Daylesford has lived to fight another day in the Central Highlands Football League premiership race.
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After missing out on finals last year, Daylesford was determined to return with a fast and furious style of football.
Trailing by three points at quarter time, the Bulldogs outplayed Waubra to emerge victorious by 33 points at Bungaree on Saturday.
Daylesford coach Marcus Goonan said his playing group had the competitive edge to win against any team in the CHFL.
He said he was optimistic about an encounter against Gordon in a knockout semi-final next weekend.
Seb Walsh returned to the side after recovering from a wrist injury and had an instant impact on the game by kicking an early goal.
The midfield pairing of Jordan Alexander and Michael Cummings were dominant as they won the majority of centre clearances, while Max Risstrom lead the scoring with three goals.
QUALIFYING FINAL
BUNINYONG 14.10 (94) GORDON 11.18 (84)
BUNINYONG booked a preliminary final berth and earned a week's rest after a 10-point win over Gordon in a CHFL qualifying final at Dunnstown on Saturday.
Gordon will have to take the scenic route, meeting Daylesford in a cut-throat semi-final.
In a pulsating last term the lead changed four times before the minor premier clinched victory in the last three minutes.
Mitch Phelps snapped his fifth for the game to give the Bunnies the lead at the 27-minute mark, but it was defender Nick Shell's timely interception less than a minute later that thwarted a final, desperate attack from Gordon.
His rebound ended in the safe hands of Sam Turner, who slammed through the sealer for Buninyong, which had led by 49 points in the second term.
QUALIFYING FINAL
SPRINGBANK 10.12 (72) BUNGAREE 9.9 (63)
SPRINGBANK began their quest towards back-to-back CHFL premierships in emphatic fashion, holding off a fast-finishing Bungaree by nine points on Sunday.
With only a minute left on the clock, the Demons were trailing by just three points after scoring two consecutive goals and an upset was brewing.
In a last gasp effort on the next play, Tyler George ran at the loose ball and soccered it three times in a row, covering 60 metres in distance, to boot his third major of the day and put the result beyond doubt.
Springbank joint-coach Michael Searl was pleased with the performance.
“It just gives you the belief that if (the score) is tight and you’ve got the confidence in each other then we can win the tight ones.” Searl said.
Tim Malone played a vital role deflecting pressure at half-back, while Peter Lewis starred in the ruck and Billy Driscoll kicked three goals.