Two games that could shake up the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 top five will be played out in what is set to be another vital Saturday in the top flight.
Bundoora will be looking to keep their double chance hopes alive when they welcome a determined Hurstbridge outfit to Yulong Reserve.
After a disappointing performance before the bye, Michael Ryan’s side responded last weekend with a big 51-point victory over Greensborough away from home.
The most impressive part of the winning effort was their scintillating first term, where they kicked eight goals to nil and all but extinguished any hopes of the Boro getting into the game.
It’s been a continuing trend for the Bulls who have lost just three first quarters in 2023.
Playing in a new role up forward, Hamish Shepheard shined with seven majors. He had only kicked one goal this season prior to last week’s clash but he has named in his side’s best in four of his last five games and is terrific form.
Also in terrific form is Sam Lloyd who had the ball on a string during his side’s excellent victory.
But Bundoora know they’ll need to keep these performances up if they’re to build momentum heading into finals and their Saturday opponents in Hurstbridge will be eager to join them in September in 2023.
The Bridges were again gallant in their efforts against Heidelberg but were eventually overrun by the reigning premiers in the second half of their encounter last week.
There were many positives for Joel Cordwell to take out of the match, which included a strong opening half. Harry O’Brien too continued his excellent run of form and was named as his side’s best.
They still remain in the top five, two points ahead of sixth placed Greensborough, but they have now lost three of their last four games, albeit to sides currently occupying the top three.
Bundoora had a comfortable win at Ben Frilay Oval in Round 7, however the last three meetings between these two sides at Yulong Reserve have seen the Bridges win all three by an average margin of 12 points, adding further anticipation to this clash.
They’ve been as hot as any team in recent weeks, and North Heidelberg will look to continue that form when they host Greensborough at Shelley Street Reserve.
Jason Heatley has his side humming at the moment, as they have won 10 of their last 12 games by an average margin almost nine goals and currently sit inside the top three on percentage.
Last weekend, the number one side in the competition for points for produced their second highest total score and second highest winning margin of the year after a 97-point thumping of Banyule.
Their recent dominance has come from multiple contributors in the midfield and the attacking 50. Liam Hunt continues to put together a stellar season and will only be aided by the return of Jesse Tardio in the middle.
Meanwhile Jhye Baddeley-Kelley, Brock Chircop and Majak Daw all continue to pile on the goals, with the trio combining for 15 of their side’s 23 majors last weekend.
The Boro have been on the opposite side of the coin of late and have lost their previous two matches by a combined total of 101 points against last year’s Grand Finalists Bundoora and Heidelberg.
Captain Jack Johnston has done his best to lead the way from the defensive half and has been helped in recent weeks by Zac Hart who has been named in his side’s best for four consecutive weeks.
Harrison Andronaco has also impressed in the last few weeks and has proven to be a threat inside 50 with four goals in his last two games.
An upset win over the Bulldogs and a Hurstbridge loss would see Saade Ghazi’s side return to the top five, but if the results flip the other way, Greensborough could face a massive challenge if they’re to feature in September.
North Heidelberg however have plenty to play for also, as they look to create a gap from the rest of the top five and secure a double chance spot, making this another terrific match up to look forward too.
A rampant Heidelberg side could shut the door on Macleod’s finals chances when the two sides meet at Warringal Park.
The Tiger train continues to roll on, with their last three weeks in particular proving why they’re the team to beat once again.
In those three weeks, in which two of those opponents have been current top five sides, they’ve averaged a score of 104 points, and a winning margin of almost 60 points.
One of those victories came last week as despite being challenged by Hurstbridge, they pulled away in the second half to go 12 consecutive games without a loss.
Zane Barzen continues to shine up forward and has now kicked 22 goals in his last five games whilst Matthew Smith has returned with a bang in midfield and has been named in his side’s best for four consecutive games.
They come in as red-hot favourites this weekend against a Macleod side whose difficult run home got off on the wrong foot last weekend against Montmorency.
Craig Hayes’ men still sit six points outside of fifth but now face their second of four consecutive top five opponents, this time away from De Winton Park.
Darcy Barden will continue to be key if they are any chance of a victory, with his goals majors last week highlighting his versatility.
The likes of Haydon Manuel and Solomon McKay have also produced solid efforts in the last fortnight and will hope that form can stack up this weekend against the best side in the competition.
Heidelberg were too strong for Macleod in their previous clash in 2023, winning by 55 points. But with a glimmer of hope that they can play finals footy this year the Roos will look to put it all together this weekend against the reigning premiers.
Whittlesea have another great opportunity to pick up that elusive first win in 2023 when Banyule travels to the Whittlesea Showgrounds this Saturday.
The Eagles are still searching for their breakthrough victory but continued to show signs of improvement in last week’s defeat to West Preston-Lakeside.
Whilst they went down last weekend they fought hard in the first half, with their stars in Blake Watson, Thomas Falls and Christian Prestopino leading the way.
Whittlesea also registered their third highest score and their equal second best first half score of the season which is something the Eagles can continue to build on in the last few games of the season.
This weekend could be as good of an opportunity as any to win their first game of the 2023 campaign as they face a Banyule side who sit in ninth position.
After winning their fourth game of the season before the bye, the Bears couldn’t stop North Heidelberg at home, falling by 97 points to suffer their defeat of the season.
But Vivian Blackmoore-Moore’s good run in front of the big sticks continued, with his two majors on the weekend making him the club’s current leading goalkicker with 23 majors in 13 games.
Christian Farchione also has had a great stretch of form in the defensive half while Max Jones has returned to his brilliant mid-season form, being named in his side’s best in back-to-back matches.
Banyule’s best win of the season came when they last met the Eagles in 2023, as they marked their first game of the year at Beverley Road Oval with a 73-point triumph.
But now on their home deck, Whittlesea will look to produce their best performance of the year and take it right up to the Bears.
As they continue to get back to their best, Montmorency have another opportunity to claim the four points when they face West Preston-Lakeside at Montmorency Park.
After grabbing just two of a possible eight points against last year’s Grand Finalists in July, the Magpies have returned to winning ways, backing up their last quarter masterclass against Hurstbridge in Round 15 with a huge 102-point triumph over Macleod away from home.
It was a game that saw all of Montmorency’s stars at their best.
Patrick Fitzgerald and Corey Sleep are starting to become a dominant forward pairing and have kicked 19 goals between them in the previous two games.
Meanwhile the likes Sam Binion, Mitchell Honeychurch, Marcus Lentini and Liam Wale-Buxton all featured in the best again.
With this week’s game against the Roosters and next week’s clash with Banyule, Jonathan Manzoney’s men are in the box seat to claim another double chance spot and potentially produce a four-game winning streak heading into their massive Round 18 match with North Heidelberg.
They face a Roosters outfit that were able to jump back into eighth spot following their fifth win of the season last weekend.
A bit like Montmorency, West Preston-Lakeside’s 47-point triumph over Whittlesea came thanks to their stars.
Ahmed Saad kicked a season high of six goals while reigning Frank Rosbrook Medallist Matthew Harman dominated around the ground and finished as his side’s best player for the third time this season.
The Roosters made the Magpies work for their win during the two sides’ earlier meeting at J.E. Moore Park, with the visitors eventually claiming a 28-point win.
But having defeated Montmorency when they last met at Montmorency Park in Round 18 last year, Luke Giles’ men will be determined to match their competitiveness and cause one of the upsets of the season.
