back flags in 2018-19 the league has lost two clubs, Federal and Border-Walwa, and is the smallest league in the state with only four teams.

TEAM TO BEAT

Darley is one game away from the Ballarat league grand final after winning its 18th straight match against East Point in the qualifying final.

Ex-AFL player Nick Hind kicked four goals and Andrew Azzopardi kicked three as the Devils won 10.7. (67) to 5.9. (39).

ORMOND ON A ROLL

Ormond stitched up its 19th consecutive victory and secured promotion with a stirring second semi-final win over Old Peninsula at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

The unbeaten Monders led all the way and had a 17-point margin at the final siren as they stitched up their return to Premier ranks.

Sandringham Dragons-listed Sam Bailey booted three goals and Kai Seeto-Grossi, Flyn O’Toole, Harrison Ross, Jack Mason, Aaron Taylor and Ben Williams made up the list of best.

Jake Lovett, the son of former Melbourne star Brett, played well for Peninsula, as did captain Bailey Payze, who booted three goals to take his season’s haul to 52.

DEVILS DELIGHT

North Footscray is the first team into the WFNL Division 2 decider after overcoming an inaccurate Wyndhamvale by three points. The final score was 5.5 (35) to 3.14 (32) Barnaby Sinos was the hero with his goal at the 24-minute mark of the last quarter.

STARS INTO DECIDER

Fitzroy Stars marched into the NFNL Division 3 grand final with a commanding 76-point preliminary final win over Ivanhoe. Still hurting from last week’s shock semi-final loss to Laurimar, the club’s first defeat of the year, the Stars were ruthless in booking a second straight trip to the decider, 17.15 (117) to 6.5 (41). Ethan Penrith starred in midfield, while Patrick Farrant, Kain Proctor and Elijah Taylor all bagged three goals.

BOMBERS DEFENCE ON TRACK

Riddell will defend its RDFNL crown after winning through to the grand final with a thrilling eight-point semi-final win over Macedon. With scores level at three-quarter-time, the Bombers’ superstar forward Dean Galea kicked the final two goals of the game to lift his side to victory, 10.13 (73) to 10.5 (65). Ben Sonogan, Zakkaria Saad and Bryce Williamson were Riddell’s best as Galea finished with three majors.

REDBACKS PREVAIL

Southern league Division 2 minor premiers Hampton Park prevailed over Highett with a 24-point win to progress to the grand final.

The Redbacks led at every change in the 11.13 (79) to 8.7 (55) triumph.

TIGERS STORM HOME

Reigning champion Balwyn is through to an Eastern league Premier Division semi-final – moving one win from a grand final – after storming home against last year’s runner-up, East Ringwood, 9.5 (59) to 6.12 (48), at Beaconsfield’s Holm Park Reserve.

The Tigers trailed narrowly at all changes before taking control in the final term – but not before one last scare from the Roos, who drew within a kick ticking into time-on.

Jack Tillig led the charge for the victors with three goals, with Balwyn to meet minor premier Blackburn next Saturday.

East Ringwood will meet the winner of Sunday’s Rowville v South Croydon elimination final.

SHARKS HUNT SAINTS

Park Orchards has come from 24 points down in the second term to romp to the Eastern league Division 1 grand final, stunning minor premier South Belgrave, 15.11 (101) to 8.8 (56) at East Burwood Reserve.

The Sharks put the foot to the throat in the last term after leading by just eight points at three-quarter time.

The grand final will mark Park Orchards’ second consecutive appearance.

ROSELLAS TRIUMPHANT

In the Southern league’s top division, Cheltenham knocked off the higher-placed St Paul’s McKinnon in the highly anticipated qualifying final.

The Rosellas trailed by 10 points quarter-time but conceded just one more goal for the remainder of the match.

DOCKERS, MAGPIES’ PREVAIL IN EASTERN PRELIMS

Templestowe will shoot for its first senior flag since 2010 in a fortnight’s time after edging Surrey Park, 8.11 (59) to 8.8 (56), in the Eastern Division 2 semi-final at Mitcham’s Walker Park.

Meanwhile, Scoresby has beaten Knox for a spot in the Eastern league Division 3 grand final – remarkably making a second consecutive decider following promotion from Division 4.

A six-goal-to-three second term set the Magpies on course for the 17.5 (107) to 11.2 (68) victory. Ahead by 15 at the main break, an unrelenting third quarter rocketed the Magpies 27 in front at the final change.

Matt Traynor, Cooper Frith, Adam Amin, Jordan Camilleri, Ryan Hicks and Tom Humphries featured in Scoresby’s best – with Amin kicking five goals and Traynor, four.

Scoresby will meet minor premier Donvale in the decider next Saturday at Ringwood’s Jubilee Park.

FISH CREEK INTO ANOTHER DECIDER

Fish Creek, one of Victoria’s most successful clubs, is into another grand final after outlasting its fierce rival Foster in the Mid Gippsland league qualifying final at Stony Creek.

Fishy have won 38 flags and can prepare for a dart at another following their six-point win over the minor premiers in testing conditions at the racecourse.

They have taken the past two premierships in Mid Gippy, replicating their dominance in the old Alberton league.

And they won the second of them despite being without clubrooms – the historic pavilion burned to the ground in an arson attack in November, 2023.

Foster goes into a preliminary final, where it will meet the winner of the Yinnar-MDU semi-final.

A gripping five-point victory over Woodside lifted TTU into the North Gippsland league grand final.

The minor premiers, beaten only once this season, led by 20 points at the last change and withstood Woodside’s doughty challenge.

Skipper Jye Neilson and David Waddell both kicked three goals for the Bombers.

SWALLOWS MAKE GRAND FINAL

An outstanding final term from Irymple has put them in the grand final in the Sunraysia league.

The Swallows kicked six goals to one in the final term to smash Mildura by 42 points.

The minor premiers had no answers to the team who has been the form team in finals for the past few years.

Dusty Geister kicked four goals for the Swallows in the win.

SCORCHING SEVILLE

A red-hot Seville unleashed a goal blitz to book a grand final berth in Outer East’s Division 1. The Blues kicked 10 goals before halftime and nine after it to defeat Warburton Millgrove by 64 points 19.12 (126) to 9.8 (62) in the second semi-final.

Ex-AFL Kangaroo Nathan O’Keefe slotted four goals and Nathan Thompson and Dean Eliades two apiece. Seville has won six straight to reach the flag decider. Bayley Sciortino was best afield for Seville.

FINALS SUCCESS FOR STONECATS

Frankston YCW made an impressive start to the Mornington Peninsula league Division 1 finals, beating Edithvale-Aspendale convincingly in the qualifying final at Rye, 13.18 (96) to 8.9 (57). Former Essendon player Ned Cahill came into the Stonecats side and provided a spark up forward, while Pat Bloink, Blake Mullane and Mack Hura were also influential for the YCW, which meets minor premiers Rosebud next week for the right to play in the grand final.

GRAND FINALISTS LOCKED IN

Dandenong West will face Hallam in next week’s Southern league Division 4 decider after claiming a 23-point elimination final win over Lyndale.

Coren Giliam led the way with four goals in the victory.

SNOWDOGS SAFE

St Bernard’s has avoided relegation in the VAFA Premier Men’s competition after overcoming finals bound St Kevin’s by 34 points. Former Carlton player Matt Watson booted four while Jackson Hately played a key role in the middle. Collegians won their clash with De La Salle but it wasn’t enough for the 2023 premiers to avoid the drop.

DISTRICTS ONE WIN FROM PROMOTION

South Melbourne Districts’ remarkable run has continued after they secured a place in the VAFA Division 2 preliminary final. The Swans overcame West Brunswick by three points to now only be four quarters away from promotion.

OAK PARK INTO DECIDER

Oak Park won through to the EDFL Division 1 grand final on the back of a dominant 42-point win over Hillside. Lachlan Ronaldson was key with four goals.

SAINTS FLEX MUSCLE

The high-flying St Kilda City punched its grand final ticket in Southern Division 3 with a 49-point win over Carrum Patterson Lakes.

There was an even spread of contributors in the win, and St Kilda City will take some beating come grand final day.

Originally published as Local footy wrap: Werrimull wins first premiership in 11 years, finals chaos across state