NOT many predicted Scoresby would enter this year's division 1 Eastern Football League finals as the team to beat but, should they get past Noble Park this week, the Magpies will enter the grand final as raging favourites to win the grand prize.
Scoresby's second semi-final opponent was decided on Saturday when Noble Park easily got past Balwyn, winning comfortably in the end by 58 points.
Noble Park looks a genuine premiership threat, whereas Balwyn will need to lift against Norwood this week if it plans on shaking the pretender tag.
Hitting the ground running, Noble Park jumped to an early lead and was never in danger of slipping against the star-studded Tigers. Tory Dickson finished with five goals, while Shayne Allan booted four.
Norwood progressed after beating Croydon by 54 points. The Blues were never in the hunt and the job looked too hard after an opening quarter which put the Norsemen 28 points clear.
A competitive third quarter got Croydon back to within 11 points ahead of the run home, but eight last-term goals to Norwood put the result beyond doubt.
In division 2, Montrose knocked Doncaster East out of contention with a smooth 40-point win and will now meet Bayswater in the preliminary final after its 63-point loss to flag favourites Mulgrave.
In division 3, Doncaster upstaged North Ringwood, sending the Saints packing from this year's finals race with a five-goal preliminary final win.
The stage is now set for this Sunday's grand final at Jubilee Park where Doncaster will go in as underdogs against the best team all season, Upper Ferntree Gully.
In the reserves, North Ringwood will play Chirnside Park, and in the Colts North Ringwood will meet Mitcham.
In division 4, Ferntree Gully is through to this year's grand final after beating South Belgrave by 43 points, while Templestowe will get another crack at South Belgrave in this week's preliminary final after easing past Glen Waverley by five goals.
EFL Division 1: Qualifying final: Noble Park 21.13 (139) def Balwyn 11.15 (81) (seniors), East Burwood 9.13 (67) def Scoresby 6.6 (42) (reserves), Vermont 14.11 (95) def Lilydale 5.9 (39) (colts).
Elimination Final: Norwood 17.16 (118) def Croydon 9.10 (64) (seniors), Vermont 13.8 (86) def Blackburn 7.7 (49) (reserves), Scoresby 6. 9 (45) def East Ringwood 5.14 (44) (colts).
This Week: First Semi Finals: Saturday at East Burwood Reserve: Balwyn vs Norwood (seniors), Scoresby vs Vermont (reserves), Lilydale vs Scoresby (colts).
Second Semi Finals: Saturday at Bayswater Oval: Scoresby vs Noble Park (seniors), Knox vs East Burwood (reserves), Blackburn vs Vermont (colts).
Division 2
First Semi-Final: Montrose 15.13 (103) def Doncaster East 8.15 (63) (seniors), Waverley Blues 13.8 (86) def Mooroolbark 7.12 (54) (reserves), Rowville 12.11 (83) def Bayswater 10.12 (72) (colts).
Second Semi Final: Mulgrave 15.12 (102) def Bayswater 5.9 (39) (seniors), Wantirna South 11.12 (78) def Montrose 4.7 (31) (reserves), Mulgrave 8.6 (54) def Wantirna South 7.10 (52) (colts).
This Week: Preliminary Finals: Sunday at Tormore Reserve: Bayswater vs Montrose (seniors), Montrose vs Waverley Blues (reserves), Wantirna South vs Rowville (colts).
Division 3
Preliminary Final: Doncaster 14.20 (104) def North Ringwood 10.14 (74) (seniors), Chirnside Park 13.12 (90) def Boronia 6.9 (45) (reserves), Mitcham 8.13 (61) def Upper FTG 6.10 (46) (colts).
This Week: Grand Finals: Sunday at Jubilee Park: Upper FTG vs Doncaster (seniors), North Ringwood vs Chirnside Park (reserves), North Ringwood vs Mitcham (colts).
Division 4
First Semi Final: Templestowe 20.10 (130) def Glen Waverley 14.16 (100) (seniors), Templestowe 12.13 (85) def Ferntree Gully 7.7 (49) (reserves), Glen Waverley 10.5 (65) def The Basin 4.12 (36) (colts).
Second Semi Final: Ferntree Gully 19.10 (124) def South Belgrave 12.9 (81) (seniors), Heathmont 9.8 (62) def Forest Hill 7.7 (49) (reserves), Forest Hill 17.9 (111) def Ferntree Gully 7.6 (48) (colts).
This Week: Preliminary Finals: Saturday at Walker Park: Templestowe vs South Belgrave (seniors), Forest Hill vs Templestowe (reserves), FTG Eagles vs Glen Waverley (colts).
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