Hawthorn beats West Brunswick to reach Victorian Amateur Football Association Division 4 grand final

HAWTHORN is just one win away from a perfect season after it outlasted West Brunswick to qualify for the Division 4 grand final.

s02pp900 FOOTBALL VAFA (Div 3): Hawthorn v Albert Park at Rathmines Rd Reserve, Hawthorn.

Hawthorn is just one win away from a perfect season after it outlasted West Brunswick to qualify for the Division 4 grand final.

After defeating West Brunswick by 79 and 45 points in the two previous encounters this season, the undefeated Hawthorn expected a much more physical encounter in Saturday’s second semi-final, and that’s exactly what they got.

West Brunswick took first blood with a one-point lead at quarter-time but Hawthorn nudged its way to the front to take a seven-point lead to the main break.

West Brunswick chipped away at the deficit in the third quarter and there were just two points between the sides at three-quarter time.

The sides remained locked together in the early part of the final term before Hawthorn’s fitness won out with the minor premier securing victory, 11.15 (81) to 10.7 (67).

Jason Ince took his season tally to 92 goals after he booted four crucial goals.

“Generally we were pretty happy with the game,” Hawthorn coach Luke Mather said, “But we probably didn’t capitalise on our opportunities.”

“It was an arm wrestle until we kicked away in the last 15 minutes and it could have been a little bit more had we not kicked six behinds in the last quarter.

“I wouldn’t say it was a comfortable win but we felt we were in control for most of the game.”

Hawthorn now has a week off before it contests the grand final.

Elsewhere, St Kevins was no match for University Blues in the Premier B second semi-final, 14.14 (98) to 8.11 (59).

It must now take on the winner of the Old Carey v Old Melburnians first semi-final in a preliminary final next week.

In Division 2, St Mary’s Salesian upset red hot flag favourite Kew in a convincing manner, 13.12 (90) to 6.6 (42).

The win earns St Mary’s a week off and a place in the grand final, while Kew must regroup before its clash with the winner the of Old Eltham Collegians v Old Paradians first semi.

Meanwhile, in Division 3, Swinburne University was comfortably defeated by Aquinas, 19.16 (130) to 11.13 (79) and now must rely on other results if it is to remain in the finals.

In the final round of the Premier season, Old Scotch suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Collegians, 19.14 (128) to 6.15 (51).

Despite the loss, Old Scotch finished the season in third position and will again take on Collegians, which finished fourth, in next week’s first semi-final.

And, Canterbury was set to play the Manningham Cobras on Sunday for a spot in the Division 4 preliminary final against West Brunswick (scores unavailable at the time of going to print, more at localfooty.com.au).