The Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League finals series began last weekend.
In a historic move, the MCDFNL brought the first week of the finals series to Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve and the Newstead Recreation Reserve for the first time in recent memory.
The venues were jam-packed both days as local fans turned out to cheer on their local footballers and netballers.
On Saturday, Seniors action at the Camp Reserve saw the undefeated Harcourt Lions take on Natte Bealiba in the Qualifying Final.
In a low-scoring opening term the Lions managed just one goal, while the Swans only dribbled through two points. The sides were seven points the difference at quarter-time.
Natte bounced back in the second kicking three goals to the Lions two and at half-time Harcourt led by just three points.
The Lions were on fire in the third kicking another seven goals to Natte Bealiba’s two to blow the margin out to 34 points at three-quarter-time.
Natte threw everything they had at the Lions in the last term with the sides managing just two goals each. But in the end the Lions had secured a 33-point win and earned place in the Preliminary Final 1 and a valuable week’s rest.
Jed Rodda and Baxter Gurd kicked three for Harcourt, Kalan Huntly and Thomas Walters two and Brayden Frost and Jeffrey McMurtrie kicked one each.
Best for the Lions were Brayden Frost, Kalan Huntly, Jeffrey Mcmurtrie, Thomas Walters, Jed Rodda and Benjamin Leech.
Over at Newstead Recreation Reserve on Saturday, Trentham faced off against Carisbrook for the spot in the Preliminary Final 2.
Carisbrook only managed to scrape through two goals in the opening term while the Saints could only get one point through the sticks.
Trentham fought back in the second stanza kicking two important goals but Brook also found their feet kicking another five to lead by 38 points at half-time.
The Saints nabbed another in the third but a determined Brook kicked two more to extend the margin to 42 points at the final change.
Trentham played their best footy of the day in the final term kicking another three goals, but Brook had all the answers kicking another four goals to win by 50 points and book the spot in the Preliminary Final.
Jake Keogh kicked two for Trentham, Nathan Rodgers, Dylan Holden, Mark Strickland and Samuel Winnard one.
Best for the Saints were Joel Cowan, Taylor Ford, Michael Hourigan, Dylan Holden, Tristan Newman, Stefan Lendrec.
Trentham will get the second chance this Sunday September 3 when they take on Maldon in Semi Final 2 at Princes Park at Maryborough.
On Sunday Newstead tackled Navarre in Elimination Final 1 at the Camp Reserve.
The Grasshoppers came out firing smashing on seven goals to the Steaders one point for the term to open up a 44-point lead at quarter-time.
Newstead held Navarre to just two goals in the second term but could only manage three points at the other end of the ground. The Grasshoppers led by 54 points at the long break.
The Roos lifted in the third and kicked two goals while keeping their opponents to 1.6. However, the Grasshoppers still held a commanding 53-point buffer going into the final term.
Newstead doubled their efforts in the last term kicking another two goals, but Navarre sailed home with another five to put an end to the Steaders’ finals hopes and book a spot in this Saturday’s Semi Final 1 against Natte Bealiba.
Tyler James was a shining light for the Roos with three and Todd Delahey kicked one.
Best for Newstead were Jedd Pedretti, Rhys Smith, Angus Mayes, Daniel Keane, Heath Lawrence, Anthony Robins.
In the second match of the day, Maldon faced off against Lexton in Elimination Final 2 at the Newstead Recreation Reserve.
Maldon got the jump on the Tigers in the first term kicking three to Lexton’s two to lead by one straight kick at quarter-time.
The Dons stayed on the front foot in the second kicking another three to the Tigers two to extend the gap to 15 points at half-time.
Lexton fought back in the third kicking five goals to Maldon’s four to win the quarter and move back within 11 points at the final change.
The Tigers continued to pepper the goals in the last term kicking another three to the Dons’ two but Maldon held on to win by eight points and secure their spot in Semi Final 2 against Trentham.
Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Cody Gunn again led the way for Maldon with three each, Aaron Millen, Noah Thompson, Darcy Connell, Alex Farrow, Jordan Collins and Seb Greene chipped in one each.
Best for Maldon were Jordon Collins, Billy Miller, Alex Farrow, Seb Greene, Adam Robinson and Noah Thompson.
The second week of the MCDFNL Finals series will see the following teams do battle at Princes Park Maryborough:
Semi Final 1, Saturday September 2
Seniors Natte Bealiba v Navarre 2.35pm
Reserves Maldon v Natte Bealiba 12.50pm
U17.5s Football Navarre v Lexton 11.30am
U14.5s Football Natte Beliba v Navarre 10.10am
U11.5 Football Newstead v Trentham 9am
A Grade Lexton v Trentham 2.35pm
B Grade Carisbrook v Harcourt 1.30pm
C Grade Newstead v Maryborough Rovers 12.25pm
17&U Harcourt v Avoca 11.30am
15&U Natte Bealiba v Lexton 10.35am
13&U Talbot v Carisbrook 9.45am
11&U Natte Bealia v Avoca 9am
Semi Final 2, Sunday September 3
Seniors Trentham v Maldon 2.35pm
Reserves Carisbrook v Harcourt 12.50pm
U17.5s Football Avoca v Natte Bealiba 11.30am
U14.5s Football Maldon v Trentham 10.10am
U11.5s Football Carisbrook v Avoca 9am
A Grade Natte Bealiba v Maryborough Rovers 2.35pm
B Grade Natte Bealiba v Maldon 1.30pm
C Grade Lexton v Royal Park 12.25pm
17&U Carisbrook v Natte Bealiba 11.30am
15&U Carisbrook v Newstead 10.35am
13&U Avoca v Royal Park 9.45am
11&U Newstead v Navarre 9am
