Playing in their first final since 2011 the Eagles proved too strong for the Bulldogs in the qualifying final at Inglewood, winning by 33 points.

The Eagles led at every change in their 16.12 (108) to 10.15 (75) victory that set up a second semi-final against Newbridge next Saturday at Pyramid Hill.

The victory was spearheaded by an imposing first half in attack by Eagles coach Wayne Mitrovic.

Mitrovic kicked seven goals for the game – all of them by half-time.

“The boys were really good today, particularly in the first half when the game was there to be won,” Mitrovic said.

“They came back at us a bit in the second half, which you’d expect in a final, but overall I felt we were the dominant side today.”

After leading by five points at quarter-time the Eagles broke the game open with a dominant second term in which they booted 7.2 to 1.6 to take a 37-point buffer into the main break.

So long has it been since the Eagles last finished in the top five, of their team on Saturday only veteran Steve Turner and Ryan Walker have previously been part of a finals campaign with the club.

“With the situation the club has been in, today’s win is really important. If you get the double chance, but get knocked out in straight sets people are probably still going to give you that token pat on the back for making the finals,” Mitrovic said.

RELATED – SATURDAY SCOREBOARD

“But as a group we felt if we could’t win a final it would be a fail, so there’s a lot of relief that we’ve won that first final and we can now look forward to Newbridge next week.”

As well as Mitrovic, the best for the Eagles also included Nat McLaren with his run and carry, Nick Waterson on a wing and defender Hamish McCartney. 

The Bulldogs – playing in their seventh qualifying final in the past nine years – were best served by two of their youngsters in Mitchell Stephens (two goals) on a wing and forward Mitch Cheesman, as well as on-baller Billy Micevski and Andrew Dobby off half-back.

“We had as many opportunities as the opposition, but they used the ball a lot better in their front half... we tended to kick points or hand possession back,” Bulldogs co-coach Brad Fawcett said.

“In that second quarter they got a bit of a run-on and that has been a bit of a weakness of ours in letting teams have those really good periods and blow us away a bit.

“We had a lot of players in their first senior final today and the message after the game was to learn from this and make sure next week we make better decisions when under pressure.”

Meanwhile, the senior match was delayed after double extra-time was needed in the reserves game between Newbridge and Pyramid Hill.

Scores were level 8.4 apiece at the final siren, and again at 8.5 after the first period of extra time before the Maroons eventually won 10.6 (66) to 8.6 (54).

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.