ALTHOUGH it was beaten by 14 goals in Saturday’s 15th and final round, Murrabit has qualified for the Golden Rivers senior footy finals.
As Murrabit was beaten at home by Ultima a win by Moulamein on Wandella’s turf meant the Murrabit Blues held fourth place.
Murrabit will now take on Moulamein in this Sunday’s first semi-final at Moulamein Recreation Reserve.
The Moulamein Swans warmed up for the finals by scoring a 93-30 victory on Wandella’s ground.
The Bombers led 13-10 at quarter-time before Moulamein unleashed an eight-goal burst in the second quarter.
By half-time Moulamein led 60-13.
It was a more even second half which went the way of the Swans, 33-17.
Brett Kennedy capped a superb match with nine goals as Adam Saunders slotted two.
The Wandella attack was led by Kaine O’Connell on two.
Best for Moulamein were Brett Kennedy, Mark Drotsky, Heath Moloney, George Austin, Trae Atkinson and Tobie Richardson.
A win-loss tally of 8-7 meant the Brodie Tonkin and Hayden Dalitz-coached Moulamein finished the regular season in third place.
The Justin Robinson-coached Wandella finished fifth on a six-nine record.
Murrabit faced a huge task at home against Ultima.
The Kangaroos leapt to a 20-3 lead by quarter-time and then scored 3.5 as it kept the Blues to a tally of 1.2 in the second.
Quarter three was Ultima’s best of the contest as it scored seven goals.
The Kangaroos were up by 69 points at three quarter-time and kicked on to record a 109-25 victory.
Kade Benfield and Corey Grey led the way on three goals each as Zac Denham and Josh Dwyer added two.
Murrabit’s leading goalkicker was Riley Carse on two.
Best for Ultima were Jack Delmenico, Martyn Cooper, Zac Cattlin, Matt Taverna, Thomas Isma and Corey Grey.
The Kangaroos are jointly coached by Mitch Seton-Stewart and Kyle Symons.
Murrabit coach Jack Shannahan was best against Ultima along with Riley Carse, Nathan Morrow, Bryden Morison, Austin McKerrow and Ethan Slater.
At Macorna the Tigers were held to a goal by the Hay Lions.
As Hay scored eight goals in the first, Macorna’s solitary major of the contest was kicked by Conner Burge.
The Lions led 83-9 by half-time and then followed up with nine and seven goals in the next two terms to complete a 186-13 victory.
Jack Headon and Declan Watson starred in Hay’s attack with six goals each as Dylan Collis kicked four and co-coach James Moran added three.
The Lions also had Fergus Cattanach and William Collis chip in with two goals.
Best for Hay were Fergus Cattanach, Joel Crocker, Harry Loughnan, Jacob Watson, Dean Aylett and Brad Pocock.
It was a strong response by a Hay team which has Jason Aylett following a one-goal loss at Wandella the previous round.
Macorna’s best were Luke Gray, Tori Ferguson, Corey Walters, Blake Forster, Shaun Haffenden and Conner Burge.
The Macorna team coached by Paul Longstaff and Shaun Haffenden ended the season with a 1-14 record.
A highlight for the yellow and black was the two-point win against Murrabit in the 12th round.
Golden Rivers senior footy ladder after 15 rounds:
Hay 215 per cent, 52 points; Ultima 170, 44; Moulamein 94, 32; Murrabit 80, 24; Wandella 79, 24; Macorna 42, 4.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Hay:
Under-15s at 9.35am: Murrabit v Hay.
Under-18s at 10.45am: Macorna v Wandella.
Reserves at 12.35pm: Ultima v Murrabit.
Seniors at 2.40pm: Hay v Ultima.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Moulamein:
Under-15s at 9.35am: Wandella v Macorna.
Under-18s at 10.45am: Ultima v Hay.
Reserves at 12.35pm: Hay v Wandella.
Seniors at 2.40pm: Moulamein v Murrabit.
Leading goalkickers in the senior competition after 15 rounds:
64 Jack Headon, Hay.
47 Declan Watson, Hay.
44 Adam Thomson, Murrabit.
40 Corey Grey, Ultima.
30 Brett Kennedy, Moulamein.
28 Ryan Devereux, Ultima.
26 Adam Saunders, Moulamein.
21 Dylan Collis, Hay.
21 Josh Dwyer, Ultima.
17 Dustin Burns, Ultima.
17 Josh Walters, Macorna.
16 Luke Gray, Macorna.
15 Thomas Isma, Ultima.
15 James Stewart, Murrabit.
15 Matt Taverna, Ultima.
14 Blake Launer, Moulamein.
14 Kaine O’Connell, Wandella.
13 Jack Cattanach, Hay.
13 Mitch Collins, Wandella.
13 Justin Robinson, Wandella.
13 Jacob Watson, Hay.
12 Trae Atkinson, Moulamein.
12 Conner Burge, Macorna.
12 Logan Keighran, Wandella.
12 Mitch Seton-Stewart, Ultima.
12 Morgan Turvey, Moulamein.