WITH finals just around the corner, Round 18 looks set to determine the final finishing positions for the top four, with the competition’s top sides squaring off against each other in a potential finals preview.
Following a bye last week, Diamond Creek returns to the field against top of the table Hurstbridge.
Sitting fourth on the ladder, the Demons can move up to third with a win. On the contrary, a Hurstbridge victory would move the Bridges one step closer to securing the minor premiership.
In their last start the Demons trounced Lalor by 71 points. Simon Buchanan was the star up forward with five goals, while Jack Prosser kicked four majors.
The one concern with the Demons however, is their record against the fellow top-four sides. The Demons have lost four of their six matches against the three other top-four sides.
But in the Demons’ favour is that they were the first team this year to beat Hurstbridge when they beat the Bridges by 32 points at Coventry Oval in Round 13 and will take a great deal of confidence from that accomplishment.
Hurstbridge remains on top of the Division 2 ladder, following a comprehensive 141-point victory over Panton Hill.
Having recorded two earlier wins in excess of 70 points over the Redbacks, the Bridges were expected to win, but the margin greatly surpassed expectations.
Joel Dale was best on ground with five goals, with support from Riley Reading, Micheal Farrelly and Chris Burton (four goals).
Recent form suggests the Bridges can destroy the poorer sides in the division but have struggled against fellow top-four sides.
The Bridges’ three losses this season have been in the past five weeks and have been against Diamond Creek, Fitzroy Stars and North Heidelberg.
The Fitzroy Stars have a chance to draw level on points with second-placed North Heidelberg when the two sides meet at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
The Stars’ exceptional form leading up to the finals continued as they outclassed Lalor last week. With the game in the balance at half time, the Stars flexed their muscles in the second half to run away with a 76-point win.
The second half belonged to Daniel Francis and Aaron Clark, who combined for nine goals. They featured in the stars best alongside Jikola Whyman, Mungara Brown and Keith Morgan.
North Heidelberg continued to apply pressure on Hurstbridge for top spot following victory over Thomastown at Main Street Reserve in Round 17.
Ten goals in the opening term all but sealed the 62-point victory for the Bulldogs, who still require a further boost in percentage to edge closer to the Bridges.
Leigh Gilbert, Shane Harvey and Michael Florance combined for 15 goals, while Luke Villanti was voted best on field.
The last time these sides met was in Round 6 and in that game North booted 11 unanswered goals in the final term to take out a 79-point victory.
The result was a complete reversal of the pair’s Round 1 outing, when the Stars romped to an 87-point triumph.
An intriguing game between two sides out of finals calculation takes place at Lalor Reserve when Lalor hosts rival Thomastown.
The Bloods sit a game behind the pack at the bottom of the ladder but would view this fixture as an opportunity to climb up the table.
So far this season the Bears have had the better of the Bloods and have won their corresponding fixtures by 39 and 70 points.
But in the first half of last week’s game against the Fitzroy Stars, the Bloods looked to have found a little bit of form.
Scott Dowell had one of his best games for the season and chipped in with three majors, while Jarrod King continued to star off half back.
Terence Upoko was another who had a decent game and would look to continue his form for another week.
Thomastown will aim to complete the clean sweep over its nemesis by recording its fifth win for the season this Saturday.
Key forward Jacob Osei-Duro has enjoyed his two outings against Lalor this year, booting nine goals in the past two games between the sides.
In Matthew Cupo’s 150th club game, the Bears were no match for North Heidelberg in the first quarter last week and trailed by 48 points at quarter time.
They were much more competitive in the final three quarters, with Cupo, James Rizzolio and Nick Horman all battling hard in defeat.
