A preview of Round 7 in A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2.
The top two teams extended their advantage at the top of the ladder, while the mid-table battle for a place in the top-four has begun to heat up in A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2.
Epping has been one of the surprise packets of the season and will be looking to keep in touch with the top-four when it travels to R.J. Brockwell Oval to take on Banyule. The Blues will take in confidence after winning the Round 3 outing between the sides.
The Blues were outstanding in their 31-point win over Watsonia last weekend, leading from start to finish to claim their second win. The victory was set up with a six-goal to two opening quarter.
A best-on-ground and six-goal performance from Damon Marcon was a key factor in in the 14.14 (98) to 8.19 (67) result, as was the contribution of Alec Buchan, Joel Carter, Reed Jepson and Jake Perry.
Banyule will be keen to bounce back after a thumping 64-point loss to Lower Plenty in Round 6, which saw the club slip to the fifth spot on the ladder.
Banyule was down by just 14 points at quarter time, however, a six-goal to one second term opened the game up for Lower and ended Banyule’s two-game winning streak.
Riley Hogarth and Daniel Kelly tried hard in a disappointing day for Banyule, whilst James Kroussoratis was amongst the goal kickers yet again and kicked an equal team-high two goals, with Jacob Mitchell.
Thomastown will be looking to make it three-straight when it hosts ladder-leader Eltham at Main Street Reserve. However, the Panthers were comprehensive winners by 63 points when the sides met back in Round 3.
Thomastown put in a spirited display in its comprehensive 52-point win over the Fitzroy Stars last weekend, kicking 15 goals after quarter time to set up the big win, which pushed them up to fourth spot on the ladder.
Anthony Capeci led the way with four goals and earned top votes from both coaches in the Coaches MVP award. Dylan Chapman and Salvatore Mamore again impressed, with the latter booting three goals and winning plenty of the ball.
Despite notching its seventh-straight win, Eltham found the going a little tougher against Diamond Creek last week. With scores level at half time, the ladder-leader was able to respond with a six-goal to one second half to win by 36 points.
A three-goal haul from Michael Still and a best-on-ground performance from Anton Woods helped their side maintain its perfect start to this season, while Brent Macaffer was a late withdrawal from the Panthers side.
Watsonia will be hoping to snag its first win of the season when it hosts Diamond Creek at A.K. Lines Reserve.
The Saints were left to rue wayward kicking at Epping last week. After a slow start, the Saints had their chances to get back into the game, before faltering late to lose by 31 points. That was despite having just one few scoring shots.
Allan Young was the Saints best player and finished with a deserved three-goal haul, whilst teammate Sam Peet also got in on the action and kicked three himself.
Diamond Creek suffered its third loss in a row last weekend as it continued to lose touch with Eltham and Lower Plenty in the hunt for a top-two finish. Despite going down by 36 points, it was an improved effort compared to the Good Friday loss to the Panthers.
The Creekers played arguably their best football of the year in the second term, when they kicked four unanswered goals to level scores at half time. However, they couldn’t maintain their pressure in the second half, despite great showings from Hugh Kavanagh and Tyler Barnes.
Lower Plenty will be a heavy favourite to score its seventh-consecutive win when it hosts the Fitzroy Stars at Montmorency Park – a side it beat by 110 points in Round 3.
With Darcy Barden making a welcome return, Lower Plenty was clinical in its 64-point triumph over Banyule – leading from start to finish in the top-four clash to maintain pressure on Eltham at the top of the ladder.
Two former Ivanhoe Grammarians in Lachlan Jepsen and Jordan Sacco led from the front for in the win, while Ben Paterson also contributed with his four-goal haul. He is one of five players for Lower to have kicked more than 10 goals already this season.
The Stars continued their disappointing start to their 2018 campaign as they registered their fifth loss with a 52-point defeat to the hands of Thomastown last weekend – with a seventh-consecutive finals appearance now looking highly unlikely
Hayden Heta booted five goals in last week’s defeat. The Stars were also again well served by Shaun Wilkey and Cameron Hall, while Marc Demaria snagged three goals.
