Victorian Amateur Football Association: Old Carey will need to use its second chance after falling to St Bernard’s in Premier B

With a place in the Premier B grand final up for grabs, premiership favourites St Bernard’s got the jump on rivals Old Carey, running out 31-point winners in the second semi-final.

With a place in the Premier B grand final up for grabs, premiership favourites St Bernard’s got the jump on rivals Old Carey, running out 31-point winners in the second semi-final at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.

With a 11.10 (76) to 6.9 (45) win over the Panthers, the Snow Dogs have not only safely locked away a grand final appearance but also promotion to the Premier ranks.

Old Carey, on the other hand, must go via the cut throat preliminary final this week.

OVER AND OUT FOR OLD BRIGHTON

CHAD LITTLE BOOTS HIS CENTURY

FEVOLA SIGNS ON WITH HASTINGS

St Bernards had Old Carey’s measure on Saturday. Picture: David Crosling

The Panthers jumped out of the blocks with a three-goal-to-one first quarter and looked every inch a grand final side.

But St Bernard’s took control after quarter-time, slamming on 10 goals to three.

Old Carey coach Micheal Tarrant was full of praise for a dominant St Bernard’s team.

“They were everything I thought they would be and it was a really tough day for us,” he said.

“We have done a good job this year but in many ways it was a case of boys against men today.

“Our first quarter was very good, unfortunately we lost our captain Cam Jones in the first 15 minutes of the game, but I thought we started very well.

“After quarter-time they really stepped it up at the stoppages and they really got on top of us in the midfield and wore us down.

“At every stoppage they seemed to come out with the ball too easily and we needed to be better at that. They deserve to be heavy favourites, they were very good today and they have been very good all year.”

Old Carey coach Michael Tarrant rallies the troops. Picture: David Crosling

Best players for the Snow Dogs included Michael Caven, Tom Sullivan and Jake Maher while, for the Panthers, it was backline players like Andrew Sloane and Sam Crocker who held firm.

Sloane held Chad Jones goalless after the star full forward bagged his 100th goal for the season just last week.

Licking his wounds, Tarrant looks to this weekend and making a few adjustments at training before the preliminary final.

“We need to be a lot better at the contested footy next week if we are going to play in a grand final,” he said. “I think this week we will have a light week and keep it positive. We need to educate and try to get better at the stoppages.”

Meanwhile, Old Trinity is through to a preliminary final showdown with St Kevin’s after a thumping win over Old Brighton in the Premier preliminary final at Elsternwick Park on Sunday.

The Ts saluted 13.9 (97) to 7.15 (57) after jumping to a five-goal lead at halftime and controlling proceedings from then on.

And, in Division 2, Whitefriars departed the finals race after going down to Old Paradians 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60) in the preliminary final at Highgate Reserve on Sunday.