The final round of the 2009 BFNL home and away season had ramifications for the final five.
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The highlight came at Dower Park as the finals-starved Roos held on to defeat Maryborough, while at the QEO a rebuilding Sandhurst defeated the reigning premiers Eaglehawk.
KANGAROO FLAT v MARYBOROUGH
Kangaroo Flat tuned up for its first finals appearance since 2001 with a thrilling six-point win against Maryborough.
In what was the Peter Holliday Tribute Match, a large crowd watched the Roos win 17.17 (119) to 17.11 (113) in what was one of the games of the season.
It was the third time in the past four clashes between the two sides the margin had been six points or less.
The Magpies led by nine points at half-time which set up a pulsating second half, that despite it being played in rain and the tough night conditions, had 20 goals kicked in it.
The Magpies made the perfect start to the third quarter when athletic big man Eddie Prato snapped a goal from 40m to extend Maryborough's advantage to 15 points.
The Roos then replied with the next two goals through Justin Maddern and captain Tyrone Downie to draw within two points at the seven minute-mark.
It was then Maryborough's turn to respond, this time with three goals in succession to Prato, Dylan Clarkson and Matt Brown, which had the Magpies back out to a 20-point advantage.
However, the last 16 minutes of the quarter were dominated by the Roos, who added 5.0 to 2.1.
Maddern kicked four goals in the third quarter, although there was controversy surrounding his fourth.
Having marked 40m out on the Sportsclub flank, the reaction from both sides - as well as the crowd - to Maddern's shot at goal was that he had missed.
However, the shot was signalled a goal, which at the time brought the Roos back within nine points, before Jarryd Wiegard's goal out of a pack in the last minute of the term had Kangaroo Flat within three points at the last change.
The Roos carried on their momentum early in the last quarter with the first four shots, scoring 2.2 - with
Maddern and Downie kicking the goals - to lead by 11 points after eight minutes.
Maryborough answered with a soccered goal to Tyson MacIlwain, before Maddern stepped up again for the Roos, kicking his seventh at the 15-minute mark to give Kangaroo Flat back a 13 point lead.
Maryborough surged again with a goal to Matthew Bilton courtesy of a 50m penalty at the 21-minute mark bringing the Magpies within a goal.
However, from the following centre ball-up, Roos veteran Cameron Carter won the ball and from 55m out,launched a long kick that carried for a goal.
The Magpies suffered a blow at the 25-minute mark when defender Cameron Skinner was reported for kicking Downie and sent off.
But the Magpies wouldn't lay down, and when Liam Belcher slotted a goal on the run from 35m in front of the scoreboard, they were back within six points at the 28-minute mark.
Belcher's goal, though, would be the last score of the see-sawing game as the siren sounded a minute later with Maryborough pushing forward.
Maddern, who took nine marks, finished with seven goals from 12 shots, to end the season as the Ron Best medallist with 81 goals.
Kangaroo Flat ........ 4.4 6.9 13.11 17.17 (119)
Maryborough.......... 5.4 8.6 14.8 17.11 (113)
GOALS - Kangaroo Flat: J. Maddern 7, T. Downie 3, J. Wiegard, S. Geary 2, A. Gladman, C. Carter, R. McNish. Maryborough: M. Bilton, E. Prato 3, A. Noonan, D. Clarkson, M. Brown, J. Hind 2, C. Rinaldi, T. MacIlwain, L. Belcher.
BEST - Kangaroo Flat: J. Maddern, S. Geary, B. White, B. Hehir, J. West, A. Gladman, C. Carter. Maryborough: M. Bilton, L. Bucknall, A. Hurse, M. Dell, T. MacIlwain, D. Clarkson, E. Prato.
SANDHURST v EAGLEHAWK
Sandhurst wound up its 2009 season with a convincing 43-point victory over Eaglehawk in Saturday's clash of the longtime BFNL rivals at the QEO.
With key defenders Sam McGee and Malcolm Borchard completely shutting down Eaglehawk's Brady Herdman and Balraj Singh, the Dragons restricted the finals-bound Hawks to just six goals in four quarters of football.
On their way to a 13.12 (90) to 6.11 (47) win and a nine win-nine loss season record, Sandhurst stamped itself as 2009's big improver.
Key on-ballers Lee Coghlan and Jarrod Bateson set up the win with their pace, run and carry and stamina throughout the match, with great back-up from David Millard, Tom Hartney and Nic Arthur.
After the first quarter, Eaglehawk crumpled.
Apart from coach Derrick Filo, roaming across halfback and the centre, his son Brodie, and big men Tim Nicholson and Luke Stockdale the Two Blues had no other real contributors
Sandhurst's Matt Stagg took the mark of the day using Luke Button's shoulders as his launching pad, but wasn't able to guide his shot home.
Sandhurst coach Keiran Nihill was rapt with the victory and the season record, considering the club had managed just one win in 2008.
''We were very keen to finish on a high. Our focus today was to let our young players really show everyone what they've got,'' Nihill said.
''We spoke about how important it was to finish the year well. Not to talk about the improvement or a good first half, but to talk about a good win and to take some momentum into November as we prepare for next season''.
Sandhurst .............. 1.2 8.3 10.8 13.12 (90)
Eaglehawk .............. 3.2 4.4 6.9 6.11 (47)
GOALS - Sandhurst: M. Fitzgerald 3, M. Hill, M. Thornton 2, J. Bateson, L. Ruedin, L. Coghlan, B. Dickens, C. Prest, M. Stagg. Eaglehawk: R. Threlfall 2, G. Crawford, E. Massina,M. Dole, B. Singh.
BEST - Sandhurst: S. McGee, L. Coghlan, J. Bateson, M. Borchard, D. Millard, J. Cozens. Eaglehawk: D. Filo, B. Filo, T. Nicolson, L. Stockdale, C. Millward, M. Dole.
CASTLEMAINE v SOUTH BENDIGO
Minor premier South Bendigo beat a spirited Castlemaine in their final round clash at Camp Reserve.
The Bloods went into the match without captain John Hardinge, hand injury, and full-forward Dayne Frew, ankle.
When in-form key defender Leigh Rees hurt his hamstring in the second quarter, the Bloods' lack of height was capitalised on by the Pies.
Scores were locked on 57-all at half-time as Castlemaine's run and pressure matched South Bendigo.
South Bendigo kicked off the third term with a hat-trick of goals.
The Pies replied through Chris Jardine from the pocket, but it was Brady Childs who roved a contest near goal and kicked truly.
A key target in attack, Jackson Ireland stretched the lead to 27 points.
The classy Brody Culpitt ran on to receive a handpass from Ben Rose and goaled for the Magpies.
Tyson Martin then passed to Lachlan Brown as the Pies' chipping inside the 50m arc often found an unmarked team-mate.
A clearing kick from Castlemaine's defence went straight to Ireland in the centre and he passed to Brad Rohde for a much-needed goal for South.
Calvin Philp was rewarded for a strong tackle and goaled as the siren sounded to put the Pies within 16 points at the last change.
The Bloods responded eaarly in the final term by winning the centre breaks and kicking goals through Rohde and Ireland.
Always busy through the middle of the ground, Brown kicked his second goal of the contest.
South's number one ruckman, Brett Strange took a great mark in the goalsquare, but the Pies kept attacking and were rewarded with Nathan Pope's goal on the run from near the centre circle.
Ireland shrugged off several would-be tackles in the goalsquare to boot his fifth.
Brad Fawcett intercepted a kick across field and passed to Michael Leech, who had also played well in defence before being shifted to attack, for another goal.
The in-form Daniel Frew broke away from a tackler and goaled as the Bloods' players and fans celebrated their 16th victory of the season.
South Bendigo ........ 4.4 8.9 14.15 20.19 (139)
Castlemaine ........... 3.0 9.3 13.5 17.6 (108)
GOALS - South Bendigo: J. Ireland 5, B. Childs 4, D. Frew, B. Rohde 3, M. Leech 2, B. Strange, R. Connaughton, R. Coburn. Castlemaine: L. Brown, A. Culvenor, J. Maddern, A. Conn, C. Jardine, D. Taylor.
BEST - South Bendigo: J. Ireland, B. Strange, Daniel Frew, M. Leech, B. Wright, B. Childs. Castlemaine: L. Brown, A. Culvenor, J. Maddern, A. Conn, C. Jardine, D. Taylor.
GOLDEN SQUARE v KYNETON
Golden Square warmed up for the finals series with a 161-point thumping of wooden spooner Kyneton at Wade Street.
The 27.26 (188) to 4.3 (27) win was Square's seventh-straight victory.
Despite being without four of its best 22, the Bulldogs outclassed a young Tigers line-up.
Kyneton did well to be within 11 points of Square at quarter-time, but the final three quarters were one-way traffic as the Bulldogs hit their straps.
The Bulldogs had 22 scoring shots in the second quarter - the best tally in the BFL in 2009 - but fortunately for Kyneton only 11 of the 22 shots at goal were majors.
Kyneton's third quarter was far more competitive as it restricted Square to 5.3.
However, the floodgates opened again in the final term with Square piling on 9.6 to 1.1.
Square had 13 individual goalkickers, led by Matt O'Toole with seven.
Coach Mark Adamson snared four, while Michael and Danny Bateman continued their hot form with five goals between them.
Luke Rosa, Jason Griffin, Anthony Holdstock, Nathan Bell and Matt Klein-Breteler all put in solid performances for Square.
Kyneton toiled hard, but just didn't have the manpower.
Ken Cummings was once again the Tigers best player.
The midfielder has been a rare shining light in a poor season for Kyneton.
Youngsters Harry McKenna, Chris James and Alex Saliba did enough to show they'll be good senior players with a couple more years' experience under their belts.
Golden Square ....... 2.6 13.17 18.20 27.26 (188)
Kyneton .................. 1.1 2.2 3.2 4.3 (27)
GOALS - Golden Square: M. O'Toole 7, M. Adamson 4, M. Bateman 3, D. Bateman, A. McErvale, A. Baird 2, M. Klein-Breteler, L. Rosa, J. Griffin, B. Dorrington, C. Carter, J. Walsh, J. Limbrick. Kyneton: M. Horsburgh 2, N. Scholes, K. Cummings.
BEST - Golden Square: M. O'Toole, L. Rosa, J. Griffin, A. Holdstock, N. Bell, M. Klein-Breteler. Kyneton: K. Cummings, H. McKenna, C. James, B. Edmonds, A. Saliba, Z. Boyer.
Read more: 50 seasons to savour - Strathfieldsaye, 2015
GISBORNE v STRATHFIELDSAYE
Gisborne bounced back to form on the eve of the finals with a commanding 134-point win over Strathfieldsaye.
The Bulldogs had lost four of their previous six games to put their double-chance hopes in jeopardy.
In a game it had to win to cement third place, Gisborne had the four points in the bag by quarter-time.
The Bulldogs' intensity and pressure, which was poor the previous week against South Bendigo, was back to the level BFL fans have come to expect from Gisborne.
The home side piled on six goals to two in the first quarter and then added another eight goals to none in the second term to seal the four points.
''That's probably the best footy we've played this year,'' Gisborne coach Ty Elliott said.
''Our ability to work for each other, and everything we seemed to lack the week before, came together this week.
''It would have been nice to do it against a top five side . . . but it was a pleasing effort.''
Young Gisborne wingman Scott Walsh produced the best game of his senior career.
Premiership players Ryan Webster and Rod Sharp controlled the game across halfback and Casey Summerfield and Scott Comerford won plenty of the ball through the midfield.
Luke Saunders returned to action kicked three goals and, most importantly, got through the game unscathed.
Strathfieldsaye had few four-quarter performers, but Dermott Smythe, Alex Denham, Jono Gawthrop, Cameron Hall, Paul Matheson and Tim Wicks battled hard.
The Storm's inaugural season in the BFL comes to an end with the club winning four games.
A more than satisfactory result, considering where the club was 12 months ago.
Gisborne ................ 6.2 14.6 19.10 26.15 (171)
Strathfieldsaye ....... 2.2 2.3 4.5 5.7 (37)
GOALS - Gisborne: C. Potter 5, J. Campbell, O. Messaoudi, L. Saunders, J. Duff-Tyler 3, A. Belcher, S. Walsh 2, S. Comerford, C. Summerfield, J. Forder, S. Hamilton, T. May. Strathfieldsaye: M. Pilcher 2, B. Hall, C. Hall, J. Gawthorp.
BEST - Gisborne: S. Walsh, R. Webster, R. Sharp, C. Summerfield, S. Comerford, M. McKenzie. Strathfieldsaye: D. Smythe, A. Denham, J. Gawthrop, C. Hall, P. Matheson, T. Wicks.
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