THE Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League premiership will be fought out between Wangaratta and Lavington after the Panthers put an end to the giant-killing run of Myrtleford on Sunday.
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A crowd of 3240 people delivered the O and M another financial bonanza with gate-takings of $25,500 just short of a preliminary final record $27,349 which was set in 2012 when the Tigers defeated Wangaratta Rovers, who had former AFL player Barry Hall in their line-up.
The Saints, who have had their best season since losing back-to-back grand finals in 2005-06, were given a standing ovation by their army of fans, who earlier in the day had cheered their under-18 team into the grand final for the first time since 2010.
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Myrtleford went down by 21 points after leading by seven points at half-time.
The lead-up to the grand final will be dominated by an appeal to be held on Thursday which will decide whether Lavington coach Simon Curtis plays.
He played in the preliminary final on a stay of sanction due to the AFL Victoria appeals board being inundated with cases.
The other major talking point was Panthers star Shaun Mannagh being given the all-clear to play after being concussed in the second semi-final eight days earlier.
His recovery was overseen by the Richmond doctor with a final decision on him playing not made until late on Saturday.
At the mid-week tribunal hearing in which Magpie ruckman Zac Leitch was suspended for two weeks for striking Mannagh, the Panthers playmaker said he was still experiencing headaches and dizziness and rated his chances of playing as "unlikely".
Mannagh came through the match unscathed, but started the match deep forward and finished with three goals.
"I would like to retract my statement involving Simon Curtis in Friday's (The) Border Mail article," Goodison said.
"It's been a tough week for all parties and it was a poor choice of words."
The Magpies also have their A grade netball team in the grand final shooting for back-to-back flags after pipping Yarrawonga by one goal in the preliminary final.
Wangaratta will play Corowa-Rutherglen which had its B and C grade teams also advanced to the grand final.
Three of the four four netball preliminary finals were decided by the narrowest of margins.
On Saturday, an estimated crowd of 6000 people watched Thurgoona claim its third premiership in four seasons in the Tallangatta and District league with a runaway win over Barnawartha with gate-takings in excess of $40,000.
