Bell Park remains the master of its finals destiny after overcoming a slow start to beat Grovedale by 36 points at Burdoo Reserve.
Trailing by five points at half-time, the Dragons faced the prospect of falling out of the top five as South Barwon and Colac took control of their respective contests.
However, a four-goal-to-two third quarter wrested back the momentum before a 7.2 to 3.2 final term put the finishing touches on a 17.13 (115) to 12.7 (79) victory.
The win has Bell Park a game clear of the Swans (fifth) and Colac (sixth) ahead of its final-round meeting with second-placed St Mary’s.
Victory over the Saints would confirm a return to September action for the first time since 2017.
A loss wouldn’t be fatal unless South Barwon and Colac recorded wins, with the Swans hosting Geelong West and the Tigers facing the unbeaten St Joseph’s at Drew Oval.
Coach James Saker looks forward to the challenge St Mary’s will present.
“We probably can’t go head-to-head against Mary’s, but we’ve got to enter game planning to try and win it,” he said.
“If we can win it, we’re in. If not, we’re in the lap of the gods a bit.
“It’s a bit of a weird one, and Mary’s will be raging hot favourites, and deservedly so.
“You never know; we’ll wait and see.”
Jack Sarcevic returned from a three-game stint with Geelong’s VFL team to kick a career-best seven goals.
Gun midfielder Hamish Lucas was also back from the Cats and played a crucial role for the Dragons.
Bell Park will have to wait until later in the week for Geelong’s team selection for its first final to determine whether Sarcevic and Lucas will be available for the St Mary’s clash.
“He had a very good day,” Saker said of Sarcevic. “Hamish Licas back helped us a lot.
“Their talent in critical moments was pretty important.
“It was nice to have them back, and we’ll see how the next few weeks play out for them.”
Jake Reid faces the prospect of not being available until the second week of the finals if Bell Park progresses that far after suffering a knock.
If found to be a concussion, he will enter the 21-day protocol.
“It’s not ideal for him,” Saker said. “I don’t know the severity of it.
“Head. It might have been neck or shoulder… we don’t actually know that yet.”
Grovedale spearhead Tom Gillett’s impressive second half of the season continued in a competitive Tigers performance.
He kicked five goals to take his tally to 32 for the season, with 22 coming in the past seven weeks.
Elsewhere, a 10-goal haul from reigning joint Mathieson medallist Fraser Fort has helped South Barwon to an 88-point hiding of Newtown & Chilwell at Elderslie Reserve.
The day out in the 19.10 (124) to 4.12 (36) victory took Fort past 50 goals for the season.
Captain Matt Caldow, who shared the Mathieson with Fort, finished with four majors.
Fort, defender Rowan Gough, and young gun Ethan Borys were the best for South, who only need to beat Geelong West in the final round to feature in the elimination final.
Veteran Mick Condy was the lone multiple-goalkicker for the Eagles, best served by Charlie Byrne and Mitch Diamond.
Colac remains on the outside looking in on the top five despite a comfortable 73-point win over Geelong West at West Oval.
The Tigers took control of the contest in the opening quarter, kicking six goals to one to lay the foundation for a 16.21 (117) to 6.8 (44) victory.
Dustin Walters kicked four goals for the visitors, and Darcy Lang contributed three, with Leigh Gorewell and captain Jack Melican the standouts.
Young big Mac Scoullar kicked two goals for the Giants. Titit Nyak, Ethan Liddle and Jacson Collins battled hard in a losing effort.
To be part of September action, Colac must beat St Joseph’s in the final round and have one of South Barwon or Bell Park lose.
Leopold made a qualifying final berth a certainty in handing North Shore a 130-point hiding at Memorial Park.
In a match that started at 12:30pm after the Seagulls forfeited the reserves contest, the Lions led by 40 points at half-time after kicking an inaccurate 9.15.
They recalibrated their radar at the main break and slammed on 17.8 to 3.2 in the second half to claim a 26.23 (179) to 7.7 (49) victory.
Leopold had 14 individual goalkickers, led by five from youngster Oscar Morphet and four from veteran Sam Scott.
Will Milsome finished with three goals for the Seagulls, and Harry Purcell and co-captain Jacob Miljevic booted two apiece.
Seventeen St Joseph’s players found themselves in the goalkickers column as the ladder leaders extended their winning streak to 17 with an 189-point smashing of Lara at Bisinella Oval.
Joeys, which still needs to beat Colac in the final round to claim the minor premiership, kicked eight goals in each of the first three quarters before slamming on 11 majors in the final term.
Star duo Hunter Lewis (five goals) and Paddy De Grandi (four) took their combined tally past 100 for the season.
Tom Gunther kicked two goals for the Cats, who were simply outclassed.
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