A six-point win over reigning premier West Preston gave the Mont Machine the final spot in the Division One finals at the expense of Northcote Park.

Dogga Limbach was again the hero for the Magpies, booting eight goals in the 18.14.122 to 18.8.116 victory at J.E Moore Park.

In perfect conditions it was always going to be a cracking match with Montmorency needing to win the game to keep their finals chances alive, while West Preston was desperate to claim the four points and earn a double chance in the finals.

West Preston booted the opening two goals of the game through Anthony Rocca and Glenn Robertson before Micka Steven put us on the board after converting truly thanks to a 50m penalty.

Looking fresh after a two-week training camp in Arizona, Rocca soon booted his second before Limbach got his name on the scoresheet, as the crowd prepared for a shootout between the power forwards.

Billy Morrison then restored West Preston’s two-goal buffer with the last major of the quarter, but the action didn’t end there as Micka was red carded for an indiscretion at quarter time with West Preston up by 14 points at the first change.

(Consequently, no favour given by West at the judiciary)

Once the dust had settled, Billy Micevski got West Preston off to a perfect start in the second term with an early goal, before Montmorency got to work with the next three goals, two of which came from Limbach.

Matthew Vasilevski got one back for West Preston but Limbach booted his fourth soon after as the game became a see-sawing battle with neither side able to pull away from the other.

Robertson put the Roosters back in front with his second but Limbach couldn’t put a foot wrong and booted his fifth, making it four in 20 minutes for the competition leading goalkicker.

With both teams intent on playing attacking football before Montmorency rounded up the deficit with consecutive goals to Limbach and Alex Tsardakis to take a three point lead into the main break.

Scott Nugent, who is born again in the Ruck kicked his first goal of the day to commence the third term before the game heated up with three players yellow carded for various indiscretions. All of the then VERY minor !!

West Preston cut the lead to three points midway through the third term, before Nugent kicked his second of the quarter and Ben Haynes another to give the Magpies a 15-point buffer, our highest lead of the match.

Curtly Swindon kicked the all-important first goal of the final term, after a desperate tackle (Curtly is showing great form) but the West Preston crowd was soon on its feet with the home side kicking three unanswered goals to take a two-point lead.

Limbach put his side back in front with his eighth, before Nugent and Tsardakis followed up with two more to give Montmorency a near-unassailable lead of 18 points. To me it looked like that game was over

But we had had one more twist, with the Roosters kicking two goals to cut the margin to one straight kick, but left its run too late as the siren sounded to give Montmorency a finals berth.

We meet again this week in the elimination final at Preston City Oval, with another close match expected.

All three team play this week so get to Cramer street early on SUNDAY