THIS weekend’s matches will round out the first third of the 2015 home and away season and, remarkably, seven of the 10 teams in Division 1 currently hold a positive win-loss record.
Reigning premier Greensborough remains the benchmark in its quest for back-to-back flags, sitting 4-1 after five games. Six sides – beginning with second-placed Macleod and ending with seventh-placed Lower Plenty – sit a game behind the Boro on 3-2.
A number of these six sides square off in Round 6, including in-form duo West Preston-Lakeside and Eltham, who both enter the clash at J.E. Moore Park on the back of nail-biting victories last Saturday.
Leigh Cole’s men recorded a second successive victory against a 2014 finalist, this time beating Montmorency on the road by five points.
The margin was never greater than 10 points at any break in play and it was the grand efforts of Luke Lirosi, David Rodan and Aaron Willitts (three goals) which propelled the Roosters to their third win of the season. Rodan’s foot work dazzled in the win and his two goals proved vital in the end.
With James Kroussoratis (nine goals) in red-hot form and Bradyn Taglieri, Anton Woods and Billy Glasgow winning plenty of the football, Eltham raced to a 45-point lead in the second-quarter against Macleod.
The Panthers were slowly pegged pack and fell behind in the last term before responding to get over the line by six points. The 22-year-old now has 31 goals for the season and a nine-goal buffer atop the goal kicking table.
Following its worst loss for quite some time, Lower Plenty will be looking for an improved performance when it hosts Macleod at Montmorency Park’s south oval. It’s a crunch game with the loser at risk of slightly losing touch with the top five.
The Bears were simply no match for Northcote Park in windy conditions at Bill Lawry Oval, slumping to an 84-point defeat that included the Cougars kicking 52 unanswered points in the last term. Matthew Vasilevski was again his side’s best player and racked up the three votes from the opposition coach for the third time this season. Tom Keys and Heath Ayres also fought hard.
Macleod’s slow start proved costly in its loss at Eltham Central Park, although the side’s commitment and effort could not be faulted after quarter time. Justin White (four goals) and Daniel O’Brien were both exceptional and willed their side back into the contest when the chips were down. Reid Brandt was also lively with four majors.
North Heidelberg’s losing run extended to a fifth game and will hope that a return to home ground Shelley Reserve will bring about improved form when it hosts third-placed Northcote Park.
In what was billed as an opportunity to get its first win of the season, the Bulldogs could only stick with Bundoora for a quarter last weekend before falling to a 65-point loss at Yulong Reserve. Shane Harvey kicked four goals in his best haul for the season, while Matthew Mahony and Luke Villanti both toiled hard.
Northcote Park won its third home game in scintillating fashion and will be favoured to claim its first win on the road under Harmit Singh. The Cougars booted 18 goals to three in their two quarters with the breeze last Saturday, with Koden Colman and Julian Violato sharing seven majors. Luke Svarc also continued his rich vein of form, while Bryn Barnes-Webb also impressed.
Greensborough will be looking to strengthen its grip on top spot when it travels to Yulong Reserve to square off against Bundoora.
The Boro won a highly-skilled and entertaining shootout against Heidelberg last Saturday, with Rhys Boyden (seven goals) and Josh Grubb (four) the chief destroyers up forward. Co-captain Lachlan McQuilken won plenty of the ball, as did Tristan Stead.
Bundoora kept in touch with the top five with a percentage-boosting win over North Heidelberg and is on the hunt for a third successive home win. The Bulls shared the load last week with four players bobbing up with three goals. Josh Grabowski and Brendan Carlyon were the best two players on the ground.
One of the great modern-day rivalries continues when Heidelberg hosts Montmorency at Warringal Park, with the Magpies looking for a fourth-successive victory at the venue.
Depleted by injuries to Paul Bower, Jason Kennedy and Daniel Archer, Heidelberg was gallant in its defeat against Greensborough in the grand final rematch. Defender Josh Gribben was thrown forward and excelled with six goals, while Charles Gaylard and Nick Miller continued their strong form from past weeks.
While Craig Hunter’s men will be looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat this week, Montmorency will be looking to end its run of defeats at three following successive losses to Eltham, Northcote Park and West Preston-Lakeside.
Stephen McCallum put the Magpies ahead late in last week’s game, but the home side was unable to hold out the Roosters in the five-point result. Craig Flint, Pat Fitzgerald and Luke Collins were best in defeat.
