With a Grand Final berth up for grabs the large vocal crowd saw another terrific contest between these two great cross town rivals. In atrocious conditions the Bulldogs took advantage of the early dry ball to apply scoreboard pressure. Paddy Dwyer in a powerhouse display played with tremendous desperation.  As the rain teemed down and with the ground resembling a swamp, Hepburn fought back to grind out a slender lead at the half time break. The Bulldogs Zac Tisdale continued to put his big frame on the line creating opportunities. The third quarter was another tight affair with desperate defence from both sides keeping scoring opportunities to a minimum. Hayden Cowan adapted well to the conditions driving the ball forward through the mud from across half back into the forward fifty. As the rain abated during the final quarter Daylesford were able to at last establish a break on the scoreboard assisted by goals to Aidan Mill following a brilliant mark off an absolute worm burner and a clever check-side from tight on the boundary by Lewis Ingham. Darcy Shewell fought his way back from a heavy knock early to have real impact in defence as the game progressed. Hepburn fought it out to the last but at the final siren Daylesford showing plenty of heart in a tremendous team effort to run out winners and move straight into the Grand Final playoff. 

 Score:  Daylesford   9.  4.  58 def   Hepburn   6.  5.  35

Best: P Dwyer, Z Tisdale, H Cowan, D Shewell, S Walsh, E Eyles, M Bolton, T Powell

 Goals: A Mill 3, P Murray 2, P Dwyer 1, M Bolton 1, S Walsh, L Ingham 1.