ANOTHER big weekend of action awaits in the second week of the Division 1 finals series.
Regardless of the outcome of all remaining finals matches, there will be a new premier in 2014 after 2013 premier Bundoora was eliminated by Macleod last weekend.
This weekend Heidelberg begins its finals campaign when it meets Greensborough at Preston City Oval on Saturday. The prize for the winner is the first place in this year’s Grand Final.
On Sunday, Montmorency takes on Macleod in the knockout first semi final. Following two thrilling encounters in the regular season, another close game awaits.
Continue below for a detailed preview of this weekend’s action.
Second Semi Final: Heidelberg v Greensborough @ Preston City Oval
The competition’s two best performed sides in 2014 meet at Preston City Oval on Saturday, with the clash between Heidelberg and Greensborough to decide the first place in this year’s Division 1 Grand Final.
Rewind back to pre-season and few would have predicated a clash between the Tigers and Boro in the second week of the finals series. However, after dominant campaigns it is only fitting that both find themselves in the second semi final.
Under Craig Hunter, Heidelberg has continued its dominant way, albeit with a very different looking team to the club’s halcyon days between 2004-2012, when it played in nine consecutive grand finals.
The Tigers have become a tight-knit defensive unit in 2014, conceding an average of only 63 points per game. They have conceded over 70 points in just five games this year, with Montmorency’s 82 points in its Round 8 win the highest score the Tigers have coughed up all year.
Amazingly, Heidelberg’s attack ranked eighth in the competition during the regular season, ahead of only Eltham and Whittlesea.
When was the last time a club won the minor premiership with an average score of 76 and with a leading goal kicker booting just 28 majors?
What Heidelberg lacks in firepower, it makes up for with spirit and effort. The Tigers are arguably the most well-rounded team in the competition, who are testament to the adage that a champion team will beat a team of champions.
Jason Kennedy leads the team from defence, alongside Ben Cosgriff who has made a superb return after missing the entire 2013 season through injury.
Luke and Jarrod Hodgkin are enjoying solid campaigns, while big-name recruits Paul Bower and Charles Gaylard have truly lived up to the hype.
Meanwhile, the improvement made by Jordan Treloar, Aaron Crispe, Callum Lewis and Michael Looby has helped fill the void of the big exodus at the conclusion of 2013.
Ranked second in the competition for scores against, Greensborough showed its defence can stand up to finals football – keeping a Montmorency outfit containing Pat Fitzgerald, Ryan Willits and Ben Walton to just eight goals in last week’s qualifying final victory
Well led by Jason Rogers, Andrew Stellas and Matthew Hyde, the Boro’s 13-point win was their first Division 1 finals triumph in 23 years. It will also give the side a healthy injection of confidence as it looks to claim its first Division 1 Grand Final appearance since 1989.
A further positive for Greensborough in last week’s triumph was the fact that none of Lachlan McQuilken, Michael Hooper, Dan McLinden or Rhys Boyden featured amongst the best players.
Heidelberg has won both encounters between the sides in 2014, including a gripping seven-point win when the sides met at Warringal Park just three weeks ago. On both occasions the Tigers have kept the Boro to just 59 points, so don’t expect a shoot out this Saturday.
First Semi Final: Montmorency v Macleod @ Preston City Oval
After encountering different fortunes in the first week of the finals series, Sunday’s first semi final pits Montmorency against Macleod at Preston City Oval.
The Magpies enter the clash on the back of a 13-point loss to Greensborough in last week’s qualifying final, while Macleod always looked in control during a 28-point win over Bundoora in the elimination final.
Despite heading into last week’s encounter on the back of six straight wins, Montmorency never truly hit its straps in a bruising encounter against the Boro, managing just five goals after quarter time.
The result continued the Magpies’ poor finals record, having now lost nine of their past 10 finals matches. It also continued a poor recent trend for teams who have finished third on the ladder in the regular season. Not since 2010 has team that finished third won a Division 1 final.
Macleod enjoyed the bigger expanses of Preston City Oval, proving too quick and nimble for reigning premier Bundoora, with lesser likes Josh Henkel and Patrick Martin instrumental in the win.
The Kangaroos raced to a 36-point buffer with the aid of the breeze in the first quarter, before keeping the Bulls to just two goals in the second term to lead by 30 at the main break.
A defence led by skipper Kane Shaw did a superb job to keep Bundoora’s dangerous attacking half to just eight majors. They will again have their hands full this weekend, with Montmorency’s attacking trio of Pat Fitzgerald, Ryan Willits and Ben Walton.
All three are looking to have bigger impacts after being well contained against the Boro last week. Fitzgerald in particular has given Macleod headaches in recent times, booting 14 goals in his past three games against the Kangaroos, including a bag of six their most recent clash.
The two encounters between the sides this season have been relative shootouts, with Montmorency holding on for a nine-point win in Round 5, before Macleod overcame a 42-point deficit to record one of its finest Division 1 victories in Round 12.
Given the high-scoring nature of matches between the sides this year, the midfield battle on Sunday looms largely in determining the outcome of this match.
Hamish Paynter and Cathal Corr have both enjoyed good performances in two outings against the Magpies in 2014, although Corr could push forward after bags of five and four in the previous two encounters. Justin White was also destructive in Round 12.
Jesse Donaldson and Luke Jackson have been amongst Montmorency’s best three in both encounters against Macleod this year. They will both be looking to continue that good form.
Captain Ryan Jackson will be out to stamp his presence on the finals series, while young Bobby Lamanna looms as a secret weapon after producing a superb showing in last week’s defeat to the Boro.
The prize for the winner this week is the second spot in this year’s preliminary final.
