Tara Murray
Newport will play finals for the first time in the Western Region Football League division 2 competition.
A win on Saturday against Braybrook was all the Panthers needed to lock up a finals spot with one round remaining.
Facing bottom side Braybrook, the Panthers showed the gap between the two teams with a convincing win.
The Panthers led by 32 points at quarter time and margin slightly increased leading into half time.
The second half was all the Panthers who went on to win, 16.16 (112)-3.9 (27).
Nayef Hamad kicked four goals in a best on ground performance for the Panthers, with Belal Abou-Eid and Sharif Hika also standouts in the win.
With other results going their way, the Panthers are up to third on the ladder.
Parkside got some revenge on Sunshine with a hard fought win on Saturday, while ending the Kangaroos top two hopes.
The Kangaroos are the only team to beat the Magpies this season but there was no repeat on Saturday.
The Kangaroos led by five points at half time, before the Magpies kicked five goals to one in the third quarter to take control of the match.
The last quarter was a slug as the weather turned, with just one goal for the quarter in the favour of the Kangaroos.
The Magpies were able to do enough to seal the 8.11 (59)-5.15 (45) win.
Jackson Lesko and Luke Pupillo kicked two goals each for the Magpies with Thomas Markey and Shaun Campbell named their best.
The Magpies, who will finish top, are now assured of facing Albion in the opening week of finals with a grand final spot on the line.
Albion locked in second spot with a 10.12 (72)-7.4 (46) win against North Footscray.
The Cats started the better of the two sides and led by three goals at quarter time.
The margin stayed steady in the third quarter, before they kicked three goals to two to finish off the win.
For the Devils, William Koziaris and Samuel Nix kicked two goals each for the Devils. Nix was also their best.
Wyndhamvale, which had the bye on the weekend, remains in the finals mix with results going its way.
The Falcons sit one game behind Sunshine, but have a better percentage. A win in the final round and Sunshine loss, would guarantee the Falcons play finals.
In the final round, Newport hosts Parkside, Sunshine plays North Footscray and Wydhamvale takes on Braybrook.
