Woori Yallock struggled from the outset and now faces a cut-throat preliminary final against arch-rival Upwey Tecoma.

The Cockatoos' 6.8(44) defeat of Woori Yallock 5.5(35) came in very trying conditions with both teams struggling to adapt.

In the end it was the Cockatoo defence that won it the game - their efforts against the breeze were super-human.

The Cockatoos were best served by David Main, Ricky Clark and Andrew Shipp. Woori Yallock's Danny Ryan, Dallas Spencer and Danny Hyndman never stopped trying.

Upwey Tecoma's 46-point victory over Mount Evelyn was set up by a 5.4 to 0.2 first quarter that Mount Evelyn couldn't come back from.

Mount Evelyn did have its chances in the second quarter but a wasteful 2.7 to 2.1 still had it trailing handsomely at half time.

Upwey put the game beyond doubt in the third as it added four goals to one to jump out to an eight-goal lead going into the last quarter.

In the reserves Monbulk defeated Warburton Millgrove by three goals in a scrappy affair with no goals coming in the opening term.

The game did open up a little in the second quarter with Monbulk scoring three majors to Warburton Millgrove's one. At half-time it was Monbulk by 10 points.

Monbulk saved its best for the last stanza with its superior running power resulting in five goals to one for the period to storm into the grand final.

Olinda Ferny Creek snuck home by five points against Upwey Tecoma in the other reserves clash in a dour but exciting affair.

Olinda led at every change but it was only by six points, 10 points and two points respectively.

Both sides gave their all and it was a real battle at every contest with neither side deserving the loss.

Olinda always seemed to have an answer when Upwey looked to be really challenging but it did manage to hold on to just get away with a courageous victory.

In the under 18s, Upwey Tecoma defeated the Warby Gembrook Kookas and Olinda Ferny Creek defeated Healesville in a cliff-hanger.

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