THREE tight affairs headlined Round 8 ahead of a top of the table clash between North Heidelberg and Mernda at Shelley Street Reserve this week.
Apart from North Heidelberg’s 89-point demolition of Diamond Creek, the average winning margin across Division 2 was a mere 15 points, displaying the evenness of many sides across the competition.
The Dogs, Mernda and Fitzroy Stars have taken advantage of this, with an astounding three games separating third and fourth, while Diamond Creek – despite sitting bottom of the ladder – is still only two games behind fourth-placed Epping.
The Creekers’ percentage took a major hit in their big loss to North Heidelberg two weeks ago, despite only trailing by one goal at quarter time. The damage was done in the second and third quarters, where North piled on 12 goals to Diamond Creek’s solitary effort.
Nathan Searl and Mitch Johnson kicked two goals each for the Creekers’, while Hugh Kavanagh continued his outstanding season to date, with Josh Smith also amongst the best.
North Heidelberg continues to be the season’s standout club, with its spectacular forward line again firing shots. Shane Harvey, Lachlan Dowling (six goals each) and Leigh Gilbert (three goals) combined for 15 of their team’s 21 goals. The Dogs were able to put away Diamond Creek after a high scoring opening term, thanks to some good work from Luke Villanti, Leigh Bentley and Jeff Ryan.
They now host Mernda where a win would put them two games clear on top and make them red-hot favourites to sew up the minor premiership.
The Dees continued to put pressure on the Dogs by prevailing in a tight encounter against Epping, thanks largely to David Hutchinson, who managed the second biggest goal haul of the season with eight. Under-19 players Liam Gray, Adrian Stefanile and Matthew Golledge were impressive in the victory, along with Hutchinson, Luke Martin and Les Adams.
They now travel to Shelley Street with the fresh memories of victory the last time they played there, having turned a 26-point deficit into a 32-point victory in Round 7 last season.
Epping was impressive against Mernda, however, missed a chance to move a game clear of Lalor ahead of a big clash between the two sides this week. The winner will take a big step towards finals football. Daniel Moore continued his stellar season with yet another standout performance, while Jarrod Agosta kicked three goals for the afternoon. Josh Stavely and Shane Wood were also impressive in defeat.
Lalor would be feeling disappointed after missing an even bigger chance to move into fourth spot. The Bloods were left to rue their inaccuracy against a plucky Fitzroy Stars in Round 8, kicking a costly 3.9 in the second quarter to sit on 8.15 at half time. With a 19-point lead going into the last change, they could not hold off the Stars, who overran them in a classic. Todd Hughes was the standout for the Bloods, kicking four goals.
Fitzroy Stars welcomed ex-North Melbourne footballer Djaran Whyman and the 31-year-old gave Stars’ followers a taste of what to come by kicking six goals in a best on ground debut performance, including four in the last term. John Hayes kicked five goals for the victors, who also had Keith Morgan and Lionel Proctor put in big performances.
The Stars now host Panton Hill at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, very well aware that the Hillers came so close to knocking them off last time.
The Hillers will be disappointed to not go within percentage of a top four spot, having led Hurstbridge at half time in Round 8. Travis Miller was brilliant in the loss, whilst Tristan Kreymborg was a dominant force in the ruck and Lloyd Toffolon kicked four goals. However, they will be buoyed by their performance against the Stars last time out.
With the back end of the table so congested, Hurstbridge took an important victory over Panton Hill, which not only saw it move clear of Diamond Creek in the relegation battle – it also kept its finals chances alive. It was the last quarter which saw the Bridges kick clear in a tight affair. Daniel Francis and Aron Burns kicked three goals each, while Mitchell Thompson and Tom Grimes putting in big performances ahead of a big home game with Diamond Creek this week.
The victor will keep alive both its Division 2 chances for next season, as well as its finals chances in 2014.
