HDFNL GRAND FINALIST – NORTH BENDIGO

BENDIGO

QUALIFYING FINAL

GOLDEN SQUARE v STRATHFIELDSAYE – 6pm Saturday at QEO.

Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye – winners of the past seven flags – will renew September acquaintances when they meet in Saturday night’s Bendigo league qualifying final.

For the Storm it’s a new approach to the finals given the past three years they’ve finished on top of the ladder and had the first week off.

The Storm has battled with injury all season, and it didn’t get any better last week with co-coach Bryce Curnow and Tom Dowd suffering hamstrings.

Despite the disjointed nature of the Storm side from week-to-week, they ended the home and away season as the No.1 ranked defence, with their back half helping make up for the lack of firepower up forward.

The Bulldogs – the No.1 ranked attack – hit the finals with a clean bill of health and on the back of four wins in a row, with Adam Baird and co-captain Jack Geary both having had sparkling midfield seasons, while Ron Best medallist Dylan Johnstone (79 goals) shapes as a thorn-in-the-side of the Storm defence.

Johnstone is in fine form with 40 goals in his past seven games.

Last time: Strathfieldsaye 7.10 (52) d Golden Square 7.7 (49).

Since 2009: Golden Square 10; Strathfieldsaye 9.

ELIMINATION FINAL

EAGLEHAWK v KYNETON – 2.20pm Sunday at QEO.​

For the second year in a row Eaglehawk and Kyneton will put their Bendigo league seasons on the line against each other in the elimination final.

It’s the second year in a row the Tigers have made the finals in their three seasons back from senior recess and they have well and truly justified their position given they have been good enough to beat two of the “big three” in Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye.

The Tigers have shown this year they are capable of devastating bursts, having had 10 quarters where they have kicked at least 48 points, proving they are hard to stop when they get on a roll.

The Hawks were tipped by many pre-season to be the big sliders of the competition, and that was shaping as the case when their year looked like it would just peter out when they reached the halfway mark with a 3-6 record.

But with the shackles released by outgoing coach Luke Monaghan the Hawks have since won seven of their past nine, which included a 75-point thumping of the Tigers in round 14.

However, unlike that fizzer this should be a lot tighter.

Last time: Eaglehawk 20.12 (132) d Kyneton 8.9 (57).

Since 1995: Eaglehawk 32; Kyneton 11.

LODDON VALLEY

PRELIMINARY FINAL

MITIAMO v CALIVIL UNITED – 2.15pm Saturday at Serpentine.

Calivil United will need to buck the trend of its previous three matches against Mitiamo this season if it’s to advance to the Loddon Valley grand final.

The two sides have met three times this year, with the ledger all in favour of the Superoos by margins of 17, 3 and 40 points in the qualifying final a fortnight ago.

Any confidence that may have been dented after the qualifying final loss to the Superoos should be restored among the Demons following their 93-point demolition of Pyramid Hill in last Sunday’s first semi-final.

The Demons played with the intensity that was missing against the Superoos a week earlier, and they must bring it again for four quarters if they are to earn a crack at Bridgewater in next week’s grand final.

Mitiamo was beaten by 59 points by Bridgewater in the second semi-final last week, and suffered a knee injury blow to Terry Reeves.

The Superoos, led by stars in coach Justin Maddern on 99 goals, Tyson Sidebottom and Doug Thomas, have clearly been the second-best team to Bridgewater this year, but the rejuvenated Demons should take it right up to them.

Last time: Mitiamo 18.12 (120) d Calivil United 11.14 (80) - qualifying final.

Since 1995: Calivil United 36; Mitiamo 22.

NORTH CENTRAL

SECOND SEMI-FINAL

WYCHEPROOF-NARRAPORT v CHARLTON – 2.30pm Saturday at Birchip.

Charlton has the opportunity to win its way into a fourth-consecutive North Central grand final on Saturday.

However, to do so the Navies will have to defy their underdog status when they take on Wycheproof-Narraport in the second semi-final at Birchip.

The Demons – $1.50 flag favourites with Sportsbet – have been the standout team of 2016, finishing three games clear at the top of the ladder with a 15-1 record.

Included in those 15 wins have been 34 and 64-point victories over the Navies.

The Demons boast the competition’s leading goalkicker in superstar Corey Jones (76), who will hold one of the keys to Saturday’s contest with his ability to win games off his own boot.

The Navies – who have lost the past three grand finals by a combined 21 points – have captain Daniel Thiesz playing his 200th senior game in what should provide some extra incentive on top of the fact a grand final berth is at stake.

While the winner takes the direct rote through to the grand final, waiting for the loser next week is Birchip-Watchem in the preliminary final at Donald.

Last time: Wycheproof-Narraport 22.11 (143) d Charlton 11.13 (79).

Since 2009: Charlton 12; Wycheproof-Narraport 11.