ULTIMA is just two steps from glory as it takes on Moulamein in the Golden Rivers FNL senior footy second semi-final on Saturday.
The Kangaroos will have home-ground advantage at Ultima as they take on the Swans from 2.40pm.
For the winner it’s first to the grand final on September 16 at Murrabit.
Wooden spooner in ’22 on a 2-14 record, Ultima has made a remarkable rise this year.
The Kangaroos finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder with a 15-1 record.
Sole defeat was in the 11th round on July 8 at Hay where the Lions won by 21 points.
Last season’s runner-up to Nullawil which has since joined the Goldacres North Central competition, Moulamein was 12-4 in the run to the ’23 finals.
This season’s clashes between the Roos and Swans have all been won by Ultima.
Most recent showdown was in the 14th round on the Kangaroos’ ground.
Ultima led 33-24 at half-time.
Moulamein hit back to score 4.4 to 1.2 in the third term and led 52-41 at a quarter to go.
The Roos lifted to slam on 6.3 to 2.3 in the last to record an 80-67 victory.
Ryan Devereux led Ultima’s attack on three goals as Kyle Symons added two.
Beau Duggan-Hulands kicked a match-high five goals for Moulamein and Andy Silva chipped in with two.
Best for the Kangaroos were Jake Foster, Mitchell Seton-Stewart, Sam Coffey, Caillum Brady, Thomas Bull and Zac Cattlin.
Moulamein’s best were Luke Shannon, Blake Azzopardi, Amos Farrell, Morgan Turvey, Cody Storm and Andy Silva.
Earlier meetings between the Roos and Swans went Ultima’s way, 112-50 in round five, and 99-66 in the ninth.
Leading goalkickers for Ultima are Kyle Symons 23, Ryan Devereux 22, Sean O’Reilly 16, and Kade Benfield 14.
A strong Moulamein attack is led by Andy Silva 36, Daniel Aarsman 29, Amos Farrell 25, Khy Stovell 24, Josh Flight 20, and Blake Azzopardi 15.
The reserves second semi-final on Saturday between Ultima and Macorna kicks off at 12.35pm.
An unbeaten Ultima faces an opponent which has a 10-6 record.
The Roos beat the Tigers by 59 points in round three.
Closest that Ultima’s streak came to being broken was in the eighth round at Macorna.
In that contest the Tigers led 41-38 at three quarter-time.
Led by the play of Jordan King, Chayse Tonkin, Lachie Paull and Reece Harberger, Ultima hit back for a 58-56 victory.
Braydon Ottrey kicked three goals and Lachie Paull added two as Jack Gervasi and Luke O’Toole also played well for the Roos.
Best for the Tigers were John Officer, Jackson McMahon, Stephen Randall, Kieren Shelley, Reegan O’Rourke and Ethan Webb.
In round 13, Ultima marked a 61-32 win on Macorna’s turf.
The under-17 ½ second semi-final between Macorna and Ultima starts at 10.45am.
A 12-4 record meant Macorna finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.
Ultima was next best with a 9-7 record.
This seasons’s meetings stand at 2-1 in favour of Ultima.
In round three the Tigers romped to a 74-15 win at Ultima.
Next time it was Ultima which won the round eight match 46-32 in Tigers’ territory .
In the 13th round, Ultima led 51-9 at three quarter-time.
Macorna hit back to win the last, 18-6, but the Roos took the points in a 57-27 result.
Best for Ultima were Jack and Sam Miller, Ed Kuchel, Parker Condely, Kodyn Melbourne and Zac O’Brien.
The Tigers’ best were Alby Bear, Jack Warren, Sam Whinfield, Mason Cordwell, Rivers Webb and Andre Glass.
Saturday’s action kicks off with the under-14 ½ clash at 9.35am between Macorna and Wandella.
The Tigers achieved a win-loss tally of 13-2 and also drew a match in the home-and-away series.
Wandella’s record is 11-4-1.
In round one, Macorna won 64-2 in the Bombers’ hangar at Wandella.
The round seven match went Wandella’s way, 39-30.
Defences were well on top as Wandella won 13-12 at Macorna in the 11th round.
Most recent hit-out between the Tigers and Bombers was in the 16th round at Wandella.
It wa a closely-fought contest all match.
Macorna led by a point at the first two breaks and then scores were 21-all going into the last.
A goal apiece in the final term meant it was 27-27 at the final siren.
Wandella’s best were Seth Rowe, Eddie May, Charlie Greenwood, Alby Lancaster, James Williamson and Jaspa Chamberlain.
Archer Lacy, Austin Smith, Will Longstaff, Jaxon O’Rourke, Elliot Warren and Camm Nicholson played well for the yellow and black.
As the winners of the second semi-finals advance to a grand final the grand final the defeated have another chance by playing on preliminary final day at Macorna on September 9.
Teams which booked a preliminary final berth by winning in the first semi were Hay, seniors; Wandella, reserves; Moulamein, under-17 ½; and Ultima, under-14 ½.
