It wasn't pretty, but the Horsham Saints don't care as they stormed into the semi-finals with a combative 34-point win against Stawell.
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The Saints kept the Warriors goalless for nearly an hour of football as they controlled proceedings on their way to a (53) to 2.7 (19) win in Sunday's elimination final.
A healthy crowd flanked the sunny Beulah oval, as the stormy conditions that battered the rest of the region felt it best not to ruin a perfect day of finals football.
The game's opening minutes would set the tone of the game, as the ball flew from contest to contest, with neither side allowed to run with true freedom.
It took eight minutes for the scoreboard to get a workout, as Angus Martin opened the Saints' account with a beautifully taken goal in the forward pocket.
It wasn't until 15 minutes into the first quarter that Stawell entered the forward 50 before it duly returned to the Saints' attacking end.
The Saints kept the Warriors scoreless in the first term, entering the huddle 26 points in front.
The Saints defended resolutely in the second term, though it came at the cost of a few missed opportunities in attack.
A speculative effort from outside 50 was allowed to roll through for the Saints' only goal of the quarter.
The visiting Warriors supporters were given some reprieve on the stroke of half-time as a Cody Driscoll shot snuck just inside the goal post to gift Stawell its first goal.
The Saints led at half-time 5.2 (32) to 1.2 (8).
The Saints kicked the lone goal of the third quarter as the occasion seemed to get the better of both sides.
Stawell tried to attack but was shut down almost instantly by a solid Saints' backline.
The Warriors' second, and final, goal midway through the final quarter offered some respite, but the departing Warriors fans signalled how the day had gone.
Angus Martin finished the day how it had began, with a goal after the siren, as Saints' minds turned to next weekend's semi-final clash against Ararat.