INGLEWOOD is finals bound after claiming its first top-four scalp of the season with a powerful win over Pyramid Hill.
While Maiden Gully can still catch Inglewood and sneak into fifth spot, the Eagles can’t afford to drop another match, with Marong, Inglewood in a pivotal clash, and Pyramid Hill to come.
Led by a commanding performance by ruckman Tom Kennedy, the Woodies were in front all day against the third-placed Bulldogs, winning by 44 points.
Kennedy spent 100 per cent of game time on the field and had to battle opposition rucks Lachlan Sidebottom and high-leaping Kai Daniels.
He did so with aplomb, giving his midfielders first use of the ball all day.
Star onballer Bregon Cotchett feasted off Kennedy’s elite tap work, while young star Gabe Nevins used his line-breaking speed off half-back to keep the Pyramid Hill defence constantly under pressure. 
“It was a huge job by the big fella,” coach Fergus Payne said of Kennedy’s performance. “It’s the best game I’ve seen him play in my time here.”
Inglewood kicked the first five goals of the match and led 6.1 to 1.0 at quarter-time.
Veteran onballer Ben Knight gave his teammates an almighty expletive filled rev-up at the break before a visibly angry coach Nathan Fitzpatrick took his turn.
The Bulldogs were better in the second term but could only manage a slight trimming of the margin by kicking 3.3 to 2.6, with the highlight a fine goal from deep in the pocket from spearhead Ben Bisset.
Pyramid Hill kicked three quick goals at the beginning of the third quarter to get within 16 points of the Woodies.
However, four successive majors, including one after a bad turnover from Daniels, who had been marking strongly at half-back, stretched the lead to 35 points at the final change.
The margin swelled to 61 points before the Bulldogs kicked the last two goals of the match in registering their second big loss in a row.
Pyramid Hill was undermanned, with almost half of its best team sidelined, but Inglewood also had key players missing including important forward Liam Marciano and centre half-back Josh Whittle.
The Bulldogs’ best were Gavin James, Ryan Semmel and Dylan Morison, with Daniels also named among the best for around-the-ground performance.
The Woodies have won three in a row by margins of 81, 65 and 44 points respectively, and are at home to winless Calivil this week.
Pyramid Hill has the bye before finishing the home and away season against Calivil and Maiden Gully and will be desperate to return to some form.
- GARY WALSH