City provided the first piece of the jigsaw it needed to stay in the running for sixth position by defeating Melton by 23 points at MacPherson Park.

Then East Point lost to Lake Wendouree by 67 points and Melton South went down to Darley by 63 points.

This allowed North Ballarat City to join the Kangaroos and and Panthers on 32 premiership points, and leapfrog the duo from eighth to sixth on percentage.

East Point, which started the last home and away round in sixth, dropped to seventh and Melton South gave up one spot to finish eighth.

Redan also ensured a shake-up at the top of the ladder.

The Lions defeated Bacchus Marsh by 23 points –  only the Cobras’ second loss of the season – to allow Lake Wendouree to finish on top and claim the minor premiership.

In the remaining game, Sunbury was untroubled in defeating bottom team Sebastopol by 89 points.

The drama did end there.

Melton South joint coach Brendan Fevola was reported and yellow carded after an incident late in the third quarter at Melton Recreation Reserve.

Fevola has been charged with having struck Darley’s Brian Graham.

FIRST WEEK OF FINALS

(venues yet to be announced)

QUALIFYING FINAL 

Lake Wendouree v Bacchus Marsh

ELIMINATION FINALS

Darley v North Ballarat City

Redan v Sunbury

The same six teams contested last year’s finals series.

ROUND DETAILS

Redan 5.4, 9.7, 12.11, 15.13 (103)

Bacchus Marsh 2.1, 6.2, 8.7, 12.8 (80)

GOALS - Redan: Mitchell Phelps 7, Hayden Edwards 2, Lachlan McLean 1, Kyle Hayes 1, Nathan Horbury 1, Nicholas Willox 1,

Damien Horbury 1, Grant Bell 1. Bacchus Marsh:Hamish Coulton 3, Jarrah Maksymow 2, Alec Del Papa 1, Blake Graham 1, Jethro Calma-Holt 1, Simon Lafranchi 1, Jadyn Trowsdale 1, Billy Griffiths 1, Logan Blundell 1. 

BEST - Redan:Mitchell Phelps, Orren Stephenson, Grant Bell, Jack Jess, Nathan Horbury, Angus Cleary. Bacchus Marsh: Alec Del Papa, Hamish Coulton, Jadyn Trowsdale, Billy Griffiths, Lachlan Phyland, Kane White

Darley 5.1, 11.2, 17.2, 21.4 (130)

Melton South 3.4, 5.9, 6.11, 9.13 (67)

GOALS - Darley: Leigh Spiteri 7, Brian Graham 4, Harley Inglis 2, Luke Delahey 1, Heath Scotland 1, Daniel Robson 1, Rhys Ellis 1, Dane Grenfell 1, Jay Pearson 1, Nicholas Thacker 1, Travis Minns 1. Melton South: Brendan Fevola 4, Jonathon Kent 3, David Callus 1, Mitchell Banner 1

BEST - Darley: Leigh Spiteri, Luther Baker, Luke Delahey, Darren Leonard, Brian Graham, Kyle Docherty. Melton South: Mark Lynch, Lachlan Watkins, Benjamin Sortino, Nick Kommer, Billy Sullivan, Craig Searle

Lake Wendouree 7.5, 11.6, 20.10, 24.13 (157)

East Point 4.1, 7.8, 10.9, 13.12 (90)

GOALS - Lake Wendouree: Lucas Anderson 7, Ashley Simpson 3, Stephen Clifton 3, Hugh Herben 2, Nathan Pring 2, Nicholas Peters 2, Tom Nijam 1, Eamonn Mc Cuskey 1, Jordan Alexander 1, Ben Taylor 1, Sean Willmott 1. East Point: Bryson McDougall 4, Rhys Monument 4, Daniel Tung 2, Charlie Lee 2, Aden Nestor 1

BEST - Lake Wendouree: Jordan Alexander, Sean Willmott, Lucas Anderson, Eamonn Mc Cuskey, Tim Malone, Ben Taylor. East Point: Hasker Dawborn, Daniel Semmens, Paul Koderenko, Daniel Tung, Cameron Jackson, Jordan Taylor

North Ballarat City 3.2, 8.4, 12.12, 15.17 (107)

Melton 5.1, 7.2, 9.2, 13.6 (84)

GOALS - North Ballarat City: Ryan Luke 3, Sam Willian 3, Daniel Jones 3, Martin Curtis 2, Simon Mc Cartin 2, Ryan Hobbs 1, Harrison Loader 1. Melton: Angus Grigg 5, Braedan Kight 3, Jake Gleeson 1, Nicholas Gale 1, Lachlan Walker 1, Luke Heaney 1, Kayne Wilson 1

BEST - North Ballarat City: Simon Mc Cartin, Joshua Bromley-Lynch, Sam Willian, Ryan Luke, Daniel Jones, Thomas Hotchin. Melton: Angus Grigg, Jack Walker, Connor Griffiths, Jared May, Ben Archard, Joshua Jenkins

Sunbury 7.3, 10.7, 14.13, 17.13 (115)

Sebastopol 0.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.8 (26)

GOALS - Sunbury: Alec Goodson 3, David Kovacevic 3, Nick Cox 2, Jesse Flannery 2, Trent Stead 2, Ben Guthrie 1, Alik Magin 1, Grant Valles 1, Jayden Eales 1, Patrick MacDonough 1. Sebastopol: Taylor Stewart 1, Chase Dummett 1, Toby Hutt 1

BEST - Sunbury: Michael Edwards, Tristan Lenaz, Patrick MacDonough, Jack Hannett, Jesse Flannery, David Kovacevic. Sebastopol: Chase Dummett, Tom Petersen, Ben Hutt, Marshall Cain, Toby Hutt