Action resumes in A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 this weekend and Round 6 looks set to be another exciting round as the top-four begins to take its shape.
A one-game gap has emerged between the top-four sides and the chasing pack following the Round 5 results prior to the representative break – making this weekend’s matches vital for those sides in the bottom half of the table as they seek to keep in touch.
Kicking off the action is a clash between Banyule and Diamond Creek at Beverley Rd Oval. The home side is looking to continue its unbeaten streak, while the Creekers are looking to end a run of two losses.
Prior to the break, Banyule comfortable accounted for a Fitzroy Stars’ outfit that had entered the match with high hopes after a convincing win away to Eltham the week prior.
The Bears took on the challenge with aplomb, even without star pair James Kroussoratis and Tim Martin – with a dominant first half ensuring their unbeaten record in 2019 would remain intact.
The ladder-leaders kept the Stars goalless in the first quarter and put through five goals themselves. They took a near unassailable 44-point lead into half time and it proved to be too large a mountain to climb for the Stars, with the Bears running out 57-point winners.
Jack Langford continued his outstanding un of form and named best afield for Banyule, before impressing in the NFNL’s representative win over the Geelong league last week. Ex-Essendon duo Scott Gumbleton and Brent Stanton kept the the scorers busy with five goals between them.
Diamond Creek must respond this week following consecutive losses to Eltham and Thomastown, or they could find themselves two games outside the top-four a third of the way through the year.
The Creekers were able to stick with the Panthers for the majority of their Round 5 encounter at Coventry Oval, however a five-goal to two opening term proved costly.
Diamond Creek outscored the Panthers in both the second and fourth quarters, but the damage had already been done by Eltham in the first quarter, with the visitors holding the lead for the entire day to come away with an 18-point win.
Matthew Lewis, Nicholas Barro, and Jai Norman were named as the Creekers’ best players, while Timothy Hall was their only multiple goal scorer with three majors for the game.
Thomastown hosts winless Epping at Main Street Reserve, where the home side will be fancied to claim its fifth win on the trot.
Thomastown moved into second place on the ladder on the back of a come-from-behind 56-point win over Watsonia at A.K. Lines Reserve in Round 5
Trailing by three goals during the second term, the Bears managed to sneak ahead by one point at the main break before putting in a dominant second half – where they outscored the Saints by nine goals to two to keep their winning streak active.
Key duo Matthew Vasilevski and Dylan Chapman were instrumental in getting their side on top in the game, while David Folino and Jacob Osei-Duro each kicked three-goal hauls. The Bears would be happy with their forward spread, with nine players getting on the goal sheet.
Epping missed its best chance to open its account prior to the break when it went down to St Mary’s by 31 points at Whatmough Park in an encounter that pitted the competition’s two winless sides against each other.
After enduring a slow start, the Blues outscored the Burra in the second quarter to trail by just six points at half time. However, they faltered in the second half as the home side ran away to a comfortable win.
Leigh Judd and Bill Hughes were named as Epping’s best players, with Judd continuing the rich vein of form which has him sitting in sixth place in the Coaches MVP voting. Dyllon Westra and Chris Chilcott each snagged two goals apiece.
Eltham and Watsonia lock horns at Eltham Central Park in a must-win clash for both sides.
Eltham survived a persistent Diamond Creek outfit in Round 5 to come away with a vital 18-point win. It was the club’s third victory of the season and helped reclaim fourth spot on the ladder over the break.
The Panthers outscored their opponents by five-goals to two in the opening term which proved to be the difference at the end of the day. It was a gutsy win for Eltham with limited bench rotations, which included losing Lewis Glasgow before half time.
The result continued the club’s somewhat topsy-turvy start to the 2019 campaign, with the Panthers yet to win or lose consecutive games across the opening five rounds of the season.
Paul Currie made a strong return prior to the bye and the Panthers could be further bolstered by the inclusion of both Tim Currie and Darcy Vallance for this week’s home match against Watsonia.
The Saints are looking to rebound after consecutive losses saw them fall outside the top-four for the first time this season.
They had chances to put Thomastown away in the first half of their Round 5 encounter but were then not in the hunt when the Bears clicked into gear – managing just two goals in the second half.
Daniel Watson enters this week in great form, with he and Gary Barton the Saints’ best in the loss to Thomastown. Julian Maloni has also been in good touch up forward, with his three-goal effort, making it nine goals in four appearances.
A much-anticipated game takes place at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, where the Fitzroy Stars will be looking to get back onto the winners’ list when they host Whittlesea. It will be the Eagles’ first game since May 4 after sitting out the bye prior to the rep break.
The Stars suffered an injury crisis prior to their loss to Banyule last up, with six players going down at training during the week ahead of the clash with the undefeated ladder-leader.
They were then in trouble from the outset, conceding five goals in each of the first two quarters, while failing to kick more than three goals in a quarter as they were simply outclassed by a Banyule outfit who ran away with a 57-point win.
Max Maynard and James Ellis continued their good run of form and were named as the Stars’ best, whilst Riley Livingstone was their only multiple goal scorer with three majors.
Having suffered losses to sides currently placed first, second and fifth – the Stars simply must win this week to keep in touch with the top-four and validate their finals claims.
Whittlesea will be coming into the encounter fresh from a two-week break, but prior to that, the Eagles bounced from their first loss of the season with a 28-point triumph over a wayward St Mary’s.
The Eagles had seven less scoring shots than the Burra, but their accuracy did them the world of good as they came away with their third win of the year.
Nicholas Pupillo starred in his first game of the season and was named best afield. He capped his day with two goals. The contributions of Paul Higgins and Matthew Coen were also important on the day.
