INGLEWOOD marked a long-awaited senior footy finals victory in Sunday’s elimination final on day two of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL finals series.
The Fergus Payne-coached Blues took on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
Inglewood led 23-20 at quarter-time, but the Bears controlled a lot of play in the second term.
By half-time the Bears led 51-44.
Despite its inaccuracy, Inglewood had gained a 10-point buffer by three quarter-time.
As the Blues scored 3.5 in the third they kept BLS to a goal.
A closely-fought final term went Inglewood’s way, 17-12.
Plenty of interest in the final term centred on Bears full-forward Josh Mellington who had reached 98.
His season tally would end on 98 in 12 matches.
As the Bears rued what may have been it was Inglewood’s players and fans who were rapt with an 84-69 victory.
Inglewood’s attack was led by Seb Erharter and Liam Marciano on three goals as Kai Cavallaro and Bregon Cotchett added two each.
The Blues also had Lachlan Harris on target.
Mellington finished with a match-high six goals as coach Jake Wilkinson kicked two.
Other goalkickers for the Bears were Charlie Gadsden, Farran Priest and Ross Turner.
Best for the Blues were Harry Veitch, ruckman Tom Kennedy, Josh Whittle, Kai Cavallarro, Liam Marciano and Bregon Cotchett.
Key defender Tyler Miles, Nathan Twigg, Farran Priest, Josh Mellington, James Bailey and Ross Turner were best for the Bears.
Finals action kicked off with Saturday’s qualifying final between Bridgewater and Pyramid Hill at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
It was a brilliant start to the contest by the Lachie Sharp-coached Bridgewater as it slammed on six goals to lead 40-16 at quarter-time.
A closely-fought second term went the way of the Mean Machine, 22-20.
Pyramid Hill’s intensity and run lifted markedly in the third.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs scored 4.3 and kept the Mean Machine to a tally of 2.2.
By three quarter-time Pyramid Hill was back within 13 points.
The fourth quarter was dominated by Bridgewater.
As Alex Powell, Joseph Mayes and Luke Ellings won plenty of the footy the Bridgewater attack capitalised to slam on seven goals.
By the final siren Bridgewater led 120-76.
After kicking a century of goals in consecutive seasons, Sharp finished this match on five goals as Oscar McKinley also slotted five majors.
Boden Alexander booted three goals as Jacob Ellings, Tyler Estrada, Harry McKinley, Jack Neylon and Josh Roberts were also on target.
Pyramid Hill’s attack was led by Zach Alford and Ben Bisset on three goals as Harrison Goodes slotted two.
Other goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Brodie Carroll, Mitch Gunther and Seb Relouw.
Bridgewater’s best included Harry and Oscar McKinley, and Boden Alexander.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Lachlan Sidebottom, Brodie Carroll, Zach Alford, Kai Daniels, Levi Moss and Bailey George.
In the reserves competition, Bridgewater fought on for a 38-31 win against Inglewood in the qualifying final.
The Mean Machine led 23-10 at half-time, but the Blues fought back to make it 24-all by the last change.
Bridgewater won the final term, 14-7, to advance to a second semi-final clash with Marong.
Alex Pollock kicked two goals for Bridgewater as Mychael Baker and Charlton Hindle added one each.
Goalkickers for the Blues were Josh Essex, Deklen Gorrie, Aaron Lister and Jack Lovett.
Bridgewater’s best were Charlton Hindle, Toby Naughton, Charlie Clapp, Mychael Baker, Jake Higgins and Ayden McDowell.
Inglewood’s best were Jackson Barnett, Josh Essex, Aaron Lister, Cade Cohalan, Tarran Kilcullen and Cameron Martin.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine stayed in the premiership race as it scored a 71-14 victory in the elimination final against Pyramid Hill.
Captain Jayden Gladman kicked five goals for the Bears as Bailey Harrison, Frasier Holland, Jacob and Lachlan Murley, and Darcy Poulter added one.
Pyramid Hill’s goalkickers were Tyler Aitken and Kobie Castleton.
Best for the Bears were Cade Tuohey, Matthew Frecker, Darcy Poulter, Thomas Clarke, Joe Stuart and Craig Davies.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Jack Douch, Dylan Lovell, Patrick Monaghan, Dylan A’Vard, Reece Mitchell and Nathan Moon.
The finals series kicked off with the under-18s qualifying final between Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Inglewood.
The Eagles soared to a 79-33 victory on their turf at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
Lincoln Hancock and Liam Budge led the attack on four and three goals.
Other goalkickers for the Eagles were Ollie Bowan, David Bown, Jordan Hutton, Mitchell Lines and Steven Neervoort.
Inglewood’s attack was led by Kyle McClellan and Mitchell Pickering on two each.
Best for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles were Zac Turner, Tahlan Brook, Liam Budge, Lincoln Hancock, Jett Beagley and Harry Carter.
The Blues’ best were Jamie Penrose, Willem Schepers, Tyler Murphy, Campbell Hancock, Tate Lovett and Kyle McLellan.
On Sunday it was East Loddon which charged to a 116-8 win against Pyramid Hill in the elimation final.
Angus Addlem slotted five goals as Max Gray kicked four.
East Loddon also had Aidan Roulston chip in with three goals as Fynn Clymo and Joseph Ketterer booted two, and Oscar Balic another.
Taj Pritchard was on target for Pyramid Hill.
Best for East Loddon were Max Gray, Angus Addlem, Tyler Rasmussen, Joseph Ketterer and Jake Smith.
Taj Pritchard, Matthew Caspani, Tynan Caine, Ewan Ray, Kobi Manton and Jaxon Peter played well for Pyramid Hill.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Marong v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Marong v Bridgewater.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Marong v Bridgewater.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Inglewood v East Loddon.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Inglewood v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Pyramid Hill v Inglewood.
Leaders in the Loddon Valley FNL senior goalkicking:
114 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
98 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
73 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
62 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
44 Kain Robins, Marong.
43 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
42 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
41 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
35 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
31 Michael Bradbury, Marong.
30 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
30 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
25 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
24 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
24 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
23 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
22 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
22 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
21 Boden Alexander, Bridgewater.
20 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
19 Kobe Galvin, Mitiamo.
18 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
18 Nic Naughton, Bridgewater.
18 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
17 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
17 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
17 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
16 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
15 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.