Point Cook will join local rivals Westbourne Grammarians in VAFA division 3 next year after sealing automatic promotion on Saturday.
Before then, the two sides will go hammer and tong in a grand final at St Bernard’s College this Saturday to determine the division 4 champion.
The Bulldogs clinched promotion with a stunning 81-point win over Mt Lilydale at the Westbourne School Ground.
Bulldogs coach Ian Denny was over the moon at seeing the club take a step up in class in its sixth year of senior football.
“There’s always two victories you can have in the ammos – one is to get promoted and the other is the grand final,” Denny said.
“The club hadn’t won a final at all but the seniors stepped up to the plate today and won the preliminary final to get promoted.”
Point Cook set up its victory with a five-goal-to-two opening term.
It was a significant lead for the Bulldogs, considering they were kicking against the breeze.
They made full use with the wind at their backs in the second quarter, piling on six goals to zip and running away with the game.
“We never looked in danger from halfway through the second quarter,” Denny said. “We beat them around the stoppages all day and got clear ball out of the middle.”
Young ruckmen Alex Grigg and Andrew Robinson featured prominently for Point Cook. They dictated the play at the stoppages and caused major headaches for Mt Lilydale with their presenting around the ground.
“They’re big targets for us,” Denny said.
Jordan Lampi was a class unto himself. He started the match on the ball, feasting on the silver service of the bigs. Then he went forward to good effect, finishing with seven goals and best-on-ground acknowledgment.
The Bulldogs will now turn their attention to Westbourne, which beat them in a hard-fought semi-final two weeks ago. Denny believes the all-west showdown will be a boost for amateur football in the west.
“For the local community, it’s good to have a couple of amateur clubs representing the west in a grand final derby,” he said. “We’re all about blooding the kids and blooding Point Cook people, so it’s good.”
The first bounce of the grand final will be at 2.20pm.
Lance Jenkinson
