Navarre will play in their seventh consecutive Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League senior football grand final after defeating Natte Bealiba at the weekend.
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The Grasshoppers subdued an inaccurate Swans side to come away with a 16.10 (106) to 2.14 (26) victory.
Natte Bealiba had chances to run with Navarre from the start of the game, but were unable to capitalise in front of goal.
The Swans booted one goal and 11 behinds in the first half to trail by 17 points at the main break. Navarre coach Jayden Fowkes said it was a tough first half.
“It was a 50-50 ball game for the start,” he said.
“Their inaccuracy in front of goal kept us in the game a bit.”
The Grasshoppers put their foot down in the third quarter after a scuffle, kicking seven goals to Natte Bealiba’s one behind to blow the game away. A further four goals in the final period gave Navarre a final winning margin off 80 points.
Cody Driscoll was back at his damaging best, booting six goals in a best on ground performance for Navarre.
The Grasshoppers will play Carisbrook in the grand final for the fourth consecutive year.
The Redbacks easily dealt with Royal Park on Sunday to set up the blockbuster final.
“This season has been a tougher year than the last few,” Fowkes said.
“We have really hit our straps at the end of the year, which is ideal. We have had guys return from injury and we are all fit and firing.”
Navarre will by vying for their fifth consecutive MCDFL premiership, hoping to beat the record of four consecutive wins set by Talbot between 1995 and 1998.
”Everyone has got that grand final feeling again,” Fowkes said.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you win one, it is always a special feeling.”
