Surprise victories were the mantra in Round 2 of A Plus Solutions Division 2, with the Fitzroy Stars victory over North Heidelberg sending shockwaves throughout the competition.
Round 3 will be another intriguing week, headlined by a clash between two sides expected to go far in 2017.
Lower Plenty hosts North Heidelberg in a mouth watering fixture at Montmorency Park South Oval.
The Bears have adjusted well to life in Division 2, winning their first two games. Last week they smashed Panton Hill by 94 points to move to the top of the table.
The Bears dominated from the start and had 11 individual goal kickers in the win. Jack Fitzpatrick starred up forward, booting four goals, while ruckman Patrick Flynn was instrumental in setting up the win.
North Heidelberg will look to return to the winners’ list after going down to the Fitzroy Stars. Missing Brent Harvey, the Bulldogs trailed by 25 points at quarter time to go down by 44 points.
Poor starts have been the story for the Bulldogs in the first two weeks of the season, scoring only two goals in the opening terms this season and conceding nine goals.
The last time these two sides met was Round 15, 2015. In that Division 1 fixture, Lower Plenty kicked 30 goals to win by 137 points.
A team who is in good form is the Fitzroy Stars and it travels to A.K. Lines Reserve to face Watsonia.
The Stars opened the season with back-to-back games against Lower Plenty and North Heidelberg. A gallant defeat to Lower Plenty and a victory over North Heidelberg has proven the Stars can compete with the best sides.
Without Daniel Francis up forward the Stars had to find a new avenue to goal. The look to have more goal kickers this year and in the game against North Heidelberg they had 12 individual goal kickers.
Jai Burns was the in form man up forward, booting four goals, while Clinton Edwards, Hedley Smith and Keith Morgan were the Stars’ best.
The Stars will play a Watsonia side disappointed with its performance in Round 2. The Saints began superbly against Thomastown last week before being overrun by the Bears.
An area of concern is the functionality of the forward line. In the opening quarter the Saints piled on plenty of forward pressure and this led to goals from turnovers.
But after quarter time, the Bears were able to move the ball out of defence easily and with Allan Young playing higher up the field, the Saints had no attacking target.
Thomastown enters the game against Diamond Creek as one of only two undefeated sides in the division.
The Bears had to work hard early against Watsonia last week, before kicking five final-term goals to win by 32 points.
Thomastown’s small forwards did the job as Nicholas Horman, Daniel Chadwick and Robert Chadwick all booted two goals. Daniel Chadwick was particularly impressive for the Bears and was voted best on ground.
Diamond Creek had an ANZAC Day to remember, thrashing Lalor at Coventry Oval. The Demons held the Bloods goalless to win by 115 points, the first time they have won by more than 100 points since Round 9, 2012.
Last year the Demons had the second best defence in the division and so far this year they are on track to once again be one of the best defensive sides.
The last time these sides met was Round 12 last year and in that fixture it was Diamond Creek who came out on top, winning by 39 points.
Two sides who are looking to avoid the wooden spoon meet at A.E. Cracknell Reserve, when Panton Hill hosts Lalor.
The Redbacks are on a seven-game losing streak, which dates back to Round 14 of last season. Their last win came in this fixture last season and they will be favourites to repeat the result.
The only highlight in the Redbacks’ 94-point loss to Lower Plenty was the form of Jonty Rushton. Rushton kicked four goals and was named Panton Hill’s best performer.
Panton Hill’s poor performance in Round 2 was overshadowed by Lalor’s big ANZAC Day defeat. The Bloods failed to register a goal in their 115-point defeat to Diamond Creek.
The Bloods have already conceded 227 points this season and with a leaky defence and a lack of firepower up forward, Lalor could be on target for a drop to Division 3.
