Gidgegannup needed a win to secure a place in the Hills Football Association finals while Mt Helena were aiming to finish the season on a winning note.

But only the Bulldogs had their wish come true with their 12.14 (86) to 8.6 (54) victory  leaving the Lions languishing in sixth place on the ladder.

Tim Tanner got the Bulldogs off to a quick start in the last home and away round of the 2024 season with a goal in the first couple of minutes.

The Lions went forward from the consequent centre ball up where Ryan Watters marked strongly and converted his kick on goal –  one of his three for the quarter.

Lion Bo Read was having an interesting tussle with the Bulldog’s Declan Whife in the ruck.

Whife’s teammates Cameron Hore and Jarrad Young ran hard to get to every contest.

Ryan Schwagereit was lively on a wing for the Lions, and the way the game was shaping up it was going to be a hard defensive slog for both teams.

At the first break the Bulldogs held a five point lead.

Gidgegannup threatened to split the game wide open with the ball spending most of the second at their end.

Lions Jai Blackman, Zac Read, Riley Maturo and Cooper Donnelly were in every contest in an attempt to keep the Bulldogs from scoring goals.

They were coming hard with eight shots on goal for three straight kicks.

Bulldog Chris Scott was having problems with his accuracy so decided to look for teammates in better positions.

Cameron Hore and Levi Grogan managed to find space to be on the receiving end of his passes, then converting their kicks on goal.

The gap had opened up to 21 points at the main break.

With the Lions still in the hunt they needed to slow the Bulldogs down while increasing their scoring.

They managed to win the third quarter by two points, due mainly to Gidgegannup’s inaccuracy.

Bulldog Sean Nagle became prominent across the centre even taking the opportunity to drift forward and kick a goal.

The Bulldogs managed to run the game out more strongly with  a four goal to two last quarter – Tanner ran the game out on the ball.

Gidgegannup player Ben Melbardis picked up more tempo as the game went on, while Lion Andrew Holness did what he could to try and keep his team in the game, and the move of Bulldog Coby Campbell onto Mt Helena’s Watters paid big dividends in the aerial contests.

Gidgegannup now face Chidlow at 12pm next Sunday in the first semi final while Pickering Brook will be up against Swan View at 2.30pm in the second semi final, both to be played at the George Spriggs Oval in Pickering Brook.