Second week of Finals

Qualifying Final @ Stony Creek

Foster v Fish Creek

Finishing first and second on the ladder respectively, two of the league's heavyweights met in a qualifying clash that offered a golden ticket to just one, in the shape of a direct route through to the 2025 MGFNL Grand Final.

Previous meetings throughout the year between the duo had fallen at one a piece, that of course, come finals time counted for nothing, their third and most important clash to date was all that mattered. 

The reigning premiers of 2024 and 2025 finding a way to win in what turned out to be a hard fought arm wrestle for most of the day.

Fish Creek victors by six points in a low scoring affair. 5-5-35 to Foster 4-5-29.

Jarrad Walker, Fish Creek coach “Probably wasn't a spectacle of good footy, but both defences were pretty strong, it made it pretty hard to score, both teams actually scored, or seemed to score better against the wind, as we worked in numbers, but both teams I feel were hesitant to take risks as the game was always so close, and we and I'm sure they didn't want to make a costly mistake. We have a week off now, a rest for some sore players and wait to find who our Grand Final opponent might be."

The Kangaroos led by eight points at quarter time and thirteen at the main break before the Tigers  got it back to eight points again at the final break.

Sam Davies, Foster coach “ The scoreboard flattered us - beaten convincingly around the ball, they were cleaner and won the outside game. They had really good plans in place and executed accordingly which meant we could never get our game going. Our defenders stood up again to their credit, as they always do and absorbed a lot of footy coming their way. The beauty of finishing top 2 is the second chance, no time to be down and out. Big week of recovery and planning for next weekend.”

Foster now to take on Yinnar, the Tigers path to a grand final facing a major stumbling block in the shape of a dangerous looking and all of a sudden in form Magpie side.

Semi Final @ Thorpdale

Yinnar v MDU

Last year's runners up, Yinnar, had from early in the season set themselves to have a second shot at the ultimate prize.

What stood before them on the weekend however, was somewhat of a bogey side for 2025 in the shape of the Demons.

MDU having accounted for the Magpies in two previous meetings throughout the home and away season and looking for the trifecta to keep their premiership aspirations alive.

The game started with Yinnar, jumping out of the blocks and keeping the Demons at arms length for most of the first thirty minutes holding a 20 point lead at the first break, three goals three to a single point.

MDU with some work to do, but finding it hard with the pressure being applied by a well organised Magpies side.

The Margin at the main break out to better then five goals, with the Demons falling further and further behind as each minute passed.

Yinnar, in the end, were comfortable fifty eight point winners,14-12-96 to 5-8-38.

Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach "Very even performance from the whole group. Was a 4 quarter performance in which we maintained our intensity throughout and were composed when needed.”

The Demons felt as though they had the personnel to do the job, but just could not get their game going, Yinnar closing them down whenever there was a possibility of a spark. 

Rhett Kelly, MDU coach "disappointing end to the year. I thought the boys worked hard, but Yinnar worked harder and were just too good across the board. All credit to Yinnar today. They played a great game, and we could not fire a shot. We will regroup and celebrate what I think has been a really positive year. We have had plenty of growth internally, and we will look to continue to work on this over the preseason. We will get around our reserves team and cheer them on next week and hopefully beyond.”

Yinnar now move forward to take on the minor premiers in Foster, the Tigers, all that stand in the way of a replay of last year's Grand Final clash between Fish Creek and the Magpies..