Giants trample Magpies to secure finals berth

IT TOOK the last match of the final round to get sorted but finally Rand Walbundrie Walla has claimed the final position in the Hume FL 2017 finals.

The Giants came out comfortable 31-point winners against Murray Magpies before a large crowd at the Walla Sportsground.

After the Magpies led by one point at quarter time, the Giants took control in midfield and ran away with a well-deserved victory.

Nick Turner confirmed his status as one of the league’s most dangerous and effective small forwards with a six-goal haul, after kicking seven the previous week.

Dan Maher was best for Magpies and will be one of several contenders for the Azzi Medal. Will McGrath booted four goals for Magpies.

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JINDERA inflicted the first defeat of the season on Osborne, after they came from behind at the last change to win a thriller by seven points.

Trailing by 25 points at the last change and with only three goals on the board, Jindera lifted sensationally to kick five last quarter goals.

Osborne scored just one behind as Rhys Preston, Mitch Lawrence, Sam Crawshaw and Mick Galvin guided the Bulldogs home.

Duncan McMaster in his return from a long lay off was superb for Osborne, while Andrew Clarke and Marty Bahr also stood out.

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LOCKHART and Holbrook played a thriller at Holbrook, with the more accurate Demons getting home by six points.

Seven goals from 21 scoring shots proved fatal for Holbrook in heavy conditions. Both teams finished the season on five wins.

Blake Jones played his best game for the season for Lockhart, while Azzi Medal favorite Jordan Harrington won a lot of possessions.

Aaron Baker, Lachie Parker, Will Heriot and Josh Jones were best for Holbrook who just could not win the close games late in the season to play finals.

The Brookers lost the final six games of the season, with four of those being by ten points or less. The two point loss to the Giants in round 13 set the trend.

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HENTY were made to work hard for its 20-point win over the much improved Billabong Crows at Henty.

The Swampies looked set for an easy win when they led by 26 at quarter time, before the defiant Crows fought back.

The Crows outscored the Swampies in the final three quarters to continue its good finish to the season after its first win the previous week.

Henty had good contributors in Dusty Rogers, Tyson Muller, Andrew Yates and three goals from Andrew Pope.

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CULCAIRN warmed up for its elimination final this Sunday, by easily defeating CDHBU at Culcairn by 36 points.

John Robbins kicked seven goals to take out the league’s leading goalkicker with a season total of 63. He finished nine ahead of Henty’s James Breen.

The Lions outstanding midfield trio of Jye Shields, Dane and Tim Hallinan cut the Power to pieces, particularly in a blistering second term.

The Lions will give themselves a big chance of defeating its opponent Brock Burrum on Sunday with its midfield and forward set up very potent.

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THE Saints completed their home and away season with a commanding ten goal victory over Howlong at Howlong.

Howlong had to win to have any chance of playing finals and after a good first half where they trailed by just four points they fell away badly in the second.

The Spiders were kept goalless in that second half as Jarod Koschitzke, Luke Schilg, Ronnie Boulton and Tyson Bradsworth took control for Saints.

FINALS DRAW WEEK ONE

• Walbundrie 2.15pm: Henty v Rand Walbundrie Walla (Saturday) and Brock Burrum v Culcairn (Sunday).