It was an emotional day for supporters who turned out to watch the soon-to-merge Devils and Blues at Hopetoun Recreation Reserve.

Beulah was too strong for the Devils in a 15.14 (104) to 8.3 (51) win, but Hopetoun gave a good effort.

Its two previous losses to Beulah this season were by 129 and 146 points.

There were only three points in it at quarter-time, as the Devils made it known they had come to play.

At half-time the margin was less than two goals, but Beulah finally pulled away in the third term with six goals to one.

Haydn Drew was Hopetoun’s best player and one of seven Devils goal-kickers, while Tom Hallam led the Blues to victory with a strong individual performance.

He got plenty of support from the likes of Denis Redden, four goals, and Lachy Foott, three.

Woomelang-Lascelles nearly shot itself in the foot with an inaccurate goal-kicking display at Woomelang, but recovered just in time to pull off a thrilling two-point comeback win against Ouyen United.

The Demons snatched an early lead with six first-term goals.

The Cats fell even further behind in the second term after booting 4.6 to Ouyen United’s six straight goals.

They were unable to make much headway in the third term, and were 25 points down at the last change.

Things finally clicked into place for the Cats in the last quarter, with Marcus Healy, five goals for the game, Bradley Vallance, four, and Relton Roberts, three, leading the charge.

A 5.5 last term still put the Cats in a tough spot, but they held Ouyen United to just 1.2 to steal a close game.

Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers triumphed in a similarly close game, but it was the Tigers who had to withstand a comeback.

A 22-point buffer looked to be enough at the final change, but a furious finish from the Roos made things interesting.

The strong play of Jarrod Arentz and Jason Collins was enough to preserve the win for Sea Lake-Nandaly, while Joab Mead and Travis Latta were Walpeup-Underbool’s best.