A SHOWDOWN between the top two sides in Division 1 headlines the Round 8 action ahead of the Queen’s Birthday split round.
Greensborough and Macleod meet for the second time this season, with the match at War Memorial Park a potential Grand Final preview given the strong form of both sides over the opening seven rounds of 2015.
The Roos have won three of their past against the Boro, although the one loss was in last year’s preliminary final.
Sitting atop the ladder with a 6-1 record, reigning premier Greensborough continues to impress in its premiership defence.
Last weekend the Boro were far too strong for close rival Montmorency in an 86-point result, set up by a seven-goal to one second quarter.
Another best-on-ground showing moved Lachlan McQuilken to the top of the Coaches Player of the Year voting, while Nick Riddle and Matthew Fowler also starred.
A fast start was the catalyst for Macleod’s four-point win over Northcote Park – the Roos fifth win of the year. Three goals in the opening five minutes helped Garry Ramsay’s side open a 22-point lead at the first change, before Northcote Park had the best of the next three quarters.
Goalless for 35 minutes, a major to Nick Lynch gave the home side the lead back with 40 seconds to go, before holding on to win. Midfielders Lucas Hobbs and Hamish Paynter led the way, while Laurence Schubert also impressed.
The second top-five clash of the round takes place at Warringal Park where Heidelberg (fourth) hosts Eltham (fifth) with both sides looking to improve their record to 5-3 ahead of a break next week.
Heidelberg ended a run of three consecutive losses with a thrilling four-point win over Lower Plenty – holding out a fast-finishing opponent at Montmorency Park.
Josh Gribben again played forward and booted five goals, while Michael Looby extended his good run of form. The Tigers have great recent form against Eltham – winning the past 39 encounters between the sides since 1982.
Eltham couldn’t stretch its winning run to three matches, falling to Bundoora in a shootout last Saturday. Leading by seven points at the final change, the Panthers kicked just one of the final five goals in the match to succumb to a 13-point loss.
Jye Lorey kicked three goals and was his side’s best and had good support from Anton Woods and Lewis Glasgow.
On the back of its best win of the year, Bundoora now travels to Bill Lawry Oval to play third-placed Northcote Park, where a win to the visitors could propel them into the top five for the first time this year ahead of consecutive home games.
Matthew Dennis was again instrumental last Saturday, while fellow experienced campaigners Adrian Papaluca, Gary Moorcroft (seven goals) and Brent Marshall enjoyed strong showings. Kane Slater was also in the best ahead of a meeting against his former side this week.
Northcote Park missed the chance to entrench itself inside the top two, however last week’s performance at Macleod confirmed the Cougars belong in the upper reaches of this year’s ladder.
Defenders Julian Violato and Harmit Singh were resolute in keeping the Kangaroos to just nine scoring shots after quarter-time, while Mitch Papas kicked three goals and won plenty of the ball.
West Preston-Lakeside and Lower Plenty meet in a vitally important game for both sides, with the Roosters looking to get an eight-point buffer on their opponent, while the Bears are looking to square the ledger at 4-4 after eight rounds.
West Preston-Lakeside secured its fourth win last weekend, although not without a scare, in an eight-point triumph over winless North Heidelberg.
A major upset looked on the cards when the Bulldogs closed within four points early in the final term, however the Roosters were able to steady thanks to solid performances from Jaylon Thorpe (three goals) and Jacob Ramaekers. Liam McVeigh also kicked three goals on debut.
Lower Plenty fell agonisingly short of victory last weekend as it fell to its second loss to Heidelberg for the season.
Doug Morris was his side’s best for the second straight week, while Matthew Duckworth had a huge second half and Ayden Doumtsis enjoyed his best game of the season.
The final game of Round 8 sees the competition’s bottom two teams square off with Montmorency hosting North Heidelberg.
Undermanned after losing both Pat Fitzgerald and Mark McKenzie prior to the first bounce, Montmorency was unable to replicate its previous week’s form against Greensborough.
The Magpies deficit extended at each break, despite the best efforts of Michael Fitz-Gerald, Stephen McCallum and Alex Chiocci.
North Heidelberg produced its best showing of the season and will be buoyed that’s its best football is capable of matching it in Division 1.
Shane Harvey and James McLean-Brunton both excelled with three goals, while Port Adelaide premiership players Byron Pickett and Peter Burgoyne both lined up for the Bulldogs in one-off appearances.
