EAST COAST has finally wrought some sort of revenge for last year’s grand final, winning a dead rubber against Lilydale by 62 points.
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The Demons indicated they would send down a youthful side and made five changes to last week’s 22 with Trent Griggs, Reuben Rothwell, Beau Tuthill, Tyrel Dingjan and Declan Ellis all left at home.
The Swans made no concessions and stormed to a 20.10 (130) to 9.14 (68) win, with Michael Murfet and Lewis Ritchie kicking five each and Nicholas Child notching three to win the league’s goalkicking award for the second year running.
East Coast will meet Perth in an elimination final next weekend, while Lilydale will bring its stars back for a qualifying final against Evandale.
MORE PHOTOS: Weekend’s NTFA action
OLD SCOTCH will miss the finals for the first time this decade after going down 15.8 (98) to 10.3 (63) at the hands of Perth.
The Thistles needed to win by 175 points to make finals but any hope of that was gone in the first term as Perth raced to a three-goal lead.
The Magpies followed through to claim the Harper-Williams trophy for the first time in 10 years as Adrian Cirkel ran rings around the one-time heavyweights and Zane Brown (four goals) showed his true colours.
Alec Fotheringham (five) and George Walker (three) were the most effective targets for the home side.
ST PATS completed an unbeaten season as Jakob Laskey kicked seven goals in a 98-point win over Bridport.
The 18.20 (128) to 4.6 (30) win was set up by a six-goal opening term and the dominance of Jacob Knight, who terrorised the Seagulls for the second time this season.
Matthew Taylor kicked three of Bridport’s four goals to finish the season with 59, while Mo Makitae battled hard through the middle.
St Pats automatically progresses to the second week of finals.
EVANDALE cruised into the qualifying final with a routine thumping of Tamar Cats.
Twelve different Country Eagles hit the scoreboard in the 28.17 (185) to 2.1 (13) win, with Jordan Harris (six goals) the pick of the bunch.
Aaron Dusautoy capped off a good season for Tamar with another best-on-ground effort.