ROSEBUD will play Rye in an elimination final this Sunday at Pearcedale and Somerville and Red Hill will go head to head in a qualifying final as MPNFL Nepean Division finals start this weekend.
Three of the four teams that take part in the finals this week will be pretty keen to turn their form around after the final home and away round on Saturday.
Red Hill has lost its past two matches - to Rye at home a fortnight ago and then going down to Tyabb at the pond by 25 points on Saturday. This opened the door for Rye to grab third place and the double chance, however, it was beaten by Dromana by less than a kick at Rowley Reserve.
For the second time this season, Rosebud was pole-axed by Sorrento and doesn't look at all capable of taking the major prize. Somerville, the fourth team to play finals this weekend, had to work mighty hard against Pearcedale to get the four points, but once again was able to grind out a solid win.
Red Hill is the team that looks to be in some strife. After a gutsy and dominant win a month ago against Somerville, the Hillmen haven't been too convincing since. On Saturday against Tyabb, the lead changed many times and the margin was just one point in favour of the Yabbies at the final break.
With a top three place on the line, one would have expected the Hillmen to come out in the final term and turn it on. They failed to do so. Tyabb snagged six goals to two in the last to win comfortably, surely setting off the alarm bells.
Kane Hitchener booted five for the Hillmen, and Ben Macguiness and Marcus Dal Lago dominated, but it wasn't enough to win.
Tim McGrath and Nick Waterstone were outstanding again for the Yabbies.
Rosebud was held to just eight goals against Sorrento, which had 11 goalkickers and finished with 23 majors.
Scott Phillips was named in the side but was replaced by Chris Bagot, still suffering from that knee injury. The Buds went into the game without Daniel Giarusso and Ben Schultz. Tom Barrand and Greg Bentley were among their best and under-18 skipper Jamie Clarke kicked three goals.
Pearcedale's Kerem Baskaya won the 2010 Nepean Division league goalkicking award on Saturday after kicking six against Somerville, bringing his tally to 73.
Despite a dominant performance from Luke Damon with three goals, it wasn't enough for the Panthers to get the win.
The Eagles scored 11 goals to seven in the second half after leading by just 12 points at half-time. The final margin was 41 points.
Joel Atkins and Glen Boyd got four each and Jedd Sutton three while Stephen Crowe played his best game for the year after spending a couple of weeks in the twos. Guy Austin was also back in the seniors, making life difficult for the selectors this week.
An eight-goal second quarter by Dromana set up a thrilling four-point win over Rye on Saturday.
The Demons led by two points at the last change and the lead changed in the last, but the Tigers were in front at the final siren.
Rikki Johnston was outstanding with four goals and Braeden Dennis and Adam Hunter dominated.
Hastings avenged its defeat at the hands of Crib Point earlier in the season to reverse the result and get home by 28 points.
Luke Hewitt was superb for the Blues with six goals and Colin McVeigh with four and Aaron Pike with three were superb.
David Cook, Dean Kairies and Clinton Warry were the best for the Pies.
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