By Tim O'Connor

Paul McMahon went on a scoring spree to claim a last-gasp victory in the league goal-kicking award.

The Springbank spearhead was in devastating form on Saturday, kicking 22 goals in the Tigers’ thumping 227-point win at Linton.

McMahon’s bag helped him finish the home and away rounds with 79 majors and climb over the top of Ballan coach Justin McConnell, who ended the year with 73.

He will now receive the Shane Everard memorial award at the league presentation night on Monday, August 22.

Tigers joint-coach Michael Searl said McMahon booted 17 of his goals after half time when he was moved from centre half forward to a position deep in attack.

“He was kicking them from everywhere basically,” Searl said.

"He got some good delivery, but at the same time, he marked a lot of them as well.”

Searl booted seven goals to play a big hand in the result, while onballers Tyler George and Joel Maher and ruckman Peter Lewis were also among the standouts.

Smythesdale named Jayson Gilbert, Rylan Rattley and Josh Szabo as its best.

Saturday’s success leaves the Tigers second on the ladder and preparing for a qualifying final showdown with Bungaree next Sunday.

For Smythesdale, the 2016 campaign ends on a sour note, but coach Stephen Frys will still be pleased with a season that has seen the senior team end a mammoth losing streak.

The Bulldogs end the year 17th on the ladder following Skipton’s win over Carngham-Linton.

Bungaree 10.9 (69) d Creswick 3.4 (22)

By Tim O'Connor

Bungaree proved too good for Creswick in difficult conditions at Doug Lindsay Reserve on Saturday.

The Demons broke the match apart in the second term with six goals.

Onballer Chase Morgan returned to the Bungaree team from injury and kicked three majors in a classy display, while midfielder Aaron Hepworth capped a good end to the year by being named the best for the hosts.

The Demons take on Springbank in a qualifying final next Sunday.

Hepburn 23.11 (149) d Ballan 6.11 (47)

By Tim O'Connor

Hepburn coach Jason Olver has rated his side’s big win over Ballan as “by far” its best performance of the season.

The Burras booted eight goals to zip in the first term to stamp their dominance on the match and continued to pull clear to record a 102-point victory at home.

Hepburn had 10 goal-kickers in the triumph, which left it seventh on the ladder at the end of the home and away campaign.

“It just clicked,” Olver said of the team’s display.

Midfielders Dan O’Halloran (five goals), Andy McKay (three goals) and Ricky Ferraro were among the best for the winners, which tuned up for their elimination final against Beaufort next Sunday.

Ballan coach Justin McConnell kicked four majors, while Darren Tanti, Ben Fenwick and Jason McNamara tried hard in the defeat.

The Blues’ loss was their fourth in succession to finish the campaign in ninth spot on the table, three games outside the top eight.

Buninyong 17.20 (122) d Clunes 4.4 (28)

By Tim O'Connor

Buninyong got through the round 17 clash against Clunes without any major injury concerns ahead of its qualifying final showdown with Gordon.

The Bombers, which rested joint-coach Jarrod Morgan, beat the Magpies by 94 points to clinch the minor premiership.

Morgan said Jarrod Rodgers and Glen Phelps shone in a team performance from the hosts.

Clunes named Daniel Milne as its standout contributor in the loss.

Beaufort 15.18 (108) d Learmonth 1.9 (15)

By Tim O'Connor

BEAUFORT had little trouble handling Learmonth to power towards its elimination final against Hepburn next Sunday.

The Crows maintained sixth spot on the ladder with a 93-point thumping of the Lakies, which managed just one goal in a disappointing end to season 2016.

Beaufort, which held the visitors goalless until three quarter time, were best served by defender Lee Marshall and onballers Lachlan Pfeifer and Alex Petrie.

Tim Haase and Lachlan Murray kicked three majors each, with Petrie and Michael Foster managing two apiece.

Dyson George converted Learmonth’s only goal in the last quarter.

Beaufort will now set its sights on Hepburn, which won the teams’ elimination final last season.

The Crows have the wood on the Burras this year after beating their rivals back in round 12.

Learmonth, which finished in 11th spot, named Brenton Powell as best in his last game as playing coach of the senior side.

Daylesford 20.13 (133) d Dunnstown 6.9 (45)

By Scot Nicholson

Daylesford proved it deserves to play in the Central Highlands Football League finals after defeating Dunnstown by 88 points.

The stage is now set for the Bulldogs to face-off against fifth-placed Waubra in an elimination final at Bungaree next Saturday.

Daylesford coach Marcus Goonan told The Courier that his players are excited by the prospect of entering the knockout phase of the season.

“We have a young bunch of kids and they don’t know what to expect next, so it’s a good way to go into a finals series.” Goonan said.

“It’s all about how we are playing and if we play well then we will be a hard side to beat next weekend.”

The Bulldogs converted the first eight goals of the game to stamp their authority on the clash.

Star Daylesford midfielder Michael Cummings led by example in a five-goal best-on-ground performance.

Xavier Walsh kicked three goals, while Cameron Lovig, Max Risstrom and Ken Cummings all assisted in the forward line with two each.

Dunnstown coach Justin Abrams said that his attention has shifted towards 2017.

“Our last month has been really hard and I’m not making any excuses about how we preformed,” Abrams said.

“There are a lot of positives to reflect on, but we have a lot of work to do heading into next season. We need to come back more hungry, work hard, have some luck and keep all of our players on the paddock.”

Angus Thompson was a key contributor at centre half back for the Towners, while Brayden Morshead kicked two majors.

Newlyn 17.12 (114) d Rokewood-Corindhap 12.6 (78)

By Tim O'Connor

NEWLYN premiership player Adrian Chew was chaired off the ground following a starring performance in Saturday’s 36-point win over Rokewood-Corindhap.

Chew has announced his retirement, ending a career that claimed a flag with the Cats in 2003.

He kicked three goals and was named the team’s best.

In Grasshoppers coach Mick Hynes’ last game in charge, Ross Arnall was rated the standout for the hosts.

Skipton 15.5 (95) d Carngham-Linton 9.11 (65)

By John McGregor

SKIPTON held its nerve in the last half to thwart a luckless Carngham-Linton outfit, which kicked away opportunities.

It was a colourful scene at the Snake Valley Recreation Reserve on Saturday with both teams sporting heritage uniforms going back 50 years.

The 30-point Skipton triumph was sensational in front of a crowd of thousands.

The stakes were high with the Saints looking for a one-win redemption after a disappointing season and the Emus out to chalk up a second victory for the year.

After going into the final half 14 points adrift of the Emus, the Saints peppered the goals to pull back the deficit to three points.

A quick goal from James Nichols saw the Saints in front early in the last quarter, but a barrage of six majors snuffed out their hopes of success.

Skipton’s Mark Smith kicked two majors in the final stanza and Curtis Townrow continued his dominance in front of goal with his sixth conversion of the day. Jarred Crabtree and Thomas Breed also kicked two each.

Among the Emus’ best was Mitchell Jones, Cameron Sudholz, Lakota Stranks and Danny George.

For the Saints, Nichols kicked three goals and Lachlan Isbister added two.

Saints to hold their heads high were Joshua Benfield, Joe Stalker, Jacob Dawson and Tim Clarke.

Carngham-Linton under-15 captain Dean O’Brien joined his brothers Jarrod and Justin for his first senior game. Dean kicked a goal on debut, matching Justin’s brilliant one-handed mark and six-pointer.

“It’s funny how you put everything into one game. But this has been building for probably three, four or five games. The boys have been improving every week and today was just rewards for them,” Skipton co-coach Peter Brokenshow said.

“It was like a final for us. It’s been drummed into John (co-coach Northey) and I all year … that the rivalry between Carngham-Linton and us is huge.”

Carngham-Linton coach Aaron Braeckmans acknowledged there were plenty of opportunities to pull off an upset and first win for 2016.

“We didn’t kick the goals we needed to kick. We had plenty of opportunities. We didn’t take those opportunities. That’s sort of been our year...missed opportunities,” Braeckmans concluded.

Gordon 8.16 (64) d Waubra 5.6 (36)

By Tim O'Connor

WAUBRA has been left to limp towards the finals, with Saturday’s defeat costing it more than fourth spot on the ladder.

The Roos suffered injuries to key players during a 28-point defeat at the hands of the Eagles, which snatched a double chance in the playoffs.

It was the second year in succession Gordon pipped Waubra for a spot in the top four.

The Eagles’ win late last season saw the Roos finish fifth and then get bundled out of the flag race in an elimination final against Ballan.

“There’s nothing you can do now, is there?,” Waubra coach Grant Luscombe said after Saturday’s defeat.

“You have just got to dust yourself off and (we have to) get ourselves up for next week. It’s really disappointing and as you would have seen in the rooms, it was like the walking wounded.”

Tim Boyle hurt an ankle, Matt James a knee, Matthew Wapling copped a broken nose, while Matt Dawson, who was one of his team’s best, had a back issue.

James’ season appears over, however, the other three will be looking to get back for the elimination final against Daylesford next Saturday.

There is also concern for the Eagles, which lost goal-sneak Mick Nolan very early in the game.

Nolan was left groggy after a heavy hit and after being stretchered from the ground, took no further part in the contest.

In a scrappy battle, the Eagles trailed by a solitary point at half time, but held the home side goalless after the long break and gradually kicked clear to record victory.

Chris McGuigan booted three goals for the winners, which were led by winger Brad Hallam, onballers Matt Raworth and Steve Patterson and Adam Toohey in attack.

Gordon coach Gary Learmonth said he knew the game would be hard-fought.

“The pressure was there and no side really wanted to give the other that opportunity,” he said.

“I think we made a few mistakes and they made a few mistakes because of that pressure, but we thought our defence was pretty good.”

Of the backmen, Learmonth was impressed with Mark Gunnell, who had the job on Boyle, and Gerard Clifford.

“At the start of the year, (top four) was our expectation or where we set ourselves to finish and now we’ve done that so you reset,” he said.

“That’s where we wanted to finish and our year, although we haven’t probably had the large wins, I think we’ve been pretty consistent, so we’re going to go in (to finals) with some confidence that we can do some damage.”

Gordon will take on minor premiers Buninyong in a qualifying final next Saturday.