Melton South will play finals in its first season back in the Riddell District Football League.
After not winning a game for many years in the Ballarat league, the Panthers sit in fifth spot heading into the final.
With seventh-placed Romsey sitting a game and more than 30 per cent behind, even a loss in the final round won’t be enough for the Panthers to miss out.
Panthers coach Travis Hodgson always thought that his side could play finals and it was nice to have that locked in.
“We’re in a pretty good position,” he said. “We’re playing finals for the first time in a long time.
“It’s pretty exciting and the reserves as well are looking to play finals and are set to finish around fourth on the ladder.
“Our 19s are one game out and mathematically can make it, but have to win and hope a result goes our way.
“There’s a real buzz around the place.”
Hodgson said the senior group wanted to win about nine games for the season, which they had now been able to achieve.
He said they thought that might be enough to see them sneak into finals, which has turned out to be the case.
“We’re certainly happy about it,” he said. “We didn’t aim any higher.
“Making finals is huge for the club. There’s a lot of kids that get a senior final under their belt.
“Most have not played junior finals previously, if they have been b-grade finals.”
The Panthers sealed finals on Saturday with a big win against Lancefield, 28.13 (181)-7.12 (54).
It was the sort of performance Hodgson said they hadn’t had this season.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve kicked something like that,” he said. “Against the Gisborne Giants we won by 70-80 points back in round four.
“It’s really good to start seeing clinical performance and blow a team away which is something we haven’t done.”
Alec Goodson kicked 11 goals in a best on ground performance.
It moves him second on the goal kicking table, just one behind Riddell’s Dean Galea, with the Bombers having a bye in the final round.
Hodgson said having Ryder Rousch back in the side had allowed Goodson to stay back closer to goals.
The only downside to the Panthers win was a hamstring injury to Sam Darley in the final quarter.
He was due to have scans on Monday to see the severity, but Hodgson said it didn’t look good.
The Panthers face Kyneton in the final round.
The Tigers also locked in its finals spot on Saturday.
Hodgson said it was the type of match they wanted heading into finals.
“It’s a mini final,” he said. “We had a tough month before a bye and then played the bottom two sides.
“We’ll prepare like a final and get into it the week before.”
In other results, Diggers Rest lost its first game of the season as it was beaten by Wallan, 9.12 (66)-9.7 (61).
Melton Centrals lost to Kyneton, 22.9 (141)-4.10 (34).
