Two Blues tune up for next week's finals

PRAHRAN tuned up for next week's first semi-final with a routine 108 points win over Brunswick at Toorak Park on Saturday.

In a sad reflection of the lop-sided state of the VAFA Division 1 competition four of the five winning teams won by a minimum 100 points.

Prahran will meet Oakleigh next weekend, either on Saturday or Sunday with the date and venue yet to be advised on Monday.

The Two Blues were always in control and the longer the game went the more their superiority became more apparent.

The one constant this season has been the form of skipper Rory Brodie and he was again the dominant player on the ground adding three goals to his ruck work including a soccer goal that would not have been out of place in the World Cup.

In the absence of premier midfielders Pat Marks and Mackenzie Mayne, Ollie Burke stepped up to the plate.

Coach Ash Lever shared the workload with Ethan Plaza and Tom Selleck getting more on ball exposure.

Jake Stent-Powell (pictured) managed three goals, to be fair it should have been at least five, in his 101st game with his teammates going out of their way to give him a celebration occasion in front of his home ground fans.

As a guide to next week’s contest the formline could best be described as minimal.

The usual suspects in defence Pat Ribbands and Jayden Williams were as reliable as ever while encouraging signs were the return from injury of Tyson Giles who was lively up forward with three goals and Liam Hepburn regaining the touch he showed in the first half of the season before an overseas sojourn.

PRAHRAN 5-2 10-8 13-12 19-16 (130)

Brunswick 2-2 2-2 3-3 3-4 (22)

Goals. Brodie, Stent-Powell, Giles 3, Cook, Bamford, Atkinson 2, Hepburn, Kam, Phimister, Ahern.

Best. Tom Selleck, Rory Brodie, Jake Stent-Powell, Tyson Giles, Peter Ahern, Ethan Plaza

RESERVES
AN ideal prelude to next week’s first semi-final with a 105 point win over Brunswick.

The bonuses were on baller Oscar Pike’s first game since round five following a serious ankle injury while Archie Patterson (five goals) and Gus Perez (four) were on target up forward.

The first semi-final v St Mary’s will be held next Saturday or Sunday with the date and venue to be advised on Monday.

PRAHRAN 5-4 9-8 14-11 19-13 (127)

Brunswick 1-0 2-0 3-0 3-4 (22)

Goals. Patterson 5, Perez 4, Pike 3, Marrows 2, Langtry-Kierce, Pavlou, Devine, Forbes,  Morschel.

Angus Perez, Langtry-Kierce, Archie Patterson, Max Howden, Ben Burrows, John Panagiotaros

WOMENS
DISAPPOINTING end to a good season by the Two Blue Lions in the first semi-final with Old Hailebury reversing the result from the final home and away game.

PRAHRAN 0-1 1-1 2-1 2-1 (13)

Old Hailebury 0-2 1-3 3-5 5-7 (37)