Koroit advances to 2019 Hampden league senior football grand final

But for some, such as teenager Connor Hinkley, the prospect of playing on the Hampden league's biggest stage is a new concept.

Hinkley now has two weeks to ensure his name is read out at selection after the Saints steamrolled minor premier North Warrnambool Eagles in Saturday's second semi-final to advance to their seventh consecutive decider.

"It's my first senior finals series so it's a pretty good experience," he said after the 12.12 (84) to 3.8 (26) victory at Mortlake's D.C Farran Oval.

"I've played under 18 finals the last couple of years so it's good to be at the senior level."

The NAB League-listed Hinkley was part of a Koroit back line which restricted North Warrnambool to a goalless first half.

It took the Eagles until the 22-minute mark of the third quarter, off the boot of Adam Wines, to register their first major.

"It's a great bunch of boys to play with (in defence) and that makes it a lot easier to play your role and fit into a good team," Hinkley, who plays across half-back, said.

"I am happy to do that. Every single stoppage there was high-fives and 'well done'.

"I think Jack Gleeson was dominant down there and Dallas (Mooney) is every single week.

"It's just a great bunch of boys who are a brotherhood down there and they defended all day and didn't let up."

Koroit already holds the league record of five flags in a row and is now one win away from its sixth straight premiership.

Coach Chris McLaren, who is striving to win his third as leader, watched on proudly as the Saints stormed to a 33-point quarter-time lead.

Koroit made the most of the wind advantage - it was at its most potent early - keeping North Warrnambool scoreless in the first term.

McLaren said the emphatic start set the tone.

"The boys were tremendous, we've really been focusing on finals the last few weeks and last week (against Warrnambool in the qualifying final) was terrific and they were outstanding today in very tough conditions," he said.

"To kick with the wind and start well was pleasing.

"Sometimes when the wind is quite across (the ground) it can be quite difficult to score with it and after the first quarter there wasn't many kicked at either end, a couple a quarter type of thing.

"Scoreboard pressure in finals is big definitely.

"If you're able to apply that pressure, all of a sudden the nerves are on a little bit and you've got to be a bit braver with the ball.

"The first quarter certainly set the tone. The goals are on the back of great defence and physicality, pressure around the footy and really good ball movement."

The Saints lost Jarrod Korewha, who kicked nine goals in their qualifying final rout a week earlier, to a shoulder injury in the first quarter.

His forward partner-in-crime Sam Dobson proved a handful in his absence with his marking prowess and clean skills at ground level. He finished with a game-high four goals.

"Sam has beaten two and three of them at times which was brilliant," McLaren said.

Korewha is expected to be fit to play in the grand final while ruckman Rhys Raymond copped a knock to his knee.

"I think it's more muscular where it's pulling up his neck," McLaren said of Korewha.

"He wasn't able to get much movement.

"The physios are awesome and they seem to think it will settle down."

The Eagles have a shoulder concern of their own with midfielder Sam James hurt on a forgettable day for the Bushfield-based team.

Eagles coach Adam Dowie conceded "everything went right for them".

"It shows why Koroit are an unbelievably good side, not just in this competition but in country Victoria I am not sure if how many teams would beat them," he said.

"They really outplayed us and ran and spread.

"The things we talked about before the game, like not allowing them to get numbers back behind the ball, that had an impact.

"The whole game, other than bits and pieces, was played on their terms.

"They really tackled and pressured well and swung the ball from one side to the other and in the end we were very reactionary and went right into our shells."

Dowie, who has won six Hampden league premierships at three clubs as coach and is charged with collecting the Eagles' first, said his challenge was to elevate his players' confidence ahead of the preliminary final.

"A number of our side hadn't played in a final before," he said.

"We've never got the double chance handed to us (for finishing on top of the ladder), we earned it, so we know we're a good side.

"We've got to move on reasonably quickly without sweeping too much of it under the carpet."

"A lot of people are going to write us off and that's OK.

"We need to keep smiling and learn from it."

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.