EIGHT sides return to the fold this weekend as the first half of the 2015 home and away season comes to a close.
The opening match of the split-Round 9 turned out to be a classic, with Bundoora and Montmorency producing their second thrilling result for the season.
After suffering a two-point loss to the Magpies in Round 2, the Bulls turned the tables last week in a one-point result.
The lead changed hands several times in a see-sawing last quarter as the Bulls just did enough to record their fifth win of the season to jump inside the top five for the first time this year.
Josh Grabowski (four goals) was best afield, while Luke Collins was again impressive for Montmorency.
The pick of the matches this weekend looks to be at Warringal Park where third-placed Heidelberg hosts a Northcote Park outfit which his slipped to sixth following Bundoora’s victory last week.
Prior to the break, Heidelberg put on a strong display as it continued its recent dominance of Eltham in a 21-point result. The Tigers raced to a 24-point advantage at quarter time and led by as much as 58-points at the final change before a final-quarter fight back by the Panthers.
Chaz Sargeant (four goals) and Jordan Treloar excelled, while Mathew Pianto played arguably his best game for the Tigers.
Northcote Park suffered a second successive close loss when it succumbed to Bundoora by five points in its first defeat on home soil this season. The Cougars have now lost successive games by an aggregate of just nine points and must win this week to stay in touch with the top three.
Julian Violato was superb against the Bulls, while Wayne Schultz and Luke Svarc continued their stellar campaigns.
For the third successive round Macleod faces a top-four opponent when it hosts West Preston-Lakeside at De Winton Park.
The Roos sit in second place on the ladder after two months, just percentage behind Greensborough following their comeback win over the Boro in Round 8.
Garry Ramsay’s side looked as though it would slip two wins behind the ladder-leader when it trailed the Boro by six goals early in the second quarter.
However, with Justin White in the thick of everything and Steve Kelly and Lucas Hobbs playing well, Macleod was able to claw its way back into the contest, before producing its best win of the season in an 11-point result.
West Preston-Lakeside made it four wins from its past five matches when it produced a runaway 52-point win over Lower Plenty at J.E. Moore Park.
David Rodan was best in the win with four goals and had strong support from Luke Lirosi and Nathan Valladares. The result gave the Roosters a 5-3 record ahead of successive matches against the current top three.
Fresh from its first win in Division 1 since 2010, North Heidelberg will be looking to back-up its recent improved form when it travels to Panther Place to take on Eltham.
Spurred on by six-goal hauls to Shane Harvey and Simon Andrews, the Bulldogs were superb in their 31-point win at Montmorency.
The damage looked to have been done early when the visitors jumped to a 32-point advantage at quarter. A second quarter drop off was rectified in the third term and Stephen Saddington’s side was never going to let slip a 36-point three-quarter time advantage.
Eltham has suffered a loss of form over recent weeks and is now looking for its first win in four weeks – one which could propel it back into the top five.
The Panthers managed just three goals in the opening three quarters against Heidelberg, before booting 5.7 to 0.2 in the last term. Eamon Gilbert and Sam Zito were best in defeat, while Billy Glasgow should return this week after missing the encounter.
Having slumped to its fourth defeat in succession, Lower Plenty will be looking to resurrect its season this week – albeit against very tough opposition when it hosts reigning premier Greensborough.
The Bears sit in eighth place with a 3-5 record and poor percentage and must start winning games quickly to get their campaign back on track.
A promising start fell away quickly against West Preston-Lakeside, with the Bears recording 22 less scoring shots in the heavy defeat. Usual suspects Matt Vasilevski, Doug Morris and Cam Elmore were again in the best.
Having now lost to Macleod twice this season, Greensborough has a fight on its hands to hold on to first place – a position which looked its for the taking at quarter time a fortnight ago.
However, the Boro managed only three goals after quarter time against Macleod, despite the best efforts of defensive duo Matthew Hyde and Nick Riddle and midfielder Tristan Stead.
