Jacana fell short in its push for a finals berth, losing to Keilor Park in the last round of division 2 of the Essendon District Football League.
Both sides had a lot to play for, with fourth spot up for grabs.
Moonee Valley began the day in fourth place, equal on points with both the Jaguars and Devils, but with the difficult task of beating top-of-the-table Roxburgh Park to clinch a finals spot.
So both sides knew fourth place was waiting for the winner of the Jacana-Keilor Park clash, and it was the Devils who came out firing with a 25-point lead at quarter-time.
The Jaguars bounced back in the second quarter to cut the margin to 13 by the main break.
But then it all went wrong for Jacana, as the Devils seized control with six goals to nil in the third quarter.
The Jaguars reduced the margin in the final term but it was too little, too late.
The Jaguars finished the season in sixth place after spending much of the year in the top four.
And with Moonee Valley losing to Roxburgh Park by 24 points, Keilor Park grabbed fourth place.
Roxburgh Park kicked five goals in both of the middle quarters to set up a meeting with East Keilor in Saturday’s second semi final.
Keilor Park will meet Coburg Districts in the first semi-final.
