THE well-worn cliche finals are a different ball game rang true on the weekend.
Week one of the Warrnambool and District league’s finals series proved that, with third-placed Kolora-Noorat overcoming second-placed Allansford in the qualifying final and fifth-placed Dennington surprising fourth-placed Merrivale.
The Cats will have a chance to rebound when they play the Dogs in the first semi-final, while it’s season over for the Tigers.
The Power are through to the second semi-final and just one win away from their fifth consecutive grand final.
The Hampden league ladder has taken on another new look, setting up a series of final round crunch games.
Cobden jumped into the top five after its win against reigning premier South Warrnambool, which made way and now sits sixth.
The Bombers are fourth, with Koroit slipping to fifth.
In the final round, North Warrnambool Eagles play Cobden in a battle for third spot and a double chance.
Warrnambool, which all but secured top spot with a big win against Terang Mortlake on Saturday, plays Port Fairy in a top versus bottom clash to finish the home-and-away season.
In other highlights, four south-west players are celebrating after playing their parts in St Patrick’s College’s MCC-Herald Sun Shield win at the MCG.
North Warrnambool Eagles’ Tom Smith, Koroit’s Martin Gleeson and Portland pair Nathan Haylock and Jaydon Stiles were part of the winning team.