First semi-final day in the BFNL has produced some classic encounters between some of the power clubs of the league.
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Here's our top five BFNL first semi-finals from the past 15 years.
2014 - Gisborne 11.11 (77) d Golden Square 10.13 (73)
Golden Square's five-year reign at the top of the BFNL ended after Gisborne scored a thrilling four-point first semi-final win.
Golden Square looked to have the upper hand when Dale Lowry kicked the first goal of the final term to open up a 16-point lead.
But that was to be Square's final goal of the season.
Gisborne's acting captain Tom May kicked a vital set shot goal at the eight minute mark to cut the deficit to 10 points.
Then came arguably the match-defining play of the day.
Bulldogs' ruckman Matt Compston marked the ball in space in the middle of the ground and it looked as though Square would burst forward.
However, Gisborne teenager Josh Govan produced a brilliant smother, the ball was cleared forward by Gisborne to Pat McKenna who calmly found Ben Sonogan on a lead.
Sonogan kicked truly and Gisborne was back within four points.
Square still led by three points going into time-on.
Gisborne youngster Isaac Trickey swooped on a loose ball and hit the post from the forward pocket.
From the resulting kick-in Gisborne forced a turnover and May strolled into an open goal to put Gisborne in front.
In the remaining four minutes of the game Golden Square went inside forward 50 once.
Gisborne locked the ball in its forward half and ran down the clock to record a famous victory.
"Once we kicked two goals in a row in the final quarter the momentum changed quickly,'' Gisborne coach Rod Sharp said.
"There was so many great efforts from our players in that final quarter.
"Josh Govan's smother, Tom Waters' second efforts, Jarrad Lynch's work rate, Tom May's goals.
"They were crucial moments in a big game that got us over the line."
Golden Square's inability to score when it had the momentum in the third quarter came back to haunt it.
After trailing by two points at the main break, Square dominated possession in the third term but didn't turn possessions into goals.
Square kicked six-straight behinds at one stage to only lead by 10 points at the final change.
"When it's going to be a tight game you have to kick goals and we shouldn't have let the game get that close in the end,'' Golden Square coach Nick Carter said.
"The Gisborne that we know so well was never going to relent and they kept coming at us."
Gisborne ......................2.6 7.7 8.8 11.11 (77)
Golden Square ...........5.1 7.4 9.12 10.13 (73)
GOALS - Gisborne: P. McKenna 4, T. May 3, R. Sharp, L. O'Gorman, B. Sonogan, E. Minns. Golden Square: C. Jones 3, J. Burke 2, L. Woodward, C. Walls, P. Ryan, J. Geary, D. Lowry.
BEST - Gisborne: T. May, T. Walsh, E. Minns, J. Lynch, P. McKenna, T. Waters. Golden Square: S. Rosa, J. Geary, J. Daley, M. Compston, E. Pickles, P. Ryan.
Read more: The top five qualifying finals since 2005
2016 - Eaglehawk 9.15 (69) d Strathfieldsaye 9.9 (63)
Eaglehawk sent reigning premier Strathfieldsaye packing from the finals in straight sets with a thrilling first semi-final win.
The Hawks only won three of their first six games and were seemingly simply making up the numbers in 2016, but they turned their form around to make a stunning charge to qualify for the finals.
After outclassing Kyneton in the elimination final, the Hawks dug deep to fend off the Storm in the first semi-final.
In what was a sensational finish, the ball was deep in the Storm forward line when the final siren sounded.
The Hawks, who had looked the likely winners for most of the last quarter, led by 12 points at the 27-minute mark of the final term.
However, a soccered kick from the goalsquare by the Storm's Jake Moorhead cut the deficit to one goal with 15 seconds remaining.
From the following centre ball-up the Storm's Trent Donnan won possession and on the burst sent the ball deep into the Storm forward line where the pack flew.
The ball was knocked to ground as the siren sounded.
The Hawks, who conceded the first three goals of the game, trailed by as many as 21 points during time-on of the second quarter.
However, they hung tough to kick five of the next seven goals to leave the game hanging in the balance at three quarter-time as the Storm held a slender two point lead, 8.6 to 7.10.
The Hawks made all the running in the first half of the final term, kicking the crucial first two goals through Shaun Knott and Sam Harper.
Knott's goal came from a superb contested mark, while the Hawks capitalised on a Storm defensive error to set up Harper's shot at goal, which he snapped from the pocket.
But the Hawks couldn't afford to rest on their laurels as the Storm attacked inside 50, but couldn't break down the resolute Eaglehawk backline as it defended grimly.
The Hawks looked set to ice the game when full-forward Matt Gretgrix marked with the opportunity to put Eaglehawk up by 17 points in time-on.
But he missed his set-shot and it left the Storm with a faint pulse, which grew stronger with Moorhead's soccer goal, only for Strathfieldsaye to be flatlined for season 2016 soon after when the siren sounded.
Strathfieldsaye ..................3.2 6.4 8.6 9.9 (63)
Eaglehawk .........................1.4 4.7 7.10- 9.15 (69)
GOALS - Strathfieldsaye: B. Stringer 4, T. Bartholomew, J. Hall, Z. Hoiles, K. Geary, S. Geary. Eaglehawk: S. Knott 4, M. Filo, S. Harper, B. Collins, B. McPhee, G. Hommelhoff.
BEST - Strathfieldsaye: T. Donnan, J. Donaldson, J. Sheahan, K. Geary, B. Stringer, Z. Hoiles. Eaglehawk: S. Knott, L. Atherton, M. Filo, T. Miles, J. Neaves, B. McPhee.
Read more: The top five elimination finals since 2005
2017 - Golden Square 7.13 (55) d Sandhurst 6.15 (51)
It was a game marred by missed opportunities from both teams as they combined to kick 13.28 on a perfect September afternoon.
The Bulldogs didn't score for the last 20 minutes of the game, but their backline was resolute in repelling the Dragons as they held on to win 7.13 (55) to 6.15 (51).
The Bulldogs and Dragons couldn't be split at three quarter-time with scores level 5.11 apiece after Sandhurst had clawed its way back from an 11-point deficit during the third term.
Golden Square made the early running in the final term, kicking the first two goals of the quarter through Tom Toma - a 50m beauty from a stoppage - and Dylan Johnstone.
Johnstone's goal at the eight-minute mark was Golden Square's final score of the game as the Dragons did the bulk of the attacking for the remainder of the match, but as they had throughout, struggled to make it count on the scoreboard.
The Dragons' first three scores of the final term were all behinds, before Brodie Montague goaled from a scrimmage to cut the margin back to three points with 2:30 left on the clock.
The Dragons again pressed hard and had a late chance to hit the front when teenager Rourke Turner took a setshot tucked on the boundary in the pocket following a Golden Square out-on-thefull.
But in what was the final score of the game, Turner's check-side shot missed as the Dragons finished four points in arrears.
In a game where goals were at a premium with just 13 scored, key forward Johnstone's three - which included two long-range beauties - were pivotal forthe Bulldogs.
He ended the game as the only multiple goal-kicker.
While the final scoreline indicated both teams were wayward in front of goal, it was particularly glaring for Sandhurst given they frittered away the chance to apply early scoreboard heat to the Bulldogs.
The Dragons dominated the bulk of the first quarter with the majority of play in their forward half at the city end for a paltry return of 1.5.
By the 13-minute mark of the second quarter the Dragons had scored nine times to the Bulldogs' four, yet scores were level at 14 apiece - Sandhurst 1.8 to 2.2
Golden Square ...................3.7 5.11 7.13 (55)
Sandhurst ......................1.5 1.8 5.11 6.15 (51)
GOALS - Golden Square: D. Johnstone 3, T. Toma, A. Baird, H. Morcom, J. Rosengren. Sandhurst: B. Montague, L. Coghlan, R. Turner, L. Ross, A. Collins, T. Martin.
BEST - Golden Square: J. Geary, J. Coe, T. Toma, C. Anderson, M. Compston, D. Johnstone. Sandhurst: J. Wharton, T. Martin, L. Ross, P. Craig, A. Collins, H. Leahy.
2008 - Golden Square 20.14 (134) d South Bendigo 15.15 (105)
The Bulldogs' ferocity, non-stop run, skill and wealth of attacking options proved too great for the Bloods, who were knocked out after claiming the double chance by finishing third on the ladder.
Inaccuracy was the only blight on Golden Square's play in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs' midfield, led by Mark Lloyd, Daniel McLaughlin, Brayden Dorrington and Josh Baird, set up many attacks to the Barnard Street goal.
By the first break, Square led 3.6 to 1.2.
Playing at centre halfback, Leigh Davies was superb. He not only negated the marking power of Bloods' captain John Hardinge, but also figured in a lot of play.
Precise skills, pressure and persistence were the keys to the Bulldogs' play.
By the 16-minute mark of the second quarter, Golden Square led 48-16 in a contest where Aaron Connaughton and Dayne Frew had been South's only goalkickers.
The Bloods then lifted their play to score three of the next four goals.
Playing across halfforward, Matt O'Toole took a great mark on 50m, played on quickly and curled the ball through for the goal of the day.
South had the goalkicking yips as it scored 4.7, but the Bulldogs could not miss.
Although South finished the first half with momentum, it quickly went the other way when Lloyd,
Michael Bateman and McLaughlin were on target in the opening seven minutes of the third term.
Frew's third goal was answered by McLaughlin's soccered goaled and then Walsh on the run.
With a quarter to play the Dogs led by 46 points.
Consecutive goals by Jackson Ireland inside the
four-minute mark lifted South's hopes, but as it had done all match, Golden Square had the answers.
By match end Bulldogs' captain Christian Carter had kicked five goals.
Walsh and Bateman, who had spent most of the season in defence, added four goals apiece.
Frew kicked five goals and Ireland added four in a match where Neville Clark and Eddie Dickins were South's best.
Golden Square ..............3.6 8.6 15.9 20.14 (134)
South Bendigo .............1.2 5.9 7.12 15.15 (105)
GOALS - Golden Square: C. Carter 5, M. Bateman, D. Walsh 4, D. McLaughlin 2, M. O'Toole, N. Carter, L. Davies, B. Dorrington, M. Lloyd. South Bendigo: Dayne Frew 5, J. Ireland 4, A. Connaughton 2, J. Hardinge, S. Bergin, B. Childs, N. Clark.
BEST - Golden Square: L. Davies, M. Lloyd, B. Dorrington, D. McLaughlin, J. Baird, M. Bateman. South Bendigo: N. Clark, E. Dickins, J. Ireland, L. Rees, R. Coburn, B. Childs.
2012 - Strathfieldsaye 19.15 (129) d Sandhurst 13.12 (90)
The 2012 finals series was Strathfieldsaye's launching pad.
The first semi-final win over Sandhurst qualified the Storm for the preliminary final and the experience helped the club springboard into a BFNL power for the next seven years.
The Storm led from start to finish, eventually winning by 39 points, 19.15 (129) to 13.12 (90).
Storm set the tone with four goals to one in the first quarter and forced the Dragons to play catch-up football from then on.
Sandhurst did get within 10 points on two occasions in the third quarter, but the Storm always had the answers.
The margin was 16 points at three quarter-time and the last quarter was one-way traffic.
Sandhurst's best player Blair Holmes had a head clash with team-mate Nick Stagg midway through the final term.
Stagg walked off the ground and didn't return, while Holmes was carried off on a stretcher and later taken to hospital for observation. The injuries added salt to Sandhurst's wounds.
Storm's depth across the board was too much for Sandhurst.
While the Dragons struggled in attack, the Storm looked dangerous every time they went forward.
Centre half-forward Kris Lea played the best game of his Storm career, taking 11 marks and kicking six goals.
Tom Bartholomew didn't make the most of his chances in front of goal, but still took eight marks.
Holmes and Lee Coghlan were left to carry the load in the middle for Sandhurst, while Strathfieldsaye had plenty of contributors.
None were better than Matt Smith, who should be regarded as a top shelf BFNL midfielder.
Nick Smith continued his superb finals form, Jake Hall was damaging and Michael Pilcher played well in the ruck.
Sandhurst coach Tony Graham said his side's slow start had cost it dearly.
"We were outplayed early and had to play catch-up,'' Graham said.
"We had some chances in the third quarter, but couldn't maintain it. By the last quarter we were out on our feet."
Strathfieldsaye .....4.5 10.9 14.13 19.15 (129)
Sandhurst ...............1.4 7.5 12.9 13.12 (90)
GOALS - Strathfieldsaye: K. Lea 6, J. Heavyside 3, M. Smith, N. Smith, L. Sharp 2, T. Dowd, T. Bartholomew, V. Flood, J. Hall. Sandhurst: R. Symes 4, A. Hywood 3, N. Stagg 2, T. Hartney, J. Ward, M. Cornish, L. Coghlan.
BEST - Strathfieldsaye: K. Lea, M. Smith, N. Smith, M. Pilcher, J. Hall, L. Prior. Sandhurst: B. Holmes, M. Borchard, M. Thornton, P. Jennings, L. Coghlan, N. Stagg.
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