Dunnstown advances, but injuries sour victory | Central Highlands Football League semi-final review, details

Dunnstown led at every break, boasting 30 scoring shots to the Lakies' 14, with coach Glenn Wilkins saying the scoreboard did not truly reflect the performance.

"Our pressure and intent was there right from the word go," Wilkins said.

"We were able to own a fair bit of territory which was pleasing and our run and carry came back after last week."

The Towners recovered from their 47-point qualifying final loss to Hepburn in style, as Dunnstown's defence stood tall to shut down majority of Learmonth's attacks.

Wilkins was full of praise for Patrick Britt, who had the job on Learmonth's Damon Folkes.

"Britt is a quality player who should still probably be playing on the big forwards in the main leagues," Wilkins said.

"We identified very early in the week that he was going to get the match-up on Folkes and he was terrific. Our whole backline today just worked really well for each other."

However, the win was dampened by what appears to be season-ending injuries to Dunnstown's most valuable player in ruck Khyle Forde and reliable defender Jack Leonard.

Forde strained his right hamstring midway through the last quarter, having vied for best-on-ground honours while Leonard left the ground with a suspected dislocated shoulder.

Wilkins said Forde was understandably "pretty distraught" after the game.

"It is really disappointing for Khyle. He knows that he has been a big part of our improvement this year and it is unfortunate that that is it for him," Wilkins said.

"He is a massive player to replace but we feel as though we have got a couple of players who can step up."

Will Henderson has been known to play through the ruck for Dunnstown at times, but Wilkins said a lot will depend on how Gordon lines up.

For Learmonth coach Nick Willox, the loss signals an end to what was a successful season for his Lakies.

"To come within a half of a preliminary final, after where we were last year, is a massive achievement for us," Willox said.

"Dunnstown was just better for four quarters. We challenged them in patches but their work rate was just better than ours on the day."

Dunnstown will meet Gordon in a Central Highlands Football League preliminary final on Saturday.

The Towners outclassed Learmonth in a semi-final at Buninyong on Sunday - running away by 46 points.

Final scores: Dunnstown 13.17 (95) d Learmonth 7.7 (49)

Dunnstown shook off a determined Lakies in the second quarter to lead by 25 points and then dominated the second half.

However, the win was dampened by a season-ending injuries to Dunnstown's most valuable player in ruckman Khyle Ford and most likely the same outcome for reliable defender Jack Leonard.

Forde strained his right hamstring midway through the last quarter, having vied for best-on-ground honours.

Leonard left the ground in the third quarter clutching his left shoulder area.

While the exact nature of Leonard's injury has not been confirmed, it appears to be dislocated shoulder injury, suffered in a collision in a contest for the football.

Forde suffered his injury near the boundary line and stood leaning on the fence forlornly for an extended time before clutching the back of his right leg and limping off.

Dunnstown coach Glenn Wilkins said Forde was understandably "pretty distraught" after the game.

"It is really disappointing for Khyle. He knows that he has been a big part of our improvement this year and it is unfortunate that that is it for him," Wilkins said.

"He is a massive player to replace but we feel as though we have got a couple of players who can step up."

Forde has had an outstanding season, finishing third in the CHFL best and fairest and being a major influence in Dunnstown finishing second at the end of the home and away season.

"You cannot spend too much time worrying about it," Wilkins said.

"He just has to keep his spirits up throughout the week and he knows that as well."

Learmonth's first finals campaign since 2014 is over after it finished seventh at the end of the home and away season.