THE NOLANS, Sinclair, Gay, Murphy and Favrin. They’re just a handful of premiership players who left Warringal Park at the conclusion of 2013.
Yet despite all the star quality to leave the club over the off-season, Heidelberg remains a genuine force in Division 1 and this week travels undefeated to Yulong Reserve to take on reigning premier Bundoora in a clash for first place on the ladder.
The Tigers last week extended their winning streak to five matches when they strangled Lower Plenty in a low-scoring affair. In the competition’s best defensive effort this season, the Tigers kept their visitor to just seven scoring shots and 22 points in a 46-point victory. Luke Hodgkin – one of Heidelberg’s biggest improvers in 2014 – was best in the victory, while Matthew Pianto and Charles Gaylard were also dominant and shared five of the Tigers’ 10 goals.
Bundoora returned to the winners’ list after overcoming a 38-point deficit to beat Macleod by 26 points. Without key trio Matthew Dennis, Ricky Dyson and Kent Delbridge, the Bulls recorded one of the club’s more memorable wins in modern times when they kicked 13 goals to three after quarter time. Cameron Cloke again illustrated his star quality with a best on ground performance, while Trent Barbero and Anthony Hogan were important down back.
West Preston-Lakeside only just scrapped past winless Eltham last Saturday and will be looking for a third win in succession when it takes on Montmorency at J.E. Moore Park.
The Roosters had to overcome a 16-point final quarter deficit to win last weekend, with a Peter Shepherd goal on the final siren giving the home side a thrilling victory – the second consecutive time a game has been decided with the final kick of day at the Roosters’ home ground.
Montmorency emphatically responded to its fadeout Round 4 loss at Northcote Park, smashing Whittlesea by 111 points at Montmorency Park. Languishing in eighth place before the clash, the Magpies booted 16 goals to two after half time with Wayne Pavitt, Ryan Willits and Kyle Declase each kicking four goals. Star midfielders Daniel Keenan, Luke Jackson and Ryan Jackson were also amongst the best.
Eltham celebrates Panther Day, where it will welcome back all of its past players, when it hosts Macleod at Eltham Central Park. The two sides have created a close rivalry in recent seasons on the back of a number of thrilling close finishes.
The Panthers are still in search for their first victory under Mario Bandera and will count themselves desperately unlucky to not have taken the four points from West Preston-Lakeside. Having been contained to just three goals in his opening three games, James Kroussoratis returned to form in style with seven of his side’s 11 goals. Regular names Tom Rogers, Jay Neagle and Billy Glasgow were also amongst the Panthers’ best in the shattering one-point loss.
Macleod let slip a great opportunity to move into third place on the ladder when it faded badly against Bundoora. The loss ended a run of three consecutive victories for the Roos, who now must return to the winners to keep their place inside the top five. They have won just one of their past four games against the Panthers, including losses in both encounters in 2013.
Lower Plenty will hope to continue its good form at home when it hosts battling Northcote Park. Although outclassed at Warringal Park last week, the Bears have been impressive in both home encounters this year, claiming 45 and 49-point wins in two home outings in 2014 – albeit against the competition’s two winless sides in Eltham and Whittlesea.
The Cougars looked to be edging closer to their best form following a promising first half at Greensborough, where they took a 22-point lead into half time. However an injury to Paul Scanlon in the second quarter seemed to stymie the side’s run, as they surrendered eight of the final 10 goals to fall to a 19-point loss – their third defeat of the season.
Finally, Whittlesea returns to the Whittlesea Showgrounds with its wings clipped after putting in its worst performance of the season at Montmorency. The Eagles managed just three goals to the Magpies 24 in the big loss, where Dale Saddington and Roy Dyson fought hard against the tide.
Their opponent this week is a red-hot Greensborough who remains in third place on the ladder after claiming four wins from the opening five games – including wins against a number of fellow genuine finals contenders. Last week, Jason Rogers was the hero with four goals, while ruckman Michael Hopper, Matthew Hyde and Scott Conte were also dominant as the Boro stormed home to retain the Neale ‘Cowboy’ Carroll Cup.
