South Morang managed to handle St Mary’s and the difficult conditions to keep momentum going in Northern Football League division 3.
Neither team had much to play for as the Lions have top spot sewn up and St Mary’s is unable to move out of fourth.
For much of the game, the Lions were under the pump and they trailed by nine points at three-quarter time.
But they found another gear, kicking four goals to one in the final quarter to seal the game 8.7 (55)-7.9 (51).
Lions’ coach Gary Hall said his side was challenged and responded when needed.
“The weather turned on the worst possible day,” he said.
“It was wet, slippery and there was water all over the ground. It was difficult conditions.
“It was a dead rubber but we’ve still got pride, We want to win no matter what.”
The Lions entered the match having rested three or four players. Those who stepped up the past couple of weeks haven’t looked out of place. Hall said it would be a tough job next week selecting who will go out of the side.
“Lachie Buckley came up from the reserves as we rested our ruckman. Bojan Marinkovic and Cory Giannone were both really good as well.
“Everyone who has come in and been given an opportunity has played well. It’s making selection difficult.”
The Lions enter the finals on the back of a 12-game winning streak. Their only loss for the season was in round five against Banyule, the side they face this week.
The last time the two teams met, the Lions won by 10 goals, a win Hall believes they will take confidence from.
A grand final spot awaits the winner, while the loser will play in the preliminary final.
The Lions are looking for their first final win since 2014.
Hall said the disappointing finals results of the past couple of years would not play on their minds.
“It’s a different group of players from the last two years,” he said. “They’re all multiple premiership players in juniors, so finals don’t faze them.”
In the other semi-final – an elimination semi-final – Epping will take on St Mary’s.
The Pingers will enter the match fresh, having had a final round bye.
Meanwhile, Mernda finished the season with a second straight win. After a tough run through the middle of the season, the Demons have shown a bit of fight in the past two rounds.
On Saturday, they accounted for Laurimar, 14.10 (94)-5.18 (48).
The Demons finished the season in seventh and Laurimar was eighth.
