Two Blues advance to Division 1 Grand Final

PRAHRAN earnt promotion to VAFA Premier C Grade with a commanding 60 point win over Parkside at a wind swept Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday.

The Two Blues now have a week off while UHS-VU and Parkside meet next weekend to decide Prahran's opponent in Saturday week's Division 1 grand final.

As first season coach Craige Milward told his players post match there is still one more step to climb.

"Enjoy this win for the next 24, 48 hours then it's back to work.'' 

The Two Blues extended their winning streak to 13 with a masterly display in difficult conditions winning 12-8 (80) to Parkside 2-8 (20).

Admittedly this was a day made for defenders with the ball bouncing around like a cork in the ocean in the blustery conditions but again the Two Blues defence was outstanding keeping Parkside goalless in the second half.

The game was in the balance at quarter time after Prahran won a crucial coin toss to kick with the aid of the wind which strengthened as the day progressed.

A return of 4-1 to 1-0 was only a passmark with time on goals to James Musster from a free kick for a superb tackle and defender Joel Hume who ran into an open goal sorely needed.

But it was in the second quarter where the Two Blues took control.

Parkside kicked the first goal of the quarter then added three successive points.

They were left to rue those misses when a Jesse Waters kick for goal dropped short and was marked on the goal line by Hume for this second major.

Then Tim Maya found Matthew Clifford who passed to Shaun Chapman for a second vital goal into the wind.

The game was all but over after the third term when Two Blues add 4-6 while keeping Parkside scoreless.

Any chance of a late quarter charge was snuffed out in the first minute when Ollie Burke pounced on the loose ball to snap a clever goal.

Aptly the final goal of the match was from Jon Simonetta to cap his 150th game (pictured).

A feature of the Two Blues play was their collective relentless pressure no better evidenced than by small forwards Maya and Taylor Bamford who played their defensive roles to perfection.

Skipper Rory Brodie was clearly best afield with his elite kicking skills a stand out.

On a day when most players found controlling the ball by foot a challenge, Brodie executed with arrow like penetration.

Musster, despite a heavy tag, was outstanding especially in the first half when the game was in the balance.

Chapman and Clifford were constant threats when forward but also around the ground where they showed their versatility and craft.

PRAHRAN 4-1 6-2 10-8 12-8 (80)

PARKSIDE 1-0 2-3 2-3 2-6 (20)

Goals. Chapman 3, Hume 2, Clifford, Musster, Partridge, Simonetta, Brodie, Burke, Bamford 1.

Best. Rory Brodie, James Musster, Mackenzie Mayne, Joel Hume, Shaun Chapman, Joey Bell.

RESERVES

Heart break for the Reserves who squandered chances galore with inaccurate kicking for goal losing the first semi-final by six points.

The Two Blues had 18 scoring shots to 14 but the half-time scoreline of 2-9 came back to haunt them.

PRAHRAN 1-5 2-9 4-11 6-12 (48)

WEST BRUNSWICK 3-2 4-3 6-5 8-6 (54) 

Goals. Jack Matherson, O'Sullivan, Torney, Espinosa, Graham, Jennings, 1.

Best. George Torney, Max Howden, Michael Woods, Joel Matherson, Tully Loomes, Blake Graham.