CALIVIL was kept goalless in a 104-point defeat at a sodden Inglewood Community Sports Centre on Saturday in a match that sealed the Woodies’ finals spot.
The highway end goal square was like a kids’ wading pool, and the interchange area was also under water, but Inglewood managed to deal with the conditions much better than the struggling Demons.
Winless Calivil battled hard but kicked just 0.6 for the match to Inglewood’s 16.14.
The speed and skills of Gabe Nevins and Bregon Cotchett were on display for the Woodies, proving that the best players can cope with any conditions.
Callum March kicked four goals for the winners, while Seb Erharter booted three to take him to 56 for the season.
Inglewood’s fourth win on the trot – including an important victory over Pyramid Hill – and a loss by Maiden Gully to Marong has guaranteed a place in the elimination final, probably against Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
Coach Fergus Payne is looking forward to the final round bye, with a chance to rest weary bones more important than keeping momentum going.
“I think it will come at the right time. We’ve got one player with concussion and a couple with little niggles, so the week off will hopefully mean we go into the finals fully healthy,” he said.
“Keeping a team goalless is nothing to be sneezed at, and we defended really well and started off how we finished the week before.
“You go back to the basics when you play in the wet – if you are clean, you’re halfway there.”
Maiden Gully’s bid to make the finals ended in ignominious fashion, with the Eagles failing to kick a goal against Marong at Marist College.
The Eagles had to win to keep the pressure on Inglewood but on their home ground, which is notoriously bad in wet conditions, could manage only 0.5. 
Marong kicked 7.12 but it was scarcely a convincing win for the reigning premiers, who were coming off the bye following two successive losses.
Victory against Mitiamo this week will return Marong to the top of the ladder with one round remaining, displacing Bridgewater on percentage.
Ruckman Michael Bradbury was named Marong’s best in the win, along with Richard Tibbett, Lachlan Lee and Nathan Devanny.
Five players kicked a goal each for the Panthers.
Maiden Gully’s best on a bleak day were Stacy Fiske, Anthony Robins, Grayson Brown and Ed Crisp.
Full-forward Josh Mellington kicked 10 for Bears Lagoon Serpentine in the 67-point win over Mitiamo.
A six-goal second quarter from the Bears broke open the game after a tight first term.
The victory kept Serp fourth on the ladder.
Young star Jaxon Addlem was best for the Bears, with reigning Harding medallist Justin Laird, Nash Kemp and Mellington.
Coach Luke Lougoon kicked two for the Superoos to be their best contributor on the day, along with Matt Gilmour, Jackson Falls and Jayden Matthews.
Mitiamo travels to Marong next Saturday, with the Bears hosting Newbridge.