Buninyong has charged into the Central Highlands Football League grand final after knocking out Gordon.
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The 31-point preliminary final victory came after a steadfast across-the-board performance.
Gordon kept in touch until the main break on Sunday when it trailed by 13 points, but the second half was a heart-breaker.
Despite a gallant and tight Eagles defence, the Bombers started to punch holes in it and led by 37 points at the last change.
Buninyong’s Fraser Russell was pivotal in providing the necessary scoreboard pressure. Russell kicked four important goals.
On the other side of the ledger, Gordon’s Adam Toohey was trying to shake a fierce opposition. After a seven-goal haul the week before, Toohey had significant goal-kicking spurts on Sunday.
He booted two majors in the first term and managed to shake free of the clinging Bomber defence to boot a trio of goals in a four-minute burst in the final term.
Toohey’s dash and courage brought a glimmer of hope to the grim-faced Gordon supporters, but that was short-lived as Jarrod Morgan shut down the Eagles’ resurgent attack with a huge mark in defence.
Morgan’s kick sent the Bombers back into attack and snuffed out the Eagles’ brief glimpse of redemption.
The Eagles’ defence of Taylem Wason, Mark and Luke Gunnell, Zac Ryan and Gerard Clifford were overrun in the second half, whereas the Bomber backmen like Alex Bomitali, Michael McKenzie, Nick Shell, Beau Guest and Jack Robertson dug in hard.
For coach Morgan, the win is just the start of a big week for the club with the under-18s, reserves and senior sides all making grand finals.
“It’s just a big week for the club. We want to win all three next week. But we are going to enjoy this week...you don’t get this opportunity too often. It’s amazing,” Morgan said.
“We’ve got a couple of guys with just a bit of a sore knee, but with any prelim final the guys are a bit banged up. But I think we’ll be alright. I don’t think there are any really big ones (injuries) to worry about.”
Gordon coach Ron Watt was unhappy with the Eagles’ showing.
“It’s disappointing getting beaten when you don’t play anywhere near your best...you’ve got to play well to win,” Watt said.
Buninyong will look to win its first senior premiership since 2002 when it meets Beaufort in the decider next Saturday at Mars Stadium.
For Gordon, the drought continues with the club still searching for its first flag since way back in 1988.
Watt has committed to next season as senior coach.
