2013 GRAND finalists Bundoora and Montmorency meet at Yulong Reserve in Round 11 as both look to resurrect their 2014 campaigns.
Without key duo Cameron Cloke and Ricky Dyson, the Bulls slipped to fourth on the ladder when they fell to their fourth loss in seven matches with a 23-point defeat at West Preston-Lakeside. Depleted by injuries, the Bulls stuck with the Roosters for three quarters before running out of gas in the final term. Gary Moorcroft was at his exciting best with six goals and a number of high flying marks, while young guns Sal Mamone and Ned McKeown offered plenty of drive through midfield.
Montmorency’s finals hopes are diminishing by the week after it slipped two games outside the top five following last week’s loss to Greensborough. The Magpies have won just four of their opening 10 games and were again no match for the Boro in a 27-point home defeat. Pat Fitzgerald kicked six goals and midfielders Ryan Jackson and Ben Fennell fought hard in an otherwise disappointing loss. The Magpies will likely have to win at least six of their final eight games to feature in the finals series.
Northcote Park’s big win over Macleod gave the club successive wins for the first time since beating Eltham and Heidelberg in last year’s finals series. With key players Ben McNiece, Nick Carter and Bronik Davies all dominant, the Cougars kept their opponents goalless in the second and fourth quarters as they recorded a 47-point win at Bill Lawry Oval. They will now look to reclaim the Neale ‘Cowboy’ Carroll Cup when they host second-placed Greensborough.
The Boro are yet to lose a game on the road this year and claimed their fifth successive away victory when they comfortably accounted for Montmorency. Tim Bongetti stretched his lead at the top of the goal kicking table to five after booting a bag of six, while midfielders Lachlan McQuilken, Tristan Stead and Ricky Mullins all ran rampant. Two wins and percentage clear of fourth-placed Bundoora, a win at Bill Lawry Oval this week would put the Boro in the box seat to claim a double chance in September.
Lower Plenty moved into fifth place, one game clear of sixth, after outlasting Eltham in a tight affair at Eltham Central Park. Captain Darcy Barden was best afield as the Bears claimed their third successive win – the first time they have achieved such a feat since returning to Division 1 in 2012. They now host Heidelberg and will look for an improved showing after kicking just three goals in a 46-point defeat to the Tigers in Round 5.
Heidelberg remains a game clear at the top of the ladder despite a less than convincing seven-point victory over winless Whittlesea at Warringal Park. The Tigers conceded five of the first six goals to trail by 23 points at quarter time, before re-grouping in the second to take a half-time lead. Stars Michael Brunelli, Michael Finn and Paul Bower all lifted to get their side over the line, but not without a scare.
Whittlesea’s long wait for its first win continues but the Eagles should take great confidence into this week’s trip to Macleod after a number of encouraging displays in recent weeks. Severely undermanned without leaders Roy Dyson and Jeremy Page, the Eagles very nearly pinched victory against Heidelberg for the second time this season. Mitch Scholard booted four goals, while Joel Bramble impressed for the second successive week.
Aside from a superb second half in Round 9, Macleod is in a mid-season form slump and has lost three of its past four games. The Roos have slipped to sixth on the ladder and were never in the contest against Northcote Park last week. They managed just five goals in the loss, despite the best efforts of Kane Shaw and Will Drapac.
After playing out a one-point thriller in their first outing, Eltham and West Preston-Lakeside resume hostilities at Eltham Central Park. For the second successive week, the Panthers got off to a fast start against Lower Plenty and booted five of the opening seven goals. They were again unable to go on with the positive start, however the signs are promising for Mario Bandera – who was recently re-signed for two more years – and his young side.
The Roosters bounced back from a poor home loss to Macleod with their second victory over Bundoora for the season. Shaun Gannon was outstanding and finished with two majors, while forwards Glenn Robertson and Peter Shepherd combined for nine goals. After just scraping home against Eltham in Round 5, the Roosters will be acutely aware of the challenge that awaits this week.
