ROUND 3 of the NFL is complimented by two local derbies, following up from a thrilling round which saw three games decided by less than 15 points.
Hurstbridge and Panton Hill take each other on at Ben Frilay Oval after both sides won in impressive, and in the case of Panton Hill, sensational circumstances last Saturday.
In their first home game of the season, the Hillers were 38 points down to a resurgent Whittlesea outfit looking for a second straight win to start their season. However, the Redbacks crept their way back into the game, trailing by just 20 points at three quarter time.
With the game in the balance and scores level with only minutes to play, recruit Daniel Haynes put the Redbacks’ nose in front with a behind from a quick snap, before another added right on the siren gave them a famous two-point victory, kicking 15.13 (103) to the Eagles’ 15.11 (101).
Montmorency recruit Mitch Anderson kicked three goals for Panton Hill, with Thomas Blake and Tyler Scarce the two best players on the ground, kicking two each in the match played under lights.
Hurstbridge got off the mark in 2015 after their tardy start in Round 1 with a strong 47-point victory over Mernda. The Bridges’ were dominant all day, extending their lead at every change.
As was the case last week, Hurstbridge’s aggressive recruiting yielded results, with many new players leading the way. Chris Burton kicked five goals, Brayden Shaw added four, and Jarrod Tilley, Tyron Loader and John Kruezer were amongst the best players on the ground.
Andrew Smith was the sole hope up forward for the Demons, kicking four majors, while Matthew Duggan and Les Adams were valiant in defeat. Mernda is now under pressure sitting at 0-2 ahead of a matchup with rival Whittlesea at home.
The Eagles were well served by Janan Daniel who kicked four goals at Panton Hill last Saturday, while Scott McAuliffe put in an impressive performance. However, Brad Dean’s men will be disappointed to lose a game they should have had in their keeping.
Ladder leader Lalor now travels to Diamond Creek having negotiated both last year’s beaten grand finalists and preliminary finalists with aplomb. The Bloods’ victory over the Fitzroy Stars was their first in their past 10 attempts, and came after an entertaining and see-sawing game.
Lalor was able to increase its lead after the first three changes, however, twice the Stars rallied to reduce the margin. Firstly, to under a goal straight after half time, before levelling the scores with only minutes to go in the game.
However, Ben Curtiss, who was the best man on the ground, appropriately sealed the game for the Bloods with a steadying goal. Todd Hughes kicked four, taking him level at the top of the goal kicking charts, while Mark Roumanos kicked three in a win which keeps the Bloods in first place ahead of Thomastown.
For the Creekers, Hugh Kavanagh, Jai Norman and Jedd McQueen were their best performers in last week’s loss to the Bears, however, along with Mernda, Craig Hayes’ side remains winless coming into Round 3 and an encounter with high-flying Lalor is now a must-win match.
In the fourth game of this upcoming round, Thomastown hosts the Fitzroy Stars at Main Street Reserve. Having saluted in another close game last Saturday with a 14-point win over Diamond Creek, the Bears have become the first side ever to win their opening two games after receiving promotion from Division 3.
The Bears were up by three goals heading into the last change, however were put under pressure early in the last with Diamond Creek reducing the margin to seven points, before the Bears were able to settle.
Many of the Bears’ shining lights in 2014 have remained undaunted by the move up to Division 2, with Matthew Cupo, Jacob Osei-Duro, Chris Leo and Josh Beare amongst their best players last Saturday.
The Stars were well served by Jason Kanoa, who kicked three goals, and Damian Walker in last week’s close lose to Lalor and will be looking to rebound this weekend against an in-form Thomastown outfit.
