With the top four sides across four divisions locked and loaded, the qualifying and elimination finals were played out at serious intensity as the dream of premiership glory beckoned the teenage talents from the Goulburn Murray region.
In the under-14s division one qualifying final, Shepparton continued its unbeaten campaign with a four-goal win over Shepparton Swans, holding the red and white goalless at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve to win 4.3 (27) to 0.3 (3).
The Bears’ Nicholas Michalitsis was best afield in the win, booking the gold and maroon a grand final spot for a fortnight’s time at Deakin Reserve.
Echuca was pitted against one another in an inter-club elimination final, the underdog Bombers defeating their Murray Bombers counterparts 4.5 (29) to 1.2 (8) in the preceding game at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
The Bombers will face the Swans at Tatura Park next week to fight for a grand final spot.
In the same age bracket, division two saw Shepparton United pinch Wandong by a single point in the qualifying final, handing the Warriors their first loss of the season.
The Demons trailed by seven points at three-quarter-time but scored eight points to zero in the final term to steal a 2.6 (18) to 2.5 (17) victory.
Oscar Zito was the hero for United, kicking both goals to see the red and blue advance to the decider.
Broadford was emphatic in its elimination final defeat of Moama, 6.4 (40) to 0.4 (4).
In the top division of under-16s, Echuca eliminated Shepparton with a strong showing, 11.12 (78) to 4.6 (30).
The Murray Bombers path to the grand final continues next week against Shepparton Swans, after the Swans suffered a 3.10 (28) to 0.1 (1) loss to minor premier Kyabram.
Bomber Riley Nicholson was best on in the victory, as Kyabram produced a 14-point last term to remove any doubt of a Swans comeback.
In under-16s division two, Shepparton United was left to rue inaccuracy in front of goal, with team-spread yips seeing the Demons kick 11 behinds but just one goal on Sunday.
Moama executed its chances in the qualifying final to win 4.4 (28) to 1.11 (17).
In the elimination final, Broadford defeated Seymour 4.7 (31) to 1.4 (10), and will face Shepparton United at Tatura Park on Sunday.
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