After finishing on top of the ladder, LBU earned the minor premiership and a first-round bye in the finals. And now after a week off, the Cats will take to the field against Mount Pleasant in the semi-final on Saturday afternoon.
After missing out on a shot at the premiership last season, LBU will be hungry for its first premiership since 2014.
The Cats were undefeated in 2021, before the season was cancelled without finals being played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, LBU has a chance to make up for the missed opportunity. And with just one loss over the last two years combined, they will be the heavy favourites to claim their fifth HDFL premiership.
The Cats have had the wood over Mount Pleasant in recent meetings, claiming a pair of victories earlier this season — by 31 points and 23 points — and boasting a streak of four wins in a row.
But Mount Pleasant will be hoping to replicate its last win over LBU, a 23-point victory that came in a semi-final in 2019.
The winner of Saturday’s first-versus-second clash will advance straight through to the big dance, while the team who comes out second best will have another chance next week against the winner of the weekend’s other semi final.
That second semi will see Colbinabbin take on White Hills on Sunday afternoon — a must-win clash for both teams, with the vanquished side’s season coming to an end.
White Hills will be full of confidence after its 16-point upset win over North Bendigo last week, while the Hoppers will be hoping to bounce back from their 26-point defeat to Mount Pleasant.
In the netball, the league’s two best sides, White Hills and Elmore, will face off in what is the very definition of a finals blockbuster on Saturday.
The Demons and Bloods finished first and second on the ladder, and they will meet with a spot in the grand final on the line.
The two sides faced off twice during the regular season, with each team claiming one win apiece. Elmore won 66-52 back in round five, but the Demons extracted some revenge with a 66-57 triumph in round 14.
In Sunday’s other finals encounter, Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin will go head-to-head in a do-or-die clash that will see the winner move on to the preliminary final and the loser knocked out of the post-season.
Mount Pleasant lost to Elmore 71-42 in its qualifying final last week, while the Hoppers had a 41-35 win over Huntly in their elimination final.
HDFNL football finals
Lockington-Bamawm United vs Mount Pleasant: 2.15pm on Saturday, August 20 at Gunbower Recreation Reserve.
Colbinabbin vs White Hills: 2.15pm on Sunday, August 21 at Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
HDFNL netball finals
White Hills vs Elmore: 2.30pm on Saturday, August 20 at Gunbower Recreation Reserve.
Mount Pleasant vs Colbinabbin: 2.00pm on Sunday, August 21 at Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
