In other D1 news, the section featured a dramatic relegation escape, where the bottom four teams played each other in the last round. Local footy almanac editor, journalist and author, Paul Daffey was on the spot:

“Prahran (seventh on five wins) was playing at South Melbourne Districts (eighth on four wins) while Aquinas (ninth on four wins) hosted Emmaus-St Leo’s (tenth on three wins). At three-quarter time of the Aquinas match, the home team led St Leo’s by 31 points. It needed to win by 100 points, keep St Leo’s to a low score, and rely on South Melbourne defeating Prahran if it was to avoid relegation.

Aquinas kicked 10.7 in the final quarter, with full-forward Matt Aver kicking six of his eight, while keeping St Leo’s scoreless. They won by 110 points, 21.17 (143) to 4.9 (33). When they heard that South Melbourne had won by 69 points, all Aquinas officials crowded around vice-president Bernie Moran as he did his sums on his calculator. Moran revealed that Prahran had slipped from seventh to ninth while Aquinas had risen to eighth because of their superior percentage, 75 to 72.”

South Melbourne finished seventh also on five wins with a percentage of 77, so it was a remarkable final day of the season. Aquinas staged a similar dramatic escape last year, beating Prahran narrowly in a winner stay-up-loser-go-down last round to stay up and send Prahran to D2. Prahran earned a reprieve when Peninsula were relegated for coaching payment irregularities, but the Two Blues have not made the most of their good fortune and will finally play in D2 in 2010. Emmaus St Leo’s won three for the year and will also play in D2 in 2010.

In A section, St Bede’s Mentone Tigers continued their incredible VAFA journey in 2009 (winning C, B and A in the past three seasons) and looked as though they win A again, winning the first five. Then they stumbled, losing three of the next four, but finished the season strongly, winning eight in a row. Importantly though, they lost the double chance after being thrashed by De La Salle in the last round, who grabbed 2^nd place. SBMT’s dream is now over after also stumbling in their first semi against Uni Blues, in a tense encounter last Sunday. SBMT were 13 points down with a minute to go, but somehow drew level by the siren, to take it into extra time, but the Blues steadied and club stalwart, George DeCrespiny kicked his ninth goal to ensure a preliminary final berth this Saturday. The Blues started the season slowly, as is often the way with Uni teams, but clawed their way into fourth by Round 8 and stayed there for the rest of the season. Old Xaverians, after finishing 15-3 and in familiar territory on top of A-Section, won their second semi last Saturday and will play in their twelfth Grand Final since 1995. De La Salle, who lost to Old Xavs by a staggering 92 points in the second semi, will play Uni Blues in the preliminary, who are still being coached by the canny John Kanis, who must be up to a thousand games played or coached.

Old Ivanhoe was relegated, sacking their coach in July and showing some improvement since to finish 9^th on 3 wins (and some narrow losses). Old Essendon, who were promoted from B last season, went straight back down, also with three wins.

In B-section, former Reds rival, Old Carey, spent most of the season in the bottom two for most of the season, but showed some uncharacteristic mettle to haul itself into seventh, with a 33-point victory over another recent Reds rival Ormond in Round 17 and a 29 point win over finalist Old Trinity in the last round. Ormond’s steady rise back up the VAFA in recent years has received a setback, being relegated back to C with five wins, where they will resume hostilities with Fitzroy in 2010. Ormond was in the four during the season, but fell away in the latter part of the season. In a classic VAFA last round relegation battle, Ormond played local rival and fellow 2008 C-section grand finalist and promotee Hampton Rovers, with the winner to stay up and loser to go down. Hampton was comfortably in front all day, but Ormond finished strongly, but fell agonisingly short by four points. Old Camberwell, coached in 2009 by retired powerhouse forward David Loats, finished last with five wins after failing to make much of an impact in B section over the past few seasons. Hampton has now claimed the unofficial title of top ranked VAFA district side in 2009.

Old Melburnians won the second semi to return to A-Section after a few seasons in B, kicking an incredible 12 goals in the last quarter, after trailing narrowly at ¾ time against St Kevins. Old Trinity was too good for St Bernard’s in the first semi, and will play off this week for a grand final and a ticket to the big dance in 2010.

In C Section, Oakleigh Krushers confirmed their VAFA credentials with promotion to B section for the first time, after two seasons in C section. They won their preliminary final against minor premier Caulfield Grammarians, who were relegated from B last season, and lost both finals this season. Fellow 2008 B relegee, MHSOB, bounced back with promotion back to B after winning their second semi. Oakleigh will now challenge Hampton for top district billing in 2010. One wonders how the old school ties of A and B will cope with Oakleigh’s moniker. The Reds last played Oakleigh in 2003, when they were relegated from D2. From D3 in 2004, they have risen four grades in seven years on the back of a strong junior program.