A preview of the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 semi finals.
SECOND SEMI FINAL – NORTH HEIDELBERG VS DIAMOND CREEK
The first spot in the A Plus Solution Division 2 Grand Final will be decided when North Heidelberg and Diamond Creek do battle at Epping Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The Bulldogs and Demons have been the standout teams this season and have held the top two spots on the ladder since Round 5 ahead of the second semi final.
With a squad full of talent, North Heidelberg ended the home and away season with the best record of any side in the past three years.
North Heidelberg ended the campaign with 16 wins, a draw and one defeat in an incredible season, highlighted by an undefeated record at Shelley Reserve.
With the Harvey brothers on fire, North Heidelberg averaged 133 points per game – up by 32 points from last season, when they also took out the minor premiership.
After more midfield time in 2016, Shane Harvey returned to being the focal point up forward. The move saw Harvey kick 106 goals, the third time he has reached the milestone at the Bulldogs and sixth time in his illustrious career.
Fresh from AFL retirement, 39-year-old Brent ‘Boomer’ Harvey showed no signs of slowing down, kicking 55 goals and being named in the Bulldogs best players on 13 occasions.
Boomer formed a dynamic midfield partnership with young gun Brody Tardio, who cemented himself as an elite midfielder by being named in the Bulldogs best players on 11 occasions.
For all their attacking play, the Bulldogs, along with Diamond Creek are the best defensive teams in the competition.
Both sides hold their opposition to just 1053 points for the season at an average of just 59 points per match, which is the lowest average conceded in the past six seasons.
Defence has been a focal point for Diamond Creek under coach Craig Hayes. For the third straight season, Diamond Creek have had the division’s stingiest defence.
On two occasions this year the Demons held their opponents goalless, managing the feat against Lalor in Round 2 and Panton Hill in Round 11.
But it is Diamond Creek’s improved attacking play that has seen it jump up the ladder in 2017 and earn a double chance in the finals series.
Last season, the Demons made the preliminary final, after finishing the year in fourth position. The Demons increased their scoring by 548 points, albeit in two extra matches, helping them to a second-place finish.
Jess Cosaitis was recruited to become the focal point up forward and booted 31 goals in nine games, before his season was cut short by a shoulder injury. In Cosaitis’ absence, Bryce Adams has led the attack, booting 28 goals for the season and offering a strong presence.
Big man Oliver Parks has been outstanding for Diamond Creek, playing across half forward and as a follower, kicking 18 goals and featuring in the best players nine times this season – more than any teammate.
This will be the fourth meeting between these sides this year. North Heidelberg has claimed all three previous encounters, including a thumping 78-point victory to end the season against a weekend Diamond Creek line-up.
In the Round 18 clash, Shane Harvey booted six goals and was named in the Bulldogs best, along with Liam Nunan and Jesse Tardio.
NORTH HEIDELBERG
16 wins – 1 draw – 1 loss
Points For – 2400, Average For – 133
Points Against – 1053, Average Against – 59
Average Winning Margin – 87
Average Losing Margin – 41
Leading Goal Kicker – Shane Harvey (106)
Most Times In Best – Brent Harvey (13)
DIAMOND CREEK
14 wins – 4 losses
Points For – 1874, Average For – 104
Points Against – 1053, Average Against – 59
Average Winning Margin – 69
Average Losing Margin – 35
Leading Goal Kicker – Jess Cosaitis (31)
Most Times In Best – Oliver Parks (9)
PAST TWO MEETINGS IN 2017
Round 18: Diamond Creek 7.6 (48) def by North Heidelberg 18.18 (126)
Diamond Creek
Goals: O. Parks 2, M. Rogneda, J. Wuelfert, T. Chapman, J. Lorey, J. Alam
Best: H. McDonald, N. Parks, O. Parks, W. Lowrie, D. Kambouris
North Heidelberg
Goals: S. Harvey 6, B. Harvey 3, L. Nunan 3, K. Green 2, M. Dillon 2, M. Florance, A. Braendler
Best: L. Nunan, J. Tardio, S. Harvey, B. Harvey, J. Brown, K. McDonald
Round 13: North Heidelberg 10.13 (73) def Diamond Creek 7.9 (51)
North Heidelberg
Goals: S. Harvey 4, L. Gilbert 2, J. Bailey, J. Tardio, B. Tardio, B. Harvey
Best: B. Tardio, J. Tardio, M. Florance, A. Braendler, A. Habchi, M. Lonergan
Diamond Creek
Goals: B. Adams, D. Kambouris, C. Moloney, J. Booth, R. Kavanagh, B. Perry, O. Parks
Best: T. Franks, O. Parks, J. Marchbank, C. Moloney, D. Kambouris, T. Chapman
FIRST SEMI FINAL – FITZROY STARS VS LOWER PLENTY
A spot in the preliminary final is up for grabs on Sunday when the Fitzroy Stars take on Lower Plenty in the first semi final at Epping Recreational Reserve.
Both sides enter the match knowing all is on the line, with no second chance for the loser.
For the Stars, it is about ending a two-year hoodoo and progressing to the second week of the finals for the first time since 2014. While a win for Lower Plenty will keep its hopes of returning to Division 1 alive.
The Fitzroy Stars have waited a year for redemption. Last season the Stars were eliminated from the finals by Diamond Creek with a goal after the siren.
For years, the Stars have been one of the most exciting attacking teams in the division. Despite the departure of key forward Daniel Francis, the Stars have remained an attacking threat, averaging 114 points a game – the second most in Division 2.
Vaasili Tuifao has proven to be one of the season’s biggest surprise packets and has led his side’s forward line with 52 goals, while John Hayes, Richard Bamblett and Kain Proctor have all booted over 20 majors.
But for all their attacking heroics, the Stars have struggled against the fellow top-four sides.
They have lost five of eight matches against fellow top-four sides by an average of 38 points. Yet, they boast a positive record against North Heidelberg, defeating the minor premiers in Round 2 and a managing a draw in their Round 10 clash.
Against the best sides, the Stars concede on average of 110 points and have scored over 100 points in only four of eight games. The Stars will need to tighten up their defence against Lower Plenty this week.
Lower Plenty hasn’t had things all its own way in its return to Division 2 and only made the finals after a late flurry of wins to end the season.
The Bears started the year with two wins, but lost three of their next five matches. Sitting in fifth place with a month to go, a run of three wins in the final three matches booked their spot in the top four.
One of the standouts for the Bears this season has been ruckman Patrick Flynn. The 2016 Division 1 Player of the Year has again been his side’s most consistent performer and has been named amongst their best players in 15 games.
The ruckman has been influential in giving his midfielders first possession of the ball and setting up attacks. His battle against Clinton Edwards will be riveting this week.
Darcy Barden and Ben Patterson have formed a dynamic duo in front of the big sticks, combining for 89 goals.
Lower Plenty has had the upper-hand over the Stars this season, winning two of the three encounters.
Six goals to Dale Nolan inspired the Bears to victory in the opening game of the season, while the Stars took out the Round 6 clash, thanks to a best on ground performance from Allan Norris.
But it was the most recent clash that will give Lower Plenty confidence going in to this week, where five goals to Barden and a best on ground display from Flynn guided the Bears to a 70-point victory at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval in Round 12.
FITZROY STARS
11 wins – 1 draw – 6 losses
Points For – 2045, Average For – 114
Points Against – 1559, Average Against – 87
Average Winning Margin – 62
Average Losing Margin – 32
Leading Goal Kicker – Vaasili Tuifao (52)
Most Times In Best – Kain Proctor (11)
LOWER PLENTY
11 wins – 7 losses
Points For – 1914, Average For – 106
Points Against – 1184, Average Against – 66
Average Winning Margin – 81
Average Losing Margin – 23
Leading Goal Kicker – Darcy Barden (59)
Most Times In Best – Patrick Flynn (15)
PAST TWO MEETINGS IN 2017
Round 12: Fitzroy Stars 11.6 (72) def by Lower Plenty 21.16 (142)
Fitzroy Stars
Goals: V. Tuifao 3, P. Hood 2, R. Smith 2, J. Burns, C. Edwards, K. Proctor, M. Dow
Best: C. Benjamin, S. Wilkey, A. Norris, M. Dow, H. Smith, K. Proctor
Lower Plenty
Goals: D. Barden 5, C. Sleep 4, T. Keys 3, C. Porter 2, L. Gray 2, P. Flynn 2, L. McLeod 2, F. Dorbolo
Best: P. Flynn, D. Barden, C. Porter, C. Sleep, J. Sacco, F. Dorbolo
Round 6: Fitzroy Stars 15.10 (100) def Lower Plenty 13.7 (85)
Fitzroy Stars
Goals: R. Bamblett 3, M. Dow 3, V. Tuifao 3, J. Wanganeen, A. Norris, R. Karpany, K. Proctor, J. Hayes, H. Smith
Best: A. Norris, H. Smith, M. Maynard, M. Dow, R. Bamblett, P. Hood
Lower Plenty
Goals: D. Barden 6, B. Paterson 2, M. Duckworth, M. Favrin, S. Paterson, T. Keys, N. Waters
Best: T. Keys, D. Barden, B. Paterson, F. Dorbolo, S. Paterson, N. Waters
