Diamond Creek and Lower Plenty will battle for a spot in next weekend’s grand final against North Heidelberg.
The sides enter Saturday’s preliminary final at Epping Recreation Reserve in contrasting form, with the Demons losing their previous two matches, while the Bears are on a four-game winning run.
Last Saturday Diamond Creek suffered its second heavy defeat to North Heidelberg in the space of seven days, going down to the Bulldogs by 70 points in the second semi final.
After failing to score in the opening term, the Demons kicked five unanswered goals in the second quarter to trail the Bulldogs by seven points at half time. But any hope of victory was shattered after the main break, as the Demons conceded 14 second half goals.
For the second week running Diamond Creek conceded 126 points against North Heidelberg. It is also the third consecutive game the Demons have allowed the opposition to kick over 100 points.
31 per cent of the points kicked against the Demons this season have been scored in the past three weeks.
Diamond Creek struggled with the Bulldogs’ quick ball movement last week. The Demons battled to man up with their opponents, which saw North Heidelberg players take numerous running bounces to move the ball quickly inside attacking 50.
Hamish McDonald was a shining light in defence for Diamond Creek and was named his side’s best, along with Ty Franks and Josh Marchbank. Ryan Pingree and Nathan Searl were the liveliest of the Demons around goals, booting two majors each.
Diamond Creek has struggled in finals over the years, winning one of its past five finals matches. Last year’s first semi final victory over the Fitzroy Stars could almost have been another defeat, if it weren’t for a Kane Tenace goal after the siren.
Working in the favour of both Diamond Creek and Lower Plenty is the fact that the past four A Plus Solutions Division 2 premiers have come through the preliminary final.
The momentum of consecutive games could play in the favour of Lower Plenty. With the exception of North Heidelberg, the Bears are the most in-form team, winning their past four matches by an average of 50 points.
Playing their first final since 2011, the Bears didn’t take long to adjust to the added pressure against the Fitzroy Stars last week. Darcy Barden kicked four goals, while Patrick Flynn kicked three and was named best on ground in the Bears’ 53-point victory.
Lower Plenty’s late season resurgence has given it the hope it can go all the way and return to the top flight after last season’s relegation. But the Bears will have to contend with a poor record against Diamond Creek in 2017.
Diamond Creek has won all three meetings against Lower Plenty, with all three encounters producing low-scoring battles.
Diamond Creek has won 11 of the 12 quarters against the Bears. In their most recent encounter in Round 15, the Demons trailed by 15 points at three quarter time, but kicked five of the last six goals to win by 10 points.
With everything on the line, expect another close match between these sides.
SEASON STATS
DIAMOND CREEK
14 wins – 5 losses
Points For – 1930, Average For – 102
Points Against – 1179, Average Against – 62
Average Winning Margin – 69
Average Losing Margin – 42
Leading Goal Kicker – Jess Cosaitis (31)
Most Times In Best – Oliver Parks (9)
LOWER PLENTY
12 wins – 7 losses
Points For – 2026, Average For – 107
Points Against – 1243, Average Against – 65
Average Winning Margin – 79
Average Losing Margin – 23
Leading Goal Kicker – Darcy Barden (63)
Most Times In Best – Patrick Flynn (16)
PAST TWO MEETINGS IN 2017
Round 15: Diamond Creek 9.10 (64) def Lower Plenty 7.12 (54)
Diamond Creek
Goals: B. Adams 2, R. Pingree 2, M. Rogneda, N. Searl, O. Parks, B. Perry, A. De Giorgio
Best: O. Parks, D. Kambouris, R. Pingree, R. Burrell, J. Battye, T. Chapman
Lower Plenty
Goals: D. Barden 2, C. Elmore 2, C. Sleep, B. Paterson, N. Mackay
Best: L. Stagoll, C. Sleep, B. Paterson, P. Flynn, D. Barden, L. McLeod
Round 10: Lower Plenty 8.5 (53) def by Diamond Creek 10.9 (69)
Lower Plenty
Goals: D. Barden 3, D. Iozzi 2, C. Sleep 2, C. Porter
Best: P. Flynn, T. Keys, C. Monger, M. Duckworth, L. Naismith, K. Hinchcliffe
Diamond Creek
Goals: B. Perry 3, J. Cosaitis 2, B. Adams 2, J. Booth, N. Searl, B. Wescott
Best: B. Wescott, B. Perry, J. Lorey, J. Marchbank, D. Kambouris, N. Searl
