Lions roar back into KDFL finals series

Elsewhere, Rushworth ended its season with a bang by knocking off finals hopeful Longwood.

Merrigum vs Stanhope

Stanhope put an end to a two-year hiatus from featuring in the finals series, securing sixth with a dominant 81-point win over Merrigum at Merrigum Recreation Reserve.

The contest was effectively over by half-time as the Lions produced a sensational first half that saw them leading 11.8 (74) to 0.5 (5) at the main break.

Stanhope kicked 6.5 in first quarter and backed it up with 5.3 in the second, Matt Butler’s side also strong defensively as it held the Bulldogs goalless over the same period.

Merrigum came out in the third term with a point to prove and made some inroads into the deficit by outscoring the Lions 36-15, one of its better quarters of the season.

But Stanhope reinstated its earlier control over the contest in the fourth with a six-goal term.

Merrigum was also held goalless again as the Lions cruised to a 19.13 (127) to 6.10 (46) triumph.

Stanhope was boosted by a stunning performance from Jack Butler, who kicked 10 majors, while Amir Meyerowitz added six of his own.

Meyerowitz also finished fourth in the competition’s regular season leading goal-kickers list with 66 total majors.

The duo was named in the Lions’ best on the day with Brett Smith, Nathan O’Reilly, Oliver Silk and Corey Dunn, while the Merrigum list included Aidan Carroll, Brayden Hall, Shaun Doolan, Falcon Taurua, Ayrton Peirce and Riley Williams.

The Bulldogs finished the season winless for the second straight year, and still haven’t won in seniors since June 29, 2024.

Meanwhile, Stanhope is back in the post-season, with its last appearance coming in 2023.

That year, the Lions also finished sixth and ended up being knocked out by Murchison-Toolamba, which will be their opponent again in an elimination final up next at Violet Town Recreation Reserve.

Undera vs Lancaster

Lancaster finished second behind minor premier Nagambie despite easing past Undera by 79 points in its final regular season fixture.

In a match they were widely expected to lose heavily, the Lions put in an admirable first-half performance, trailing 3.3 (21) to 8.6 (54) at half-time.

But with percentage key for the Wombats to have a chance of finishing above the Lakers, they took their performance to another level after the main break.

Lancaster doubled its goals tally in the third quarter while holding Undera to just 1.2.

The visitors had the four points wrapped up going into the final term, with the two sides exchanging four majors each in the last period as Lancaster eventually won 20.13 (133) to 8.6 (54).

Undera, which won four of its last eight games to close the season, had started the contest competitively, only down 34-15 at quarter-time, but couldn’t keep pace with the premiership contender.

Lancaster again had several contributors to its goal-scoring efforts, chief among them being Morrie Serra and Luke Davies, who kicked six and five majors, respectively.

The duo was also on the Wombats best with Noah Sewell, Ryan Hatch, Logan Demasi and Sam Vick, with Undera’s list including Anthony Miller, Matthew Perazzola, Liam Edwards, Beau Jackson, Archer Carlile and Deakin Easterbrook.

Despite missing finals again, the Lions had an improved season, finishing ninth with a 5-11 record.

Meanwhile, Lancaster will now rest up ahead of its quest to secure the premiership, having last done so in 2023.

Having finished second, the Wombats have the first week of the post-season off before facing Nagambie on August 29 in a grand final qualifier at Nagambie Recreation Reserve.

Longwood vs Rushworth

Rushworth ended a disappointing season on a high by thrashing Longwood by nine goals at Longwood Recreation Reserve, ending the Redlegs’ faint finals hopes in the process.

The Tigers seemed on the way to their 10th loss of the season when they trailed 37-14 at quarter-time, but they flipped the switch from that point onwards.

Rushworth gained control of the contest in the second period when it laid on seven goals to Longwood’s two, the Tigers ahead 9.5 (59) to 8.4 (52) at half-time.

Mark Wheatley’s side produced another dominant attacking quarter after the main break to put itself on the doorstep of an impressive away win, outscoring the Redlegs 40-18 in the third.

Up by 29 going into the fourth, the Tigers continued to rain down the goals, kicking another seven in the final period to finish Longwood off 22.12 (144) to 14.6 (90).

Daniel Brock produced his best goal-scoring effort of the season in the win, kicking seven majors.

Brock also made Rushy’s best alongside Ryan Raglus, Nicolas Collins, Liam Adlington, Nico McKinley and Ryan Prout.

The Tigers finished the season with a 7-9 record, the same as Longwood, but ended up eighth and just behind the Redlegs on percentage.

Elsewhere, Nagambie finished first after it dismantled Shepparton East 19.12 (126) to 3.4 (22), the Eagles ending up fourth and set to face Avenel in the first week of finals.

The Swans finished fifth, concluding their regular season with a 23.26 (164) to 2.3 (15) demolition of Violet Town.

Finally, reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba is the other post-season entrant, the Grasshoppers looking strong ahead of an elimination final with Stanhope after crushing Tallygaroopna 20.18 (138) to 3.3 (21).