Eagles take the hard road

THE Doveton Eagles will have to do it the hard way in the Division Three finals after falling victim to rampant Skye spearhead Shane Rowley in Saturday’s qualifying final.
Rowley bagged 10 goals to guide the Bombers to a 41-point victory, relegating the Eagles to a dangerous preliminary final meeting with Mount Waverley this weekend.
The battle of the full-forwards was always going to play a huge part in Saturday’s one-versus-two clash, with Rowley and Doveton goal-machine Ricky Ramsdale lining up in opposing goal squares.
Ramsdale booted four for the afternoon, but it wasn’t his usual authoritative performance. The Bombers set the game up with a seven-goal second quarter and held a 31-point lead at the main break. Doveton was energised on resumption and took the honours in the third, but couldn’t continue the momentum in the final term.
Eagles Brayden Keown, Matt Fristad and Paul Rees thrived on the finals intensity, but their contributions still paled in comparison to the Skye match-winner.
Rowley will be waiting for the Eagles in the grand final, providing the boys from Power Road can get passed the Mountain Lions this Saturday. Doveton has won both of its clashes with Mount Waverley this season, most recently a comfortable 45-point result at the Lions’ den in round 12.
The prelim will be played at Ross Street Reserve, Heatherton, from 2pm.