Weekend football preview, selections, how they match-up - BFNL, HDFNL, LVFNL, NCFL

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SECOND SEMI-FINAL

6pm Saturday at QEO.

The first berth in the grand final will be decided in what has become a familiar September match-up.

This is the third-consecutive second semi-final meeting between Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk - the Hawks won the previous two in 2018 and 2017 - and it's a mouthwatering clash that awaits under lights.

The Storm are coming off a 17-1 home and away season with a ridiculous percentage of 312.7, which has been bloated by winning their past five games by 197, 89, 217, 185 and 171 points.

Such has been their fixture, the Storm haven't had a competitive hit-out since their round 13 win over Gisborne on July 20 and now comes a massive step-up in intensity with finals and quality with the Hawks, who have a 4-1 head-to-head finals record against Strathfieldsaye since 2016.

The Hawks are now on a 12-game winning streak - a stretch that includes being the only team this season to beat the Storm when they won by 18 points in round 10, as well as their 38-point qualifying final victory over Gisborne last week.

Season meetings:

Round 1 - Strathfieldsaye 14.14 (98) def Eaglehawk 8.12 (60).

Round 10 - Eaglehawk 14.14 (98) def Strathfieldsaye 11.14 (80).

FIRST SEMI-FINAL

2.20pm Sunday at QEO.

One win apiece for the two Bulldogs rivals against each other this season; their most recent meeting being just a fortnight ago when Gisborne won by 17 points at Gardiner Reserve.

This meeting though comes with the added pressure of a knockout final.

Gisborne has used up its double chance after falling to Eaglehawk in the qualifying final - a result that posed the question of can the Bulldogs' best football stand up for long enough?

They were good enough to hold Eaglehawk to just three goals for two quarters and 10 minutes, but then gave up 10 goals and lost by 38 points.

If Gisborne can't bounce back on Sunday and is dealt a straight sets exit, it would be hugely disappointing given the strides taken forward this year and pre-season expectations.

Golden Square is still alive in the premiership race after beating arch-rival Sandhurst by 15 points in the elimination final last week, but has been dealt a double blow at the tribunal this week with the suspensions of star on-baller Adam Baird (four games) and defender Braydon Welsh (three games).

Season meetings:

Round 9 - Golden Square 8.15 (63) def Gisborne 4.8 (32).

Round 18 - Gisborne 10.19 (79) def Golden Square 8.14 (62).

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GRAND FINAL

2.15pm Saturday at Calivil.

Mitiamo or Pyramid Hill will be the region's first premier team of 2019 when they do battle in the LVFNL grand final at Calivil.

They have met three times this season for a 2-1 ledger in favour of the Superoos, including beating the Bulldogs by 22 points in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.

The midfield battle will feature the top two in the Harding Medal in Mitiamo's Terry Reeves (winner) and Pyramid Hill's Billy Micevski (runner-up), while one of the key questions heading into the grand final is can the Bulldogs contain enough of the Superoos' powerful forward line to win their first flag since 1950?

And that's where that midfield battle featuring Reeves, Miceveski and co is going to be so important given the Bulldogs can't afford to allow Mitiamo constant clean supply into the likes of Justin Maddern, Tyrone Downie and Ryan Wellington or their defence will be in for a hell of a day.

Only once in the past 11 years has the LVFNL grand final been decided by less than five goals - Bridgewater beating BL-Serpentine by eight points in 2013.

Here's hoping for a battle that goes right down to the wire and a contest befitting of the grand final stage.

The Bulldogs have a chance to win all three football flags, with their reserves and under-18s also competing, while there's an opportunity for Mitiamo to complete the senior football-A Grade netball double.

Season meetings:

Round 2 - Pyramid Hill 18.11 (119) def Mitiamo 9.10 (64).

Round 11 - Mitiamo 14.11 (95) def Pyramid Hill 12.10 (82).

2^nd semi - Mitiamo 11.22 (88) def Pyramid Hill 10.6 (66).

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PRELIMINARY FINAL

2.15pm Saturday at Huntly.

A crack at Colbinabbin for the flag awaits North Bendigo or Mount Pleasant.

The Bulldogs have only lost two games for the season, but one was last week's second semi-final against the Grasshoppers that has used up their safety net.

The Bulldogs are a proud group and you'd expect a strong response to last week, but they come up against an in-form Blues side that is riding a wave of momentum with two finals wins already under their belt.

The Bulldogs won't want to be caught napping in the first quarter like Lockington-Bamawm United was against Mount Pleasant last week because when the Blues get on a roll, well.... just ask the Cats and White Hills.

The Blues kicked eight unanswered goals in a 15-minute burst against the Demons in the elimination final and seven in a row in the first half against the Cats in the first semi-final.

By 5pm Saturday it will be either North Bendigo into a sixth-straight grand final, or a throwback to years gone by with a traditional Colbinabbin-Mount Pleasant decider to look forward to.

Season meetings:

Round 4 - Mount Pleasant 14.12 (96) def North Bendigo 11.15 (81).

Round 13 - North Bendigo 22.13 (145) def Mount Pleasant 5.7 (37).

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PRELIMINARY FINAL

2.30pm Saturday at Boort.

Birchip-Watchem has won all three meetings against Charlton this year, but the Navies have trimmed the margins from 69 points to 54 to just three points in their last encounter in round 15.

Should be a ripping match-up in the ruck between the past two winners of the Feeny Medal - Charlton's Mitch Gleeson and Birchip-Watchem coach Lochlan Sirrett.

The winner meets Sea Lake Nandaly in next week's grand final.

Season meetings:

Round 1 - Birchip- Watchem 19.11 (125) def Charlton 8.8 (56).

Round 8 - Birchip- Watchem 14.10 (94) def Charlton 6.4 (40).

Round 15 - Birchip- Watchem 6.4 (40) def Charlton 5.7 (37).

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