Roxburgh Park will have to do it the hard way to make the grand final after losing the qualifying final in the Essendon District Football League division 2.
The Magpies entered the game on Saturday with only one loss for the season, but went down 14.14 (98) to 6.16 (52) against East Keilor, who beat them in their previous clash, too.
Only 11 points separated the two teams at half-time, with East Keilor just in front.
But the Magpies were kept goalless in the third quarter and kicked only one in the final quarter.
There were no multiple goalkickers for the Magpies, for whom Ismet Akkok and Justin Blackley were best.
Roxburgh Park will now face Coburg Districts in the preliminary final on Saturday.
The Lions won through by beating Keilor Park 10.16 (76) to 8.11 (59).
Nothing separated the teams all day and in the end it was the five goals to two in the second half which got the Lions the win.
In premier division, Greenvale’s reign at the top is over with the Jets falling short of the top four.
Their slow start to the season proved costly and they finished in fifth place, one game outside the finals.
Greenvale needed to win on Saturday and hope Keilor lost to second-placed Avondale Heights to sneak into the top four.
The Jets held up their end of the bargain with a hard-fought win over Maribyrnong Park, 17.13 (115) to 17.4 (106).
Maribyrnong Park came out firing in first quarter and led by 37 points at the first break.
The Jets bounced back in the second quarter to lead by eight at half-time and were able to stay in front until the end.
Jacob Thompson kicked four for the Jets.
But in a minor upset, Keilor ended the Jets’ season by beating Avondale Heights 15.12 (102) to 12.17 (89) to grab fourth.
Strathmore and Avondale Heights will face off in the first week of the finals on Saturday, as will Keilor and Aberfeldie.
