With only one spot in the 2022 Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 grand final up for grabs, this weekend’s preliminary final is set to be one of the most intense and entertaining games of the season.
Bundoora
Ladder: 2nd (13-4; 133.86%)
Leading goalkicker: John Jorgensen (50 goals)
Most times in best: Luke Collins (11), Sam Lloyd (10), Kain Proctor (8)
Montmorency
Ladder: 3rd (12-5; 146.16%)
Leading goalkicker: Patrick Fitzgerald (77 goals)
Most times in best: Liam Wale-Buxton (13), Sam Binion (11), Mitch Honeychurch (11)
The two teams that have been breathing down Heidelberg’s necks all year will fight it out to have a chance at premiership glory on Sunday.
It will be the fourth meeting between these two sides in 2022 and both teams head into the game off vastly different performances.
We wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Ryan’s men were still catching their breath’s following an extraordinary second semi-final over the Tigers last week in which they went down by six points in extra time.
Despite the defeat, Bundoora looked like genuine premiership contenders last Saturday, taking it right up to a side who haven’t tasted defeat since April.
The Bulls haven’t been as potent up forward in the final series as they had been in the regular season, but it’s been their defence that has made them so difficult to get over.
Last week, it was the likes of co-captain Brent Marshall and Jackson Davies leading the way in the defensive 50, ultimately keeping Heidelberg to their lowest score of the season, even after two periods of extra time.
The Bulls have the wood on the Magpies this season, winning all three of their clashes, including their nine-point qualifying final victory a fortnight ago.
They’ll add co-captain Luke Collins and Collingwood VFL listed defender Neville Jetta, who didn’t play in Bundoora’s recent win over the Magpies, with both players destined to have a big say in the result.
Montmorency have a spring in their step after a comfortable first semi-final win over West Preston-Lakeside last Sunday.
After the first 15 minutes of play, the Magpies were heading towards a straight set exit, before kicking 10 majors to four after quarter time to advance to their first preliminary final since 2012.
It was the incredible effort from the midfield that allowed Garry Ramsay’s side to take a stranglehold on the game, with the likes of Sam Binion, Lin Jong and Marcus Lentini all have massive influences on the contest.
They efficiency in the middle made it light work for spearhead Patrick Fitzgerald who kicked another bag of five last week. His match up on Sunday will be of great interest as he looks to help lead his side into a grand final.
Liam Wale-Buxton, who has arguably been the recruit of the year, will make his return from suspension in this clash, making his ruck battle with Bulls big man Hamish Shepheard one to get the popcorn out for. There’s no doubt that two of the premier rucks in the competition could decide which way this contest falls.
In Wale-Buxton’s absence of late, Connor Dalgleish has had to step to the plate and did a reasonable job on in-form Roosters big man Matthew Harman last week, meaning the defender can come in and play a role if required.
As obvious as it sounds, this match could go either way, and with both sides proving they can take it up to Heidelberg this year, expect a highly skilled match.
