And then there were two. Due to a host of computer problems (well, mainly just the not being able to turn it on part), this Preliminary Final Week Review comes to you extra late! Feels somewhat strange and redundant writing a review on a Thursday, given that interested parties already know the results and have done for some time now. But...yeah, I dunno...we're going to do it anyway! To the break and beyond!



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WARBURTON WANDERERS1249 DefPOOWONG POTOROOS1109



A see-sawing affair that in the end saw Warburton book their place in the Granny with an 140 point win over the valiant Poowong. Stalwarts Kruezer (125, avg. 91), Griffen (114, avg. 106), Lewis (102, avg. 98), Boak (134, 91), Sylvia (120, avg. 96) made their way to handsome centuries, as did Hill (129, avg. 80) notching his 2nd ton in the royal blue and white in timely fashion. As much as I like to applaud the solid 85's that make this game great, it's the larger scores that enter 3 digits that really get the job done. Especially in the pressure cooker atmosphere that is finals. Warburton having 6 of these entires into the stats book proved to be enough to secure the winner as 6 or more often does. What was somewhat surprising is that they managed to achieve victory despite being a player and a half short.



Which brings us to Poowong, and what they failed to achieve: victory and a chance at glory. As i no doubt mentioned in the preview, the Potoroos are a team that needs all its stars to fire if it hopes to succeed. They didn't. Gary (124, avg. 139) did(-ish), SJ (103, avg. 97) did, Sewell (105, avg. 102) did. The rest didn't by and large. ADE's Thompson (75, avg. 110) hasn't hit that mark in a month, NM's Thompson (82, avg. 82) not since R7. Ultimately, Poowong's season ended because too few were being asked to do too much. Which is a shame I feel, especially as Marty Mattner was just starting to hit real form, backing up his 77 from last week with a equally respectable 76.



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MILIKAPATI SNAKES1125 Def bySARAH ISLAND SAVAGES1356



I have to say that I enjoyed this match thoroughly, as I love winning; my team the Savages demolishing would-be challengers Milikapati by 231 points. Despite missing a clutch of their best players through injury, those remaining on the park for Sarah Island ruthlessly did the job on the weekend; BJ (121, avg. 102), NicNat (163, avg. 114), Mundy (129, avg. 87), JPK (126, avg. 121), Bundy (101, avg. 80), Waite (122, avg. 95) and Minno (112, avg. 95) all notching centuries in displays of scoring prowess. 7 tons/1350+ just about guarantees one a win in this game and this PF was no different. And a shout out to Freako who correctly predicted that Rohan Bail would score more than Kepler. That being said, you don't drop the heart and soul of the Sarah Island FC going into a PF. That's just unsavoury.



For Milikapati it was a weekend to forget, although they probably won't in a hurry. So much went wrong, so much unexpectedly. Only Lids (131, avg. 117) and Greene (100, av.g 94) managed to ton up. Pav (avg. 111) pulled out once Freo knew they had their finals spot sown up. And the Snakes MIDfield, a DOMINANT force in the 2nd half of the year, scored a paltry 330 points, their 3rd lowest return for the year. A disappointing result from that area undoubtedly, but not one that I feel will worry Milikapati going into 2013. A midfield of Deledio, Jack, Kelly, Gaff, Greene, Anthony and Adams will be an impressive sight to behold I'm sure. I do wonder though about the midyear decision to trade veteran DEF Duffield for rookie MID Dom Tyson, and how costly it may be in the future. 80-90ppg DEF's don't grow on trees.







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