A mid-table logjam has been established as the Division 1 competition enters the back half of the 2015 home and away season.
Five sides sit with 5-4 records after the opening half of the year, with only a percentage differential of 36.31 separating third-placed Northcote Park and West Preston-Lakeside in seventh.
Minimal percentage also separates the top two sides in the competition, with Macleod sitting 0.48 percent above second-placed Greensborough as the race for first also heats up.
Two of the sides in the mid-table squeeze clash this week with Northcote Park hosting Eltham at Bill Lawry Oval – with both sides heading into the game in winning form.
The Cougars produced arguably their best win under Harmit Singh last weekend when they recovered from an 18-point quarter-time deficit to beat Heidelberg by 35 points at Warringal Park.
Ben McNiece returned from VFL duties with Essendon to play a starring role, while Pat O’Connell found form in front of the big sticks with four majors.
Eltham also broke a two-game losing streak when it accounted for North Heidelberg by 46 points. The final margin looked somewhat flattering after the Bulldogs reduced a 36-point half-time deficit to just eight points, courtesy of nine third-quarter goals.
Matthew Williamson and Chase Caulfield combined for seven Eltham majors, while Jamie Smith was solid in his second game in Panther colours.
Eltham netted a 66-point win the last time it ventured to Westgarth St and was also victorious by 43 points when the sides met at Eltham Central Park earlier this season. James Kroussoratis looms as a key figure in this game, having booted 19 goals in his past three matches against the Cougars.
Having won four of its past five matches, Bundoora enters its clash with Lower Plenty at Yulong Reserve as favourite.
The Bears will be hoping to end a five-game losing streak, but have not beaten the Bulls since returning to the top flight in 2012.
A win to the home side would push the Bulls inside the top five at the conclusion of a round for the first time this season. They did move into fifth following their one-point win over Montmorency in the first week of the split round, but have since been leapfrogged following last week’s results.
Phil Plunkett’s side will likely be bolstered by the inclusion of Matty Dennis after he missed the clash against the Magpies while on Vic Metro duties.
Lower Plenty’s free-fall continued following last week’s 48-point home loss to Greensborough, although the Bears effort and commitment to the contest was markedly improved despite the defeat.
Captain Darcy Barden did everything he could to turn his side’s fortunes around with an outstanding display, while Tom Keys, Heath Ayres and Wilson King – in his first senior game since crossing from Essendon Doutta Stars – all battled manfully.
An old rivalry resumes for the first time in four years when North Heidelberg welcomes Heidelberg to Shelley Reserve.
A slow start had the Bulldogs on the back foot at Eltham last week, managing just five scoring shots to 16 in the first half. Shane Harvey was crucial after the main break and his seven-goal haul showed why he has long been considered one of the league’s most outstanding players.
Despite being in touching distance at three-quarter time, the Bulldogs faded in the last quarter and conceded eight of the final 10 goals of the match. The Doggies accuracy on goal did continue however, with their 13.5 taking their season’s tally to an impressive 93.54.
Heidelberg succumbed to its third home defeat of the season following a heavy defeat to Northcote Park and will be looking to make amends on the road this week.
The Tigers last week missed a chance to remain outright third when they failed to go on with a positive start and now sit in fourth place. Veteran tall Michael Finn fought hard against the Cougars, as did Jordan Treloar and Jarrod Hodgkin.
For the second week running, West Preston-Lakeside will face the competition’s second-placed team, although the Roosters will be looking to present a much better showing when they take on Greensborough.
The Roosters produced their worst performance of the year against Macleod at De Winton Park last week, registering just 1.1 in the first half as they went into the main break trailing by 46 points.
Very little improved in the second half as the club’s percentage took a battering in the 82-defeat, where Ali Fahour, Tom O’Neill and Kane Heaney tried hard against the tide.
Despite a strong win at Lower Plenty, Greensborough still slipped a place on the ladder and now travels to a venue which has brought plenty of close games in recent years.
The Boro were defensively sound last Saturday in keeping the Bears to just five goals. Midfielder Tristan Stead won plenty of the ball and moved to outright first in the Coaches Player of the Year award after earning three votes from the Lower Plenty coaching staff.
In the final game of the round Macleod will be fancied to score its fifth win in succession when it travels to Para Rd to take on ninth-placed Montmorency.
The Roos included Cathal Corr, Jack Langford, Liam Brandt and Jack Bianchin to their side last week and, with their strongest side for the season on the park, ran rampant over West Preston-Lakeside.
Kane Shaw and Josh Henkel were superb across the half back line, while Nick Lynch kicked a match-high six goals to improve his tally to 26 in six matches this year.
Montmorency returns from a week’s rest and will be looking to again display the same spirit which saw it nearly claim a famous win at Bundoora in Round 9.
Trailing at three-quarter time and kicking into the wind, the Magpies refused to surrender and fell agonisingly short of their third win of the year. They will be bolstered by the return of co-captain Jesse Donaldson this week.
