North Gippsland FNL Round 18 review

The Saints marched home with a skip in their step, finishing season 2019 on a high with a big win over Glengarry on the road, 26.23 (179) to 4.1 (25).

Shane Morgan booted nine goals to finish the season on 67 while Mitchell Evans kicked four and Riley Johnston and Liam Harrington three each.

A four-goal-to-one opening term set Cowwarr up with a 21-point buffer which blew out to 43 points at half-time after an inaccurate quarter of kicking which included three goals and 10 behinds.

The big sticks were easier to find in the third term and the Saints added nine goals and three behinds to the Magpies’ two goals and one behind to stretch the lead to 87 points at the last change.

Saving their best for last, the Saints put their collective foot on the Pies’ necks in the fourth quarter with 10 goals to complete the 154-point rout.

Pat Tainsh and Sam Moran both kicked two goals and singles went to Jack Casson, Sean Alexander and Nick Wozniak.

A luckless Gormandale finished their season without a win, going down to Woodside on Saturday, 19.15 (129) to 5.8 (38).

Daniel Missen booted five goals for the Wildcats in the win while a trio of others - Tom Crosby, Gary Jones and Tim Hendricken - each kicked three.

Sam Fulton also chipped in with two goals while singles went to Ryan Foat, Josh Kennedy and Izayah Speer.

Heyfield earned the right to wear coloured shorts next weekend after defeating Rosedale by 13 points to end the home-and-away season on Saturday.

The Kangaroos moved into fourth place on the ladder with their 14.11 (95) to 12.10 (82) victory at Rosedale. Had they not been penalised four points by the league, the Kangaroos would have been in third spot, and preparing for a qualifying final against Yarram.

Heyfield led by 13 points at quarter-time before stretching the margin to 19 after a high-scoring second term, in which the Kangaroos kicked six goals and the Blues five.

Play was tighter in the third term, with the Blues kicking two goals and the Kangaroos one, reducing the margin to 12 points at the final change of ends. The visitors were able to hold the Blues' challenge in the final term, winning by 13.

Churchill secured the minor premiership with a 69-point victory over Sale City at Stephenson Park.

Leading by 19 points after a nine-goal to six first half, the Cougars kicked away after the main break, adding 10 goals to two to win 19.11 (125) to 8.8 (56).

Ben Skinner kicked four goals for the visitors and Brendan Mason three, with Nick Celima, Dean Degroot and Blake Slater their best players.

Josh Barton led the way for the Bulldogs, playing off half-back.

Troy Carstairs and Mitch Evans worked hard in defence, Kerrod Macgregor-Davies shouldered the ruck duties strongly, while Josh Granger and Joel Safstrom also performed well.

Bohdi Walker kicked three goals, while Nick Grainger kicked two to lead the club with 49 for the season.

The Bulldogs finished the season in sixth place, two wins outside the top five, with Jacob Schuback reappointed coach for a third season.

Yarram and Traralgon-Tyers United will meet for a second time in as many weeks in the qualifying final this weekend and the defending premiers have earned favourtism after making off with the points on Saturday, 10.14 (74) to 10.6 (66).

The Demons led at every change, their 20-point lead at quarter-time extended to 30 points at half-time.

The Bombers came back in the third with four goals to the hosts' one to peg the lead back to 13 points.

Another three goals in the final term weren't enough to close the gap as Yarram added two majors to run out eight-point victors.

Ben Vardy led the way for the Demons on goal and finished with four while Matt Scholz kicked two and singles went to four others.

Ben White kicked four for TTU and Tyler Mustoe kicked two.

Among the best for Yarram in the win were Griffin Underwood, Liam Farley, Chris Bruns and Shem Rendell.