Creswick's rugged utility, Brad Lockyer.
CRESWICK’S destiny is now in its own hands.
The Wickers took another step towards securing their first Central Highlands Football League finals appearance since 1987 with a fighting three-point win over Skipton on Saturday.
Creswick was forced to dig deep to overcome the gallant Emus, which trailed by 37 points mid-way through the second quarter only to take a nine-point advantage into the last term.
But coach Damian Lubeek and his men held firm, keeping Skipton goalless in the fourth term while adding two majors of their own to secure an important victory.
Beaufort’s 48-point defeat at the hands of Waubra then worked in the Wickers’ favour, meaning they could leapfrog the Crows into eighth spot on the ladder.
Creswick, which has moved into the finals bracket for the first time since its win over Dunnstown in round six, can now be sure that success in the final two matches of the home and away season will see it break the lengthy drought.
Victory against the seventh-placed Springbank, which was belted by ladder-leaders Hepburn at the weekend, and in the round 17 clash with Rokewood-Corindhap guarantees the Wickers finals for the first time since their senior premiership year.
Creswick, which hosted Saturday’s game at Learmonth due to the unsafe ruling of Doug Lindsay Reserve, sits level on points with the Tigers and just two points behind Newlyn, which claimed an important two-goal win over Gordon.