Forward Daniel Francis boots 10 goals as Fitzroy Stars account for Hurstbridge to secure finals spot in NFL Division 2

MOMENTUM is building at Fitzroy Stars after Jason Mifsud’s side recorded its fourth straight win to move within one game of top spot in NFL Division 2 on Saturday.

Fitzroy's Jai Burns drags Hurstbridge's Tom Grimes off the ball. Picture: Brendan Francis.

FOUR weeks ago, Fitzroy Stars sounded a warning to their Northern Football League rivals.

“We’ve got that reputation if we get going, we’re pretty hard to stop,” Stars general manager Simon Minton-Connell said last month.

Almost one month on, Fitzroy is arguably the form team in Division 2 after banking its fourth straight win over ladder leader Hurstbridge on Saturday.

The Stars led by 63 points at three-quarter-time and were set for a commanding win at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.

But they ran out of petrol in the last 15 minutes, conceding eight final-quarter goals as Hurstbridge cut the final margin to 29 points.

The 22.9 (141) to 16.16 (112) triumph put the Stars within one win of top spot with three matches to play.

“That was pretty complete other than the last 15 minutes, a bit of junk time stuff,” Minton-Connell said.

“But we were 10 goals up at one stage, so a little bit disappointing to let them in.

“We would have liked to have stuck the boots in to have that in the back of their minds come finals time.

“But at the end of it, when the game was on we were all over them.”

Former Hurstbridge forward Daniel Francis was the hero for Fitzroy, booting 10 goals to condemn his old side to consecutive losses.

“They really didn’t have a match up for Daniel,” Minton-Connell said.

“It’s good to do that against your old side. They wanted to know what we put in the water because they hadn’t seen it.

“He’s been solid for five or six weeks, he’s kicked his four, five or six every week.”

Fitzroy’s finals spot is secure after Saturday’s win, the side sitting four games and more than 36 per cent ahead of fifth-placed Thomastown.

The Stars, who lost the 2013 and 2014 grand finals, are as well placed as they ever have been to challenge for an elusive premiership.

Jason Mifsud’s side still has two valuable byes to come and will be favoured to account for Panton Hill and Lalor in two of their remaining three matches.

Wins in those fixtures would set up a blockbuster clash in Round 18 against North Heidelberg in which a double chance could be up for grabs.

In Division 1, Northcote Park recorded its first away win of the campaign against Lower Plenty.

The Cougars capitalised on losses to Montmorency (fifth), Eltham (eighth) and West-Preston Lakeside (sixth) to move equal with the trio on 24 points after a 20.16 (136) to 15.5 (95) victory.

Koden Colman starred for Northcote Park, booting six goals.