Heading into the weekend sitting fifth and on a four-game losing streak, only percentage points clear of seventh and half-a-game ahead of eighth, the Lions were right in the midst of a ludicrously tight battle for the final three places inside the top six.
To make things even harder, Seymour’s final round opponent would be fourth-placed Tatura, with the Lions needing to beat the higher-ranked Bulldogs and snap a winless run dating back to mid-July if they were to secure a finals position.
In a brilliant show of defiance, the Lions controlled the contest from first centre pass to final whistle, leading at every break en route to wrapping up a 47-39 victory to ensure a spot in September.
With such tight margins across the competition, the win proved vital too, as the Bulldogs – who sat fourth with an identical record to the Lions heading into the clash – plummeted out of the top six following the loss, ending the season in eighth.
With both sides knowing the fate that awaited the unlucky loser at the weekend, it was a tense start to proceedings at Tatura Park, and while the home side got the initial jump to lead by two nearing quarter-time, a flurry of five unanswered goals the way of Seymour handed the Lions a 13-11 advantage heading into the huddle.
With all the momentum behind them, the Lions soon stretched the gap out to seven goals after pouring in six of the first seven to start the second term, leading 19-12, though Tatura pulled the deficit back to three goals after a run of its own, before both sides settled into a steady rhythm.
Going goal-for-goal for the rest of the half, Seymour managed to push its quarter-time lead out by one by the main break, leading 25-21, as it continued to search for a decisive opening.
It would come in the third, as the Lions slowly but surely stretched the metaphorical elastic band, heaping the scoreboard pressure onto the Bulldogs as the margin touched a game-high 10 goals, snapping the home side’s resolve to enter the final break ahead 40-31.
The Lions closed out a fantastic display in an untroubled last quarter, claiming the eventual eight-goal victory off the back of an inspired performance from Elle Nexhip’s charges.
The win promotes the Lions back up to fourth spot on the ladder, and will see them face off against Mansfield next Saturday at Tatura Park in the second elimination final, after the Eagles capitalised on a whirlwind final day.
Beating Shepparton United, the Eagles jumped to fifth to secure their first A-grade finals appearance in 13 years, denying the Demons in the process, while Shepparton’s victory over Rochester saw the Bears round out the top six, half-a-game ahead of Shepparton Swans in seventh.
At the pointy end, Euroa secured an unlikely minor premiership having headed into the final round third, with the only way they could finish on top being if the top two sides Echuca and Mooroopna played out a draw.
That is exactly what eventuated, with the Murray Bombers and Cats unable to be split, paving the way for the Magpies to clinch top spot after demolishing Kyabram to cap a remarkable final day of the season.
