The Hawks prevailed 10.15 (75) to 6.5 (41) to advance to a preliminary final in their first season back in the PDFNL, but the final margin did little justice to a contest which swung dramatically after half-time.
Only one point separated the sides at quarter-time, before Strathmerton seized control during the second term.
The Bulldogs kicked three goals to one for the quarter to turn a 16-15 deficit into a 34-26 half-time advantage.
But Barooga emerged from the rooms a different side.
The Hawks slammed on 3.3 during the third quarter while keeping Strathmerton to just a solitary behind, transforming an eight-point deficit into a six-point lead at the final change.
They then completely shut the door in the fourth term, as Barooga piled on another four goals while remarkably keeping Strathmerton scoreless across the entire final quarter, completing a 49-point turnaround from its half-time deficit.
Riley Gow led the Hawks’ attack with three majors, while Paulie Degei and Codi Bowden kicked two apiece, as Jonathan Pearson was Strathmerton’s only multiple goalkicker with three.
Meanwhile, Waaia has sent an ominous warning to the rest of the competition after dismantling Berrigan by 98 points in a semi-final showdown at Katandra Recreation Reserve.
The Bombers produced a ruthless display to book their place in the next stage of the finals, running out 20.20 (140) to 6.6 (42) winners.
Waaia effectively put the contest to bed during a devastating opening half, piling on 11 goals while restricting Berrigan to just two behinds.
The Bombers led 6.3 (39) to 0.1 (1) at quarter-time before stretching their advantage to 72 points by the main break, 11.8 (74) to 0.2 (2).
Berrigan finally found some reward on the scoreboard with four third-quarter goals, but there was no stopping Waaia as it continued to pile on the pressure.
The Bombers carried an 84-point advantage into the final change and added another four majors in the last term to complete the 140-42 demolition.
Cody Burrows spearheaded the scoring assault with five goals, while Jesse Trower booted four and Dustin Blake added three.
The emphatic victory continues Waaia’s push for the premiership after the Bombers spent much of the home-and-away campaign among the competition’s leading sides.
The weekend’s results leave Waaia and Barooga standing as the PDL premiership race moves to the preliminary final stage, with the competition’s preliminary finals - Katandra versus Waaia and Katamatite versus Barooga - scheduled for September 5 and 6 at Picola and Blighty, respectively.
Meanwhile in the PDL Netball A Grade semi-finals, Katandra fell to a 46-49 defeat at the hands of Tocumwal, despite the best efforts of Alice Clurey, who ended proceedings having tallied up 39 goals.
In the other semi, Dookie United defeated Katamatite, 49-43, with this victory setting up a preliminary final place up against Tungamah in Picola, while Deni Rovers and Tocumwal will face off in the other game on September 6 down in Blighty.
