Check out all the highlights from a big Saturday of local footy action
Mighty Mick celebrates in style, stories of last-gasp relegation survival, finals heroics and premiership cups handed out on a Super Saturday of local footy.
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We’ve hit the business end of the season.
Premiership cups have started to be handed out, while the battle to make finals and avoid relegation has climaxed in spectacular style.
Finals have kicked off across Melbourne’s local leagues with some terrific matches playing out.
Check out all the highlights from a super Saturday of local footy.
KEILOR CELEBRATES MCGUANE
Mick McGuane celebrated his 300th game as Keilor coach with a return to form. The Essendon District powerhouse prevailed 18.13 (121) to 8.9 (57) over Greenvale. Jermarl Daly led the way with four goals. There was also plenty to like as Harrison Bult kicked three goals in his first senior game since 2021.
EASTERN FINALS DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Eastern Premier Division top-five will be decided in the final week of the campaign. Four teams are still in the running for a finals berth, Vermont, reigning premier Rowville, South Croydon and Blackburn. The third-placed Eagles put one foot in with a dominant 58-point win over Norwood but is only a game clear of the Hawks and Bulldogs and plays ladder-leader East Ringwood in Round 18. The Hawks lost to Roos by 32 points to sit fourth, while Bulldogs got the better of Berwick by 37 points. Blackburn kept its hopes alive with a 45-point triumph over Doncaster East and hosts Balwyn in the final round.
BULLS, SAINTS SURVIVE
It was a big day for Bundoora and Watsonia as both clubs confirmed their place in Northern Division 1 and 2 for 2025 respectively. The Bulls burst out of the blocks at Yulong Reserve with a seven-goal opening term against Macleod, keeping the Kangas to a single behind. Peter McEvoy booted five goals and Liam Mallia was prolific in the dominant 19.10 (124) to 9.8 (62) victory that sends Macleod down. Meanwhile, Watsonia saved its season with a 22-point win over Laurimar at Laurimar Reserve. Daniel Annetta continued his outstanding season and Rayden Garrard and Ethan Lowe booted three goals in the 12.10 (82) to 9.6 (60) win that relegates the Power.
BULLDOGS STAY UP
They were calling it “the Great Escape” after Mornington scored a famous last-round win over Red Hill to avoid relegation in Mornington Peninsula Division 1. The Bulldogs stormed home to win by three points, 11.9 (75) to 10.12 (72), after trailing by 22 points in the last quarter. Captain Adrian Speedy put Mornington in front with a goal with five minutes to go. The Bulldogs, under caretaker coach Leigh McQuillen, won three of their last five matches to survive in the top flight. Frankston Bombers, after playing finals in 2023, were relegated.
HAMMERED HAWKS
Hampton has punched its ticket to a second Southern league Division 4 grand final in as many years in a commanding win over Hallam. The Hammers burst out of the blocks with an eight-goal first term to take the sting out of the match. Hallam conceded five goals in the last five minutes of the quarter, including two in the last 90 seconds. The Hammers extended their lead over the course of the match to win, 16.12 (108) to 2.11 (23). Hallam plays the winner of Lyndale and Moorabbin Kangaroos on Sunday.
CENTRALS STUNNER
Bad kicking is bad football and it’s cost Diggers Rest dearly. The Burras suffered a shock six-point loss to Melton Centrals at Bloomdale Reserve after a horror day in front of the big sticks. The Blues claimed a famous victory despite having nine fewer scoring shots, winning 8.3 (51) to 5.15 (45). Brad Layton had a day out for Centrals, booting five goals in a best-on-ground display, while Dylan McDonald and Sam Apineru also impressed.
WESTERN FINALS SET
The Western Football League Division 1 top-five is set heading into the final round of the home-and-away season. Altona secured its place with a win over Parkside while Spotswood’s loss to reigning premier Werribee Districts meant it was eliminated.
OLD HAILEYBURY’S PREMIERSHIP STATEMENT
Old Haileybury proved why it is the team to beat in VAFA Premier B with a 133-point mauling of finals contender Old Geelong. The Bloods kept their opponents goalless to half-time and to just two majors for the game. Young forward Harrison Jones was impressive in front of goal with six majors.
FIRST EDFL PREMIERSHIPS WON
The first Essendon District league senior premierships of the season have been won. Coburg Districts claimed the Division 2 women’s flag with a 3.5 (23) to 1.5 (11) win over Sunbury Lions with Liv Woods named best on ground. Greenvale claimed the Division 1 decider with an enthralling 8.4 (52) to 7.3 (45) win over Burnside Heights.
PARADIANS WIN THROUGH
Old Paradians has earned a shot at Northern Division 3 minor premier Fitzroy Stars after a thrilling eight-point win over Mernda in Saturday’s qualifying final at Lalor. Leading by 22 points at three-quarter-time, the Raiders held off a withering final term comeback from the Demons to prevail 14.8 (92) to 12.12 (84). Mitchell Merkel booted a game-high four goals, while Joel Tolli was best-on-ground. Mernda will play the winner of Old Eltham Collegians and Epping.
BUDS BLOOM, GULLS SIZZLE
Rosebud has secured a finals berth in Mornington Peninsula Division 1 with a rousing win over third-placed Frankston YCW. In a low-scoring tussle, the Buds kicked four goals to one in the second quarter to set up victory, 6.8 (44) to 5.8 (38). Meanwhile, Chelsea made a sizzling start to the Mornington Peninsula Division 2 finals with a 107-point drubbing of Devon Meadows, 23.13 (151) to 6.8 (48), in the qualifying final. After an even opening quarter the Seagulls blitzed 20 goals to three to set up a meeting with minor premiers Edithvale-Aspendale in next week’s second semi-final.
THE CALCULATORS ARE NEEDED
The race for the Western Division 2 finals series were decided by less than 3 per cent. Albanvale held onto its place in the top-six despite going down to the Suns by 51 points. Braybrook won by three points against West Footscray, but it wasn’t a big enough margin to get the Brookers in.
PARKSIDE’S IMPORTANT PERCENTAGE WIN
Parkside’s VAFA Division 1 win over Ormond meant so much more than the four points. Running out winners by 44 points, the Devils jumped the Monders into second on the ladder by just below 4 per cent. They’ll head into the final round leading the race for the double chance. Michael Romano, Matt Holden, Corey McKay, Benedict Douglas, Ciaran Cotter and Yanek Stecki were all named in the best. Mitch Lawson booted four goals.
HIGH DRAMA IN GDFL FINALE
The final spot in the Geelong District finals race has gone down to the very last minutes of the home-and-away season, with Bannockburn sneaking into the finals by 0.85 per cent in an epic finish. Inverleigh, two points ahead of North Geelong and Bannockburn heading into the final quarter, had its destiny in its own hands needing to win book a finals berth, and kicked a late goal at the 24-minute mark to get within one point of Anakie. However, the Roos managed to hold on and break the reigning premier’s hearts, with Inverleigh finishing in seventh. Yet, there was more drama to come. North Geelong entered the round with 2 per cent more than Bannockburn and were in the box seat to advance after kicking the first four goals of the final quarter but the Tigers managed to overtake them with a blistering last term, where they piled on 8.4 to Bell Post Hill’s 1.3 – including late goals in 32nd and 34th minute – to win by 59-points.
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