DAYLESFORD charged into yet another Bendigo Bank Central Highlands Football League grand final with a stirring victory over Hepburn on Saturday.
In another classic between these two great rivals, the Bulldogs kicked clear of the previously undefeated Burras in the final term to win by 20 points.
The 14.9 (93) to 11.7 (73) victory has momentarily derailed the Hepburn juggernaut, which had comfortably beaten the Bulldogs in their two previous meetings this season.
Hepburn is now left to battle Buninyong in this Saturday's preliminary final for another shot at the Bulldogs.
Burras coach Shane Robertson, who cast a lonely figure in the moments immediately after the final siren, said his team had found a way to beat itself.
"We got three goals up at one stage and gave them three goals back through being indisciplined. It was stupid stuff - it wasn't in general play," Robertson said.
"It's things we were doing two or three years ago. We addressed them, but they've come back to bite us at a bad time."
Robertson said the Burras didn't adapt to finals football like their opponents.
"Finals footy is a different ball game. Unfortunately our guys went in thinking it's just another walk in the park, home-and-away game. They didn't have the intensity that finals footy brings - Daylesford did," he said.
"When the game was there to be won or lost, (Daylesford) dictated terms."
Saturday's contest was an arm-wrestle. The lead changed hands numerous times throughout the afternoon at Bungaree, with the closeness of the match justified by the deadlock at the final change.
This is when Daylesford gained control.
Goals to Andrew Button, Michael Cummings, Rob Rodgers and coach Luke Beattie inside the opening 11 minutes of the term sealed the result, allowing the Bulldogs to breathe easy and rest some of their stars as the final siren loomed. Cummings (four
goals) was one of the players dragged from the field in the dying minutes, clearly to protect a hamstring that had kept him out of the side since early June.
Fearless midfielder Nick Sullivan was the Bulldogs' best, winning plenty of the contested possession all over the park, ruckman Scott Winduss was outstanding, Luke Adams had another important game, while Andrew Button (three goals) provided a
lead-up target when the ball went into attack. Clay Scoble and Rodgers also played well.
Andy McKay (five goals) was comfortably Hepburn's standout contributor, but his magic was matched by too few.
Century goalkicker Lee Cox took some good grabs to finish with three majors, Daniel Smith and Trevor Johnson were solid in defence and speedy midfielder Dan O'Halloran played well in his 100th senior match.
Daylesford coach Luke Beattie said the result came as no surprise.
"They were particularly good for three quarters and we just got them in the last," Beattie said.
"We've achieved the opportunity to play in a grand final, and that's fantastic, but if you lose a grand final you're just the same as the team that finishes last."
Hepburn midfielder Jarrod James suffered a serious arm injury and appears an unlikely starter for Saturday's clash with the Bombers.
* DAYLESFORD defender Joel Adams' grand final plans remain in doubt after he was reported in the Bulldogs' semi-final win over Hepburn on Saturday.
Adams is expected to front the Central Highlands Football League independent tribunal tonight to fight a charge of rough conduct against Hepburn's Craig Leehane.
Adams had his number taken in the second quarter.
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