A blockbuster top-of-the-table clash headlines another massive weekend of footy in Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1.
All eyes will be on the highly anticipated top of the table battle between Montmorency and Heidelberg at Montmorency Park North Oval.
Both sides come into this match with incredible form as the Tigers are yet to lose a match since Round 3 while Montmorency since Round 4.
If their last meeting is anything to go by, this game will be another classic. The Magpies sneaked through for a one-point win at Warringal Park in Round 3, the match still being the Tigers only blemish in season 2022.
Both sides produced statement making victories over top five teams last week, with Montmorency securing a brilliant 50-point win over Greensborough while Heidelberg proved too strong for Bundoora, prevailing by 30 points.
This will also be a clash between the top attacking side and the top defensive side in the competition, although both the Tigers and the Magpies occupy positions one and two in these categories.
The shootout between the competition’s leading goalkickers in Patrick Fitzgerald and Joshua Minogue will also be one to look out for, so too will be the ruck battle between Liam Wale-Buxton and Sam Gilmore.
If Heidelberg can make it 10 consecutive victories, they will have defeated every side in the competition, establish a two-game gap from the second placed side and will be all but assured of a minor premiership.
A double over the Tigers in season 2022 would have to put the Magpies in the premiership favouritism conversation and despite unlikely finding their way to the top of the ladder with a win due to percentage, confidence would be sky high for Garry Ramsay’s side heading into finals.
West Preston-Lakeside will host North Heidelberg at J.E. Moore Park with the result of this match potentially having significant consequences on the top five.
The Roosters have found form at the right time, claiming wins in their last two matches to climb back into fourth position, while the Bulldogs sit just two points away from fifth placed Greensborough, making this weekend their best chance to enter the top five all season.
It was an important 23-point triumph over Whittlesea last week for Rob Maiorana’s side, kicking five goals to three in the last quarter.
The duo of Ahmed Saad and Aidan Tilley up forward continues to shine, they picked six goals between them last week, while ruck Matthew Harman has had an excellent fortnight.
North Heidelberg rose up the challenge thrown at them by Northcote Park last week, turning a 12-point half time deficit into a 51-point victory, kicking an astounding 14 goals to four in the second half.
Having Brent Harvey at their disposal in their last three games has been a huge bonus but North Melbourne duties this weekend will mean we unlikely see him at the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Brandon Bailey, Jesse Tardio and Liam Nunan all continue to lead the way in the midfield, and they’ll be relied upon again to give Jason Heatley’s side the best chance to claim win number six for the season.
West Preston-Lakeside held on to win by two points last time they faced North Heidelberg, and another win against the Bulldogs will eliminate any fears of dropping out of the top five.
Northcote Park will look to keep pushing the sides above them when they face an out of form Greensborough at Bill Lawry Oval.
The Cougars have proven to be a much-improved side in the last four weeks, despite only having one win to show for it, and for a half, looked to have had North Heidelberg’s measure before being run off their feet in the end.
Matthew D’Angelo and Alexander Boyse again were impressive up forward despite the defeat with Lucas Perry also having a great few weeks.
Stephen Saddington’s side still sit a game clear of the bottom placed Hurstbridge and will be hoping to grab one more scalp to secure their place in the competition next year.
The danger signs are starting to appear for Greensborough however, as they have only manged one win in their last seven games and look the most vulnerable, they’ve been in years in the competition.
They were comfortably defeated by Montmorency last week and have not only fallen away from the top three sides but are now in danger of falling out of the top five.
What works for the Borough is that they’ll play four bottom five sides in their final six matches, however in order to have a top five sewn up before the final round of the season, Saade Ghazi’s side will need to get back on the winners list.
In a low scoring contest last time these two sides played, Greensborough prevailed by 36 points after trailing by three points at half time, the Cougars will be hoping for a similar level of competitiveness on Saturday.
Macleod will have another opportunity to keep their finals chances alive when they return to De Winton Park to face Whittlesea.
The Roos will want to have their kicking boots on this time around after they registered 8.27 last time they faced the Eagles and as a result, went down by seven points at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
Craig Hayes’ side bounced back from their disappointing defeat to Northcote Park a fortnight ago to claim a crucial 16-point win over Hurstbridge. Just four points separated the sides at three quarter time but Macleod’s four goal to two last quarter effort got them over the line.
They still share the same points as North Heidelberg in seventh spot and are only two points shy of entering the top five, but the Roos will need to do more than win to claim an unlikely finals berth, as they hold the lowest percentage of sides in the top seven.
Macleod will have the opportunity to bump that up against a Whittlesea side who are desperate to avoid a relegation battle.
The Eagles couldn’t replicate their heroics against West Preston-Lakeside on Saturday, going down by 23 points.
Whittlesea play four bottom five sides in their final six weeks, including games against Hurstbridge and Northcote Park, however if they can pull off a repeat victory against Macleod this week, they’ll go one step closer towards staying in Division 1 in 2023.
Hoping to bounce back from their defeat to the ladder leaders, Bundoora take on Hurstbridge at Yulong Reserve.
The Bulls took a big blow to their minor premiership chances over the weekend, going down to Heidelberg by 30 points at Warringal Park.
The visitors struggled get close to the Tigers after quarter time and despite individual efforts from Jai Burns and Jacob Maynes, the Bulls suffered their third loss of the season.
Michael Ryan’s side remain in third spot but still have a comfortable 10-point gap from fourth placed West Preston-Lakeside as they’ll look to use Saturday’s game as an opportunity to secure a double chance spot.
Hurstbridge need to build some momentum if they’re to avoid Division 2 for the first time since 2016.
They’re still yet to win a match since Round 3 and missed an opportunity to steal the four points against Macleod last week.
Bailey Jordan’s season high four goals against the Roos was a promising sign but with Bundoora, Heidelberg and North Heidelberg in their next three outings, the Bridges will need to produce their best in order to have any chance of avoiding heavy defeats.
