Hillside could only sit back and watch as its hopes of a first finals’ appearance in Essendon District Football League division 1 vanished.
Because of a bye in the final round, the Sharks could only hope other results fell their way.
Ideally, they would have liked Taylors Lakes to defeat Oak Park, so the Sharks would’ve been a game clear of the Kangaroos.
Next best was an Oak Park win, but by a margin of less than about 60 points, or for Westmeadows to be completely thrashed by Craigieburn.
For the Sharks, neither came to fruition, meaning they missed out on the finals by 1.62 per cent after entering the final round slightly more than five per cent ahead of the Kangaroos.
The Kangaroos came out firing early against Taylors Lakes – they meant business, and had moved ahead of the Sharks on percentage by half-time.
The Roos then increased their margin over the Lions in the second half, winning, 23.11 (149)-9.7 (61).
The Lions finish the season in seventh position with six wins for the year.
Meanwhile, the Kangaroos play Westmeadows in one of the semi finals for a spot in the preliminary final.
Craigieburn faces Tullamarine in the other semi final for the first spot in the grand final.
In premier division, Keilor’s ladder position and finals opponent is decided with one round remaining.
The Blues will finish second on the ladder after a surprise loss to Maribyrnong Park.
The Lions started the better of the two sides, keeping the Blues goal-less in the first quarter, and chasing all day. The Blues got the margin back to nine points in the last quarter, but that was as close as it came in their 13.10 (88)-10.14 (74) loss.
The Blues’ match against Aberfeldie on Saturday will be a preview of the first week of the finals.
Last year’s premier Aberfeldie is two games clear on top of the ladder.
The two sides will play each other in the semi-finals for a spot in the grand final.
The fight for the other finals spots is still on, with Pascoe Vale sitting third, a game clear of fourth-placed Greenvale and fifth-placed Maribyrnong Park.
Tara Murray
