Critics of the restructured Western Region Football League will see the inaugural division 3 finals as nothing but a ‘best of the worst’ competition.
The new age of football in the west began when division 2 split at the end of round 13 to make a third tier.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the bottom six clubs, given no choice but to spend the remainder of this season and next in the bottom tier.
But when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. That saying rings true for the Laverton Magpies.
They are one of the clubs that started the season from a long way back and will get a chance to play finals football.
There’s a feel-good factor about a club like Laverton getting its moment in the spotlight, because it was a much bleaker outlook just five months ago.
“Three or four weeks before round one, we just wanted to get two sides out on the park every week,” playing president Scott Mizzi said.
“This is a bit of a reward for the club’s efforts in sticking together. It doesn’t matter what division of finals we’re playing in, we’re playing finals and we’re happy to be there.”
It’s been a season of regeneration for the Magpies under first-year coach Chris Smith.
Laverton recorded just two wins in 2012 followed by one last season. The club has five wins under the belt this campaign and has blooded a number of youngsters.
“We’re starting a foundation,” Mizzi said. “Chris has brought a positive attitude, gone through the basics, knowing where the club was at, and it’s flowed from there.”
The Magpies promise to be a tough nut to crack in the finals.
They meet expansion club Sanctuary Lakes in a cut-throat first semi-final at Hogan Road Reserve in Hoppers Crossing on Sunday.
“I’m pretty confident we can knock off all the sides in the finals,” Mizzi said.
Clint Foreman looms as a key player for the Magpies at centre half-forward. Foreman has big-game experience, having won premierships at Albion and Yarraville-Seddon.
The Magpies head into the finals on the back of a 140-point win over wooden spooner Tarneit.
The second semi-final is between Albanvale and Braybrook at Hogans Road on Saturday.
In division 2, Parkside and Wyndhamvale will meet in the first semi-final on Saturday, while West Footscray and Glenorden will square off in a do-or-die battle on Sunday.
Both division 2 games will be played at Wootten Road Reserve in Tarneit.
In division 1, Spotswood and Werribee Centrals will battle it out for a direct path to the grand final on Saturday. St Albans and Hoppers Crossing will fight for survival on Sunday.
Both division 1 games will be played at Chirnside Park, Werribee.
