The Tigers stood up in a massive high stakes match against the Bulldogs last Saturday when both teams had so much to play for.

And the way in which they ran the game out will give the Tigers plenty of impetus heading into this Saturday against an opponent they have built a finals rivalry with in recent seasons given Kyneton and Eaglehawk met in back-to-back elimination finals in 2015 and 2016.

Both teams hit the finals in good form – the Tigers with three wins in a row, while the Hawks have a solid block of six-consecutive wins behind them, which included belting Kyneton by 58 points in round 14.

Saturday presents another opportunity for the Tigers to shake off a massive September hoodoo, with Kyneton having not only lost the past three elimination finals, but the club hasn’t won a final since its 1997 flag.

Minor premier Strathfieldsaye awaits the winner in the second semi-final next week.

• How they stack up:

EAGLEHAWK:

Record – 15-3, 186.5%

Avg for/agst – 113/61

Quarters won – 48 of 72

KYNETON:

Record – 12-5-1, 139.7%

Avg for/agst – 101/72

Quarters won – 43 of 72

• Season meetings: 

Rd 5 – Kyneton 13.14 (92) d Eaglehawk 10.13 (73).

Rd 14 – Eaglehawk 20.18 (138) d Kyneton 12.8 (80).

Since 1995: Eaglehawk 36; Kyneton 12.

…………………………………

Gisborne makes its return to the finals for the first time since 2014.

It has been a long journey back to September for the Bulldogs through some challenging rebuilding years and the road this season has been far from smooth given with four rounds left they were two games outside the top five.

But Clinton Young’s side hit the finals with the momentum of four wins in a row in which they haven’t conceded a score of more than 60.

For many of the Bulldogs it will be their first taste of senior finals and how they handle the step-up in pressure and tempo will be crucial to their chances.

The Dragons are a finals-hardened outfit who, after an inconsistent first 10 rounds in which they were 5-5, have since strung together seven wins in their past eight games, but are going to have to do it the hard way from here having missed out on the double chance by two points.

Gisborne’s last finals appearance was also against Sandhurst when the Dragons won a memorable 2014 preliminary final by five points against the Bulldogs.

• How they stack up:

SANDHURST:

Record – 12-6, 191.8%

Avg for/agst – 100/52

Quarters won – 48 of 72

GISBORNE:

Record – 11-7, 135.2%

Avg for/agst – 97/72

Quarters won – 44 of 72

• Season meetings: 

Rd 5 – Sandhurst 12.9 (81) d Gisborne 6.11 (47).

Rd 14 – Sandhurst 9.21 (75) d Gisborne 5.11 (41).

Head to Head: Sandhurst 22; Gisborne 22.

…………………………………

RICHARD JONES (80) - Eaglehawk, Sandhurst.

LUKE WEST (78) - Eaglehawk, Sandhurst.

ADAM BOURKE (75) - Eaglehawk, Sandhurst.

WILLIAM VALLELY (72) - Eaglehawk, Sandhurst.

KIERAN ILES (70) - Kyneton, Sandhurst.

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Will it be North Bendigo into a fifth grand final in a row, or Colbinabbin earning the chance to play off in its first decider since 2009?

The Grasshoppers have survived two cut-throat finals against LBU and Huntly to get through to the preliminary final and a crack at the Bulldogs.

While it hasn’t proven costly, wayward kicking has frustrated the Grasshoppers in their two finals so far in which they have kicked 14.18 and 10.21, but the positive is they have been able to generate more than 30 scoring shots in both matches.

However, against an elite side like the Bulldogs, who they have lost six in a row against, the Grasshoppers can’t afford to again squander opportunities or North Bendigo will pounce.

The Bulldogs were so close to going straight through to the grand final last week when they fell four points short of Leitchville-Gunbower in a hard-fought second semi-final.

But rather than having a week off, they’ve got to dust themselves off, re-focus and be ready for another four-quarter battle where the prize on the line is the big dance against the Bombers.

• Season meetings:

Rd 9 – North Bendigo 14.13 (97) d Colbinabbin 10.6 (66).

Rd 18 – North Bendigo 14.24 (108) d Colbinabbin 7.10 (52).

Head to Head: Colbinabbin 27; North Bendigo 26.

…………………………………

LUKE WEST (65) - North Bendigo.

ADAM BOURKE (64) - North Bendigo.

WILLIAM VALLELY (62) - North Bendigo.

KIERAN ILES (59) - Colbinabbin.

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The Eagles made a winning return to the finals last week with a 33-point victory over Pyramid Hill, but now come up against a side that only two weeks ago they were belted by 99 points.

The Eagles were able to put their round 18 hiding from the Maroons behind them last week to bounce back in the qualifying final, led by a seven-goal haul from coach Wayne Mitrovic.

The Maroons look primed at the business end of the season. They have had a chance to freshen up with a week off, won eight in a row, and when you’ve beaten the second-placed side by nearly 100 points in your last match, how can you be anything but confident?

• Season meetings:

Rd 9 – Maiden Gully YCW 14.11 (95) d Newbridge 11.17 (83).

Rd 18 – Newbridge 21.14 (140) d Maiden Gully YCW 5.11 (41).

Since 1995: Newbridge 29; Maiden Gully YCW 21; Drawn 3.

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The Bulldogs have had the measure of the Superoos twice this year, but it’s hard not to be drawn into the performance of Mitiamo last week when it crushed BL-Serpentine by 79 points in the elimination final.

Last week was a fourth win in a row for the Superoos, while the Bulldogs are 1-3 in their past four games and no longer have a second chance up their sleeve.

• Season meetings:

Rd 4 – Pyramid Hill 11.7 (73) d Mitiamo 8.7 (55).

Rd 13 – Pyramid Hill 13.5 (83) d Mitiamo 10.11 (71).

Since 1995: Mitiamo 30; Pyramid Hill 21.

…………………………………

ADAM BOURKE (51) - Newbridge, Mitiamo.

LUKE WEST (51) - Newbridge, Mitiamo.

WILLIAM VALLELY (46) - Newbridge, Mitiamo.

KIERAN ILES (44) - Newbridge, Pyramid Hill.

…………………………………

• Season meetings:

Rd 5 – Birchip-Watchem 12.12 (84) d Wycheproof-Narraport 7.4 (46).

Rd 12 – Birchip-Watchem 13.7 (85) d Wycheproof-Narraport 8.8 (56).

Since 2009: Wycheproof-Narraport 16; Birchip-Watchem 11.

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