With three matches set to have an impact on the make-up of the top-four, as well as a bottom-two encounter, Round 10 of A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 makes for an exciting one.
Diamond Creek will be eager to make it four wins on the trot when it tackles the equally in-form Thomastown at Coventry Oval. Thomastown was triumphant by 30 points when the sides last met.
Diamond Creek consigned Lower Plenty to just its second loss of the season last weekend, coming from behind to record a morale-boosting nine-point win at Montmorency Park.
Trailing at every break, including a 22-point deficit at quarter-time, the Creekers showed great spirit and scored their sixth win of the campaign, courtesy of a five-goal to two last quarter.
After losing leading goal kicker Jess Cosaitis to a horrific leg injury early in the game, Diamond Creek was led by Nathan Searl, Jai Norman and Chris Moloney, who all featured among the best players in a win that keep their side in touching distance of a top-two spot.
Thomastown was also successful in their outing last weekend – able to pull away from Epping with seven of the last nine goals to win by 36 points. It was a vital result for Ben Chapman’s side and ensured they remained above Banyule in fourth spot on the ladder.
Salvatore Mamone continued his hot run of form and booted three goals for the the second week in a row. He was joined among his side’s best players by Adrian Natoli and Daniel Chadwick.
Banyule will be looking to secure an upset when it hosts Eltham at R.J. Brockwell Oval. The last outing between the sides was a close affair, with the Panthers running away late for a 19-point win.
Banyule bounced back from a big loss to Diamond Creek with a percentage-boosting win over the Fitzroy Stars by 78 points last weekend.
Strong showings from ruckman Scott Gumbleton, Brent Stanton, Riley Hogarth and Daniel Kelly ensured Banyule controlled the midfield battle, while James Kroussoratis, Mannon Johnston, Michael Italia and Adam Barclay each snagged three goals.
Eltham made it ten wins from ten games with a 93-point victory over Watsonia. An eight-goal to three first term set up the big win and ensured the Panthers remained unbeaten in their return to second division.
Michael Still was unstoppable up forward with eight goals against the Saints to increase his tally to 19 majors in four games. Thomas Carafa also came up big with his bag of four, while Ben Montanaro and Lewis Glasgow were also influential.
Epping and Lower Plenty lock horns at Epping Recreation Reserve in a must-win encounter for both sides as they look to make amends for losses in Round 9.
The Blues were well within reach of an upset against Thomastown when they booted five of the first six goals in the third term to level the scores heading into time-on. However, they fell away in the final 40 minutes to lose by six goals and now sit two games outside the top-four.
A second-successive five-goal haul from Dallyce Taylor and impressive showings from ruckman Joel Carter and Lucas Aquilina were the highlights for the Blues – who despite losing, continue to show positive signs in 2018.
Lower Plenty looked like moving one step closer to locking in a double chance in the finals when it made a fast start against Diamond Creek. However, a second-successive second-half fadeout handed the Bears consecutive defeats.
Tom Keys, Alden Meale and Ben Paterson were all named amongst the best for their side, who will be looking to bounce back at Epping this week. They will be aiming for their second win over the Blues for the season after scoring a 49-point win in Round 5.
Fitzroy Stars and Watsonia round out an enticing Round 10 when the met at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval. Expect both sides to lift for the encounter after limited success in the opening half of the year, with the loser to sit in last place at round’s end.
The Stars were never in the hunt against Banyule in Round 9 and had just three goal kickers in the 78-point defeat. Steven Stallion, Sam Billinge and Malcolm Dow (two goals) tried hard on a difficult afternoon.
Watsonia found the going equally tough in doing down by 93 points to ladder-leader Eltham, in a ninth-consecutive defeat.
Despite the lop-sided scoreline, Watsonia was led by impressive performances from Lewis Franz, Graham Hines and Matthew Gibbs. On the goal kicking front, Jack Larkin, Allan Young and Daniel Watson each kicked two goals for the Saints.
Both the Stars and Saints will use this week’s match to hopefully turn around their fortunes and build for an improved second half of the season.
