Marong 18.8 (116) d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 14.16 (100).

MARONG’S Loddon Valley Football League finals pulse continues to beat following its 16-point win over Bears Lagoon-Serpentine on Saturday.

The Panthers won a hard-fought contest 18.8 (116) to 14.16 (100) at Marong Links Oval and with one round remaining, are now only percentage outside the top five.

Two weeks ago the Panthers’ season had looked shot when they sat two games outside the top five, but if they beat Inglewood next week and YCW upsets Mitiamo, Marong will again play finals.

“We just wanted to go out and enjoy our footy today and play the gamestyle we’ve been trying to all year, which we’ve shown glimpses of,” Marong coach Corey Gregg said.

“Today was the first time this year we’ve produced a four-quarter performance and it was full credit to the boys, who kept cracking in and playing for each other.”

The Panthers led by seven points at three quarter-time, before finishing the game with five goals to three in the final term to upstage the Bears for the second time this year.

Kyle Manley, skipper Richard Tibbett, Lachlan Frankel and Corbin Fleming all kicked three goals for the Panthers.

After missing last week through suspension, Gregg returned to the side and was named best.

“I really wanted to pay the boys back from last week because it’s not good enough to have the coach on the sidelines like I was,” Gregg said.

In what’s a concern for the Bears with the finals on the horizon, the loss was their second in a row and fourth in their past six games.

Mathew Davidson (five), Trevor Johnson (three) and Shaun Monohan (three) combined for 11 of the Bears’ 14 goals. Luke Edwards was the side’s best player.

Bridgewater 16.13 (109) d Mitiamo 11.6 (72).

LADDER-LEADER Bridgewater rounded out its home and away season with a 37-point win over Mitiamo, 16.13 (109) to 11.6 (72).

The Superoos took it right up to the Mean Machine in the first half, only trailing by seven points at the long break, but Bridgewater answered the challenge with 10 goals to five after the break.

“Mitiamo was very competitive, but I was pleased with our effort going into finals,” said Bridgewater coach Andrew Collins, who kicked five goals and was again named his side’s best.

Zeb Broadbent, Marc Lindsay and Jared Keely also played leading roles for the Mean Machine, who now have a 21-day break before lining up in the second semi-final.

Bridgewater’s Daniel Connors left the field early in the game with a hamstring concern.

Luke Lougoon, Adam Sims and Trent Forbes played well for the Superoos.

Calivil United 13.16 (94) d YCW 4.8 (32).

CALIVIL United guaranteed its return to the LVFL finals for the first time since 2012 with a 62-point win over YCW.

The Demons belted the Eagles 13.16 (94) to 4.8 (32) in a win where they held YCW scoreless in the first quarter and to just one goal in the first half.

Luke Manders kicked five goals for the Demons, whose best player was backman Alex Davis.

No best players were named for the Eagles, whose first term was their fourth scoreless quarter of the season.

Pyramid Hill 21.17 (143) d Inglewood 10.3 (63).

PYRAMID Hill beat Inglewood for the 17th time in a row, winning 21.17 (143) to 10.3 (63).

Fabian Brancatisano and Bryden Morison, who was his side’s best player, each kicked five goals for the Bulldogs in the 80-point victory at Mitchell Park.

While it was a 13th loss in a row this season for the Blues, a positive was they kicked 10 goals in a game for the first time since round five.

Ben Rose kicked three of the Blues’ 10 goals.