Bruthen steamrolled Omeo-Benambra by 61 points to clinch its first Omeo District flag since completing a premiership hat trick in 2019.

Bruthen went through the season undefeated and had a firm grip on the premiership at halftime when it led by

Playing at home, Bruthen won 14.12 (96) to 4.11 (35) to Omeo-Benambra attempt at winning three successive flags.

The best-on-ground medal went to Bruthen midfielder Harley Kenner, who won a fifth league best and fairest this year.

BULLDOGS WIN THREE IN A ROW

Bullioh has claimed a third straight premiership in the Upper Murray league, beating Tumbarumba in convincing fashion on Saturday.

The Bulldogs won 16.9 (105) to 6.7 (43) with Bullioh’s Jesse Wellington was best on ground.

The premiership is Bullioh’s 10th since 2001 and fifth in the past eight completed seasons in the league.

ROVERS SURGE PAST OLINDA

Mt Evelyn produced a last-gasp surge to pip Olinda Ferny Creek by six points in a nerve-jangling qualifying final in the Outer East Premier Division. The Rovers came from 15 points down at three-quarter-time, kicking the last three goals of the game in the final seven minutes to win 8.13 (61) to 7.13 (55) and secure a second semi-final berth. Olinda Ferny Creek will now contest a do-or-die first semi-final next week.

DEMONS BREAK GRAND FINAL DROUGHT

Laharum will play in its first senior grand final in 11 years after beating minor premiers Noradjuha Quantong in the qualifying final.

Jack Fenner, who has kicked 100 goals this season for Laharum, was the star kicking eight goals as the Demons won 10.9 (69) to 7.9 (51).

Laharum is chasing its first senior premiership since 2015.

EX-AFL PLAYER STARS

Mildura is on for back-to-back premierships in the Sunraysia league after beating Red Cliffs by 24 points in the qualifying final.

Former Adelaide Crows and Carlton player Sam Kerridge kicked four goals, leading the team to the grand final for the second straight year.

The Demons took control of the contest in the second quarter, kicking eight goals to none to blow the game open.

Despite some Tigers resistance the Demons held on to win 13.7 (85) to 9.7 (61).

LIONS ONE WIN FROM PERFECTION

Pakenham is just one win away from capping off a perfect season in the Outer East Division 1. The undefeated Lions beat Seville by 23 points in the second semi-final to advance straight into the grand final. Pakenham spearhead Matthew Ryan kicked four goals to take his season tally to 83 in 17 games.

TIGERS UPSET LANGWARRIN

Dromana upset Langwarrin, weathering a third-quarter fightback, to win the Mornington Peninsula Division 1 qualifying final by 37 points, 15.16 (106) to 10.9 (69). The Tigers hadn’t beaten Langwarrin in their previous two meetings this season but chose the perfect time to hit top gear, racing to a 40-point lead at half-time. Langwarrin finally found their rhythm in the third quarter, with Matthew Peynenborg and Jack Orchard kicking goals to spark a comeback, outscoring Dromana 5.4 to 1.4 in the term to cut the margin to 16 points at the final change. But Dromana steadied, with young gun Dylan Taverna playing a terrific game, and the win marking special milestones for Dromana stalwarts Sam Geurts (200 games), Billy Geurts (150) and Reece Wilde (150).

SEAGULLS FLY INTO GRAND FINAL

Chelsea powered through to the MPFNL Division 2 grand final after a determined 27-point win over Red Hill in the second semi-final at Crib Point. Sean Downie was outstanding, and livewire Jarrod Ardern kicked two successive goals in the second quarter as the Seagulls seized the lead and didn’t relinquish it, winning 16.6 (102) to 11.9 (75).

SAINTS PREVAIL AGAIN

Bambill’s dynasty has continued in the Millewa league, claiming its fifth premiership in the past six completed seasons with a 13-point win over Cardross.

The Saints started slow, conceding five of the first six goals, before bouncing back to win 15.13 (103) to 14.6 (90).

Bambill kicked away in the third term to lead at the final break by 29 points before holding off a late Cardross challenge to prevail.

Bambill has now won premierships in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2026.

Luke Stanbrook was named best on ground by the umpires with Sam Stanbrook winning the AFL Victoria best on ground.

TIGERS ON CUSP OF HISTORY 

Mitcham is through to its fifth Eastern league grand final under coach Neil Winterton after it outlasted a determined North Ringwood, 9.13 (67) to 8.10 (58) in Division 1 at Tormore Reserve. Despite trailing by as much as 24 points during the second quarter, North Ringwood cut the deficit to just six at the main break – hitting the front and threatening to take control in the third term – before the Tigers hit back and locked the scores at 58 apiece by the final change. In an almighty final-quarter arm wrestle, Mitcham young gun Will Kellar’s fourth major of the day at the 19-minute mark would prove the difference – the only goal kicked in the last term. Kellar finished among the best afield – kicking 4.4 – while 20-year-old defender Rod Ali was also prominent in just his second final. The Tigers – which will contest their third grand final in four years – will shoot for a fifth flag under Winterton.

HAWKS OVERRUN EAGLES 

Rowville has overturned a 20-point half-time deficit to sink Vermont 13.13 (91) to 9.7 (61) in an Eastern league Premier Division qualifying final. Despite a slow start, the Eagles piled on seven majors to three in the second term to lead comfortably at the main break before the Hawks edged ahead by five at the final change – putting the foot down in the last term with five goals. Tyson Sruk was best afield for the Hawks with three majors, while the Hawks also counted Jayden Martingale, Seth Macdonald, Anthony Brolic, Kyle Stainthorpe and Liam Coghlan in the best players. Rowville will play minor premier East Ringwood next weekend for a spot in the grand final, while Vermont will meet the winner of Sunday’s Doncaster East-Blackburn elimination final. Elsewhere in the Eastern league, Surrey Park is through to the Division 2 grand final after defeating Templestowe 91-71, while The Basin will play Donvale in next weekend’s Division 3 decider after a 32-point win over Upper Gully.

SHARKS COMPLETE REMARKABLE SEASON

Beaumaris has secured VAFA Premier B finals place after overcoming Old Camberwell by 13 points. Luka Pecer was named best on ground in a game where the winner was guaranteed a top four finish.

TIGERS EARN FINALS SHOT

St Bedes/Mentone claimed its place in the VAFA Premier C finals after overcoming Mazenod by 47 points in a do-or-die clash. The Tigers kicked seven goals to three in the second half.

BLOCKBUSTER EDFL DATE

Strathmore set up a second semi-final clash with Keilor after overcoming Pascoe Vale in the qualifying final of the EDFL Premier Division. Former St Kilda listed forward Matt Allison starred with seven goals.

EAGLES EDGE CLOSER

Yarraville Seddon moved closer to a maiden WFNL Division 1 premiership after moving through to the second semi-final. The Eagles prevailed by 18 points against Caroline Springs with Zach O’Halloran named best.

DEMONS EARN DOUBLE CHANCE

Bentleigh made a statement in the Southern league Division 1 qualifying final, steamrolling Narre Warren by 58 points at RSEA Park in a 20.5 (125) to 9.13 (67) win. The Demons kicked away to a 28-point quarter-time advantage and never looked back, and will now face Dingley for a spot in the grand final next week.

BULLANTS FOOTY IS GOOD FOOTY

Preston Bullants have guaranteed its return to the VAFA’s premier grades after beating Kew and earning a place in the grand final. Tom Hill’s side ran out 59-point winners on the back of a strong second half with Nick Brennan kicking four goals.

DIGGERS ANNIHILATION AS MOORE TONS UP

Diggers Rest marched into the Riddell District grand final with a 131-point annihilation of two-time reigning premier Riddell on Saturday. A match-winner last week with eight goals, Callum Moore took it to a new level at Kyneton Showgrounds, bagging 11 goals to take his season tally to an even 100. The 26.20 (176) victory sees the Burras return to the big dance for the first time since winning the 2023 flag. Co-captain Jaidyn Caruana, Brad Sluggett, Brandon Lester, Justin Tenaglia and Oleg Markov also starred in the demolition.

BURRAS TAKE HISTORIC STEP

St Mary’s has booked a ticket to a maiden Northern Division 2 grand final. After finishing the season third, the Burras stormed into the decider on Saturday with a heart-stopping two-point semi-final victory over minor premier South Morang. St Mary’s were 39 points up just before half-time but, in an incredible finish, didn’t kick a goal in the second half. Instead, posting 0.11, but found a way to hold on 8.19 (67) to 9.11 (65) in a thrilling finish. Josh Carelli was named best afield in the win, while Tarwan Rennie, Kieran Abbott, Dom Akuei, Nick Daisley and Lachlan Read also shone.

POWER BACK IT UP

Laurimar is heading for a second straight NFNL Division 3 grand final. The Power were too good for Watsonia in Saturday’s preliminary final, claiming a 56-point triumph at Lalor Reserve. Laurimar will be looking to go one step further after going down to Fitzroy Stars in the decider last year. It is the club’s third grand final in four years having won the premiership in 2023. Key forward Patrick Fitzgerald was unstoppable, bagging eight goals, while Bailey Macleod, Joel Lawson, Stephen McCallum, Luke Wilson and Ethan Bateman also impressed. It will face Ivanhoe for the flag next week.

EX-VFL MAN DELIVERS

Former VFL player Meyrick Buchanan logged a best-afield performance to lead Birchip-Watchem to an emphatic victory over Calder United Lions in the North Central league first semi-final.

Buchanan – who had state-league stints at Footscray and Werribee and was also a leading Premier Cricket batsman – slotted six goals in the 16.13 (109) to 5.8 (38) rout.

Joseph Madio, Daniel Bell, Ben Lakin, Charlie Frank and Samuel Simmons were also to the fore for Birchip-Watchem.

Veteran ruckman Dean Putt was among the best for the Lions.

UNBEATEN RUN OVER

Nyah Nyah West’s unbeaten run in the Central Murray league is over after Cohuna stunned the Demons in the qualifying final.

The Kangaroos kicked three goals to one in the final quarter to win 12.14 (86) to 9.17 (71).

Cohuna’s Corbin Anderson and Thomas Toma kicked three goals in the win.

The Kangaroos now have a week off before a preliminary final with Nyah Nyah West to face a must-win semi-final next week.

The Demons had won 15 straight games before losing on Saturday.

PARROTS TO PLAY OFF IN GRAND FINAL

Leongatha smashed Wonthaggi by 50 points to set up a meeting with Moe next week for a spot in the Gippsland league grand final.

The Parrots won 13.15 (93) to 6.7 (43) to prevail.

Jack Hume kicked four goals for Leongatha in the statement win.

FIRST GRAND FINAL IN 20 YEARS

Cowwarr is into its first grand final in the North Gippsland league since 2006 after beating Heyfield in the qualifying final on Saturday.

After being down by 24 points at the final break, the Saints kicked seven goals to one to storm into the decider in two weeks time.

Sammy Hallyburton kicked four goals for Cowwarr.

Cowwarr won 15.16 (106) to 14.4 (88).

BURRA WINS THRILLER

Sebastopol will have two chances to make the Ballarat league grand final after beating North Ballarat in a thriller on Saturday.

A goal with less than 90 seconds left by Felix Henderson gave the Burras a four-point win, 14.11 (95) to 13. 13 (91).

Henderson marked the ball in the goal square and kicked straight to put Sebastopol into a semi-final next week.

Jamie Quick was best on ground for North Ballarat with five goals but his effort wasn’t enough for the Roosters as Sebastopol won.