Geelong pair, Finley's Tom Hawkins and Cobram's Esava Ratugolea, were jubilant following their 40-point victory, while Port Adelaide's four exports were left dejected after Richmond stunned the Power by six points.
Katamatite's Tom Clurey, Echuca's Ollie Wines, Benalla's Tom Rockliff and Deniliquin's Todd Marshall have all missed out on reaching their maiden AFL grand final.
Port Adelaide fell one straight kick short of that elusive premiership decider, as Richmond won its way to a third appearance in four seasons.
The Tigers triumphed over the Power 6.10 (46) to 6.4 (40) on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.
Wines was brave and gathered 24 disposals, four clearances and three tackles, while Rockliff battled for 20 touches and five tackles.
Marshall had a quiet night and finished the match with six disposals and three marks.
And Clurey had the task of curtailing the influence of the Tigers’ star forward Tom Lynch, and restricted Lynch to one goal.
Clurey finished the game with 11 disposals, nine intercepts, three marks and three tackles.
But despite Clurey's strong effort in defence, Port Adelaide was unable to cap a season that it dominated from round one to round 18.
However, it was a different story for Hawkins and Ratugolea on Saturday night.
Geelong battled its preliminary final demons and booked a date in the premiership decider with a brilliant 11.16(82) to 6.6 (42) win over Brisbane.
Hawkins continued his stellar season with two goals, 12 disposals, five marks, four tackles and 11 hit-outs.
But the star forward kicked three behinds which would have topped off a perfect night.
Ratugolea, who played junior football at Yarroweyah, has missed the Cats’ past three matches, but could earn selection if coach Chris Scott opts for a taller line-up.
● In other news, Mooroopna's Clayton Oliver finished inside the Brownlow Medal top-10 on Sunday night.
The gun midfielder ended the count with 14 votes to his name — 17 behind winner Lachie Neale.
Fellow Mooroopna product Jy Simpkin started the season with seven votes from the first four rounds and finished with eight.
Tallygaroopna's Steele Sidebottom also made a red-hot start, polling six votes from the opening three games.
Hawkins’ strong season reflected in his Brownlow votes, with the big man finishing on 11. while Wines and Rockliff ended with 10 votes each.
Seymour and Fremantle veteran David Mundy capped a terrific year with three votes in a best-afield performance in round five.
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