The business end of the 2021 Bendigo Bank Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League season is on for young and old after a captivating start to the finals series last weekend.
It all kicked off at Keith on Saturday where some of the top premiership contenders clashed in the qualifying final hoping to make their path to the holy grail much easier.
Kingston and Padthaway locked horns in the A Grade qualifying final and a nail biter was expected after they were two of three teams locked on 11 wins each at the top of the ladder.
The Lions confidently carried the bragging rights into the clash having toppled the Saints by six goals in the minor-round season.
However, it was Kingston leading early albeit by just three points after an end-to-end opening term.
After the tight early exchanges, Padthaway seized the initiative with a storming quarter.
The Saints could only add one point to the scoreboard, while the yellow and blue banged home four majors.
Despite the Lions being at full roar with Jacob Eats and Will Verco leading the way, Kingston brought the game to life by utilising the scoring end.
Six goals to one vaulted the Saints from out of the picture to little over a kick away thanks to the classy work of Liam Toohey and Jarryd Hill in the centre, while Jacob Fisher did the damage on the scoreboard.
With just seven points the difference at three-quarter time, fans braced themselves for spectacular finish.
But only the Lions came to the party as they charged home through the boot of Joshua Vandermeer.
Vandermeer kicked a match-winning bag of five goals and received strong support from Tarak Redigolo and Tobin Cox slotting three each.
Padthaway’s blitz in the final quarter pressure cooker confirmed a 27-point victory.
The Lions have booked a date with minor-premier Mundulla in this Saturday’s second semi-final where a grand final ticket is up for grabs at Lucindale.
Meanwhile, the Saints hope to utilise the double chance this Sunday at Bordertown against a battle-hardened Keith outfit.
The Crows emerged victorious from a showstopping elimination final against Naracoorte.
With the season on the line, neither side backed down across the four quarters.
Keith drew first blood after just 30 seconds had elapsed on the clock after Sam Tooley ran into an open goal.
The Demons answered back straight away in an electric start, but needless free kicks cost them dearly as they conceded a 10-point deficit.
The margin could have been more as Keith could not translate its disposal dominance onto the scoreboard.
Naracoorte made them pay by snatching the lead with a crushing quarter of their own.
Josh Cother was inspiration as a roadblock across the half back line, while Joshua Gregg and Keenan Jacobs were the midfield masterminds.
A dancing snap from William Limbert in the pocket pushed the Demons to a handy seven-point lead on the cusp of the main break.
After both sides split two one-sided quarters evenly, the second half was an arm wrestle.
The Sherrin flew from one end to the other and the Crows managed to claw back some ground during the third term as the gritty work of Will Schreiber, George Thring and Lachlan Johnson started to pay off.
Only two points was the difference heading into the final term which lived up to the hype.
The goal for goal nature continued as the difference never eclipsed single figures.
Keith’s forward line was centered around Ben Simounds, while Naracoorte turned to Aaron Slorach and Rory Taggert, who kicked seven goals as a combination.
But it was the bag of five from Simounds which proved decisive as the Crows came from behind and won a thriller by six points.
RESERVES
Despite finishing a strong second on the Reserves ladder, Penola could not lay a hand on Bordertown in a dominant qualifying final performance.
The Roosters showed no fear on the big occasion and charged to a 24-point lead, while the Eagles could not find the big sticks before quarter time.
The one-way traffic continued to flow throughout the remainder of the game with Josh Barras untouchable in the Bordertown forward line.
Barras scored six goals to headline the 80-point thrashing of Penola led by a spirited Jack Gartner.
The Roosters get to go one on one with minor-premier Mundulla, while the Eagles must overcome Kingston to keep their dream alive.
The Saints are on cloud nine after forging a comeback to knockoff Kybybolite in the elimination final on Sunday.
The likes of Stuart Shepherd and Matt Black handed Kyby a comfortable 13-point lead at the main break, but Kingston turned the screws in the second half.
Six and fours goals respectively to Robert Starling and Tyson Mills did the damage as the Saints marched to a 95-78 win.
SENIOR COLTS
The top seeds did what they needed to do in the first week of Senior Colts finals.
Keith could not put on a show for its home crowd in the qualifier against Naracoorte.
The Crows hung in tough until three-quarter time largely thanks to a solo effort from Ben Wilsdon with six goals.
But the Demons dictated the final term with Darcy Mckenny and Jack David Steadman leading the way in the 19-point victory.
Naracoorte will meet Kybybolite in this Saturday’s semi-final, while Keith has a meeting with Mundulla after the latter smashed Bordertown in the knockout 75-22.
JUNIOR COLTS
The two Junior Colts finals on the weekend followed similar scripts.
Bordertown made its intentions clear to Kybybolite in the qualifier.
Kyby was not allowed to score until the final term where they managed a solitary behind, while the Roosters were rampant from a slow start winning 73-1 led by Campbell Will.
Bordertown will meet minor-premier Naracoorte this weekend, while Kybybolite has a second life against Mundulla.
The northern tigers had little trouble overcoming Padthaway Lucindale by 86 points.
