We have reached the final round of the 2023 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season and are still yet to know which side will join Mernda, Laurimar and Kinglake in finals action this year.
Mernda and Laurimar have both locked away the double chance and will contest the second semi-final on the opening day of the finals series, while in their return to the NFNL, Kinglake have claimed third spot on the table.
The Lakers will play either the Turtles or the Hawks, who are battling it out for fourth spot in two separate games this weekend.
Heidelberg West kept itself in the hunt for finals with a gritty 12-point win over Kinglake at Heidelberg Park last week.
The Hawks edged in front in the second term and were able to hold a narrow lead for the remainder of the contest where a loss would’ve ended their season.
It was mixed news for Lalor who faced Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve.
The Demons kicked the highest ever score and recorded the biggest win in Division 3 history in their 48.25 (313) to 0.2 (2) win over the Bloods. The home side had fifteen individual goal-kickers, led by Riley Edwards and Joel Harris, who both booted seven, while Billy Morrison again imposed himself on the contest.
It has been another difficult season for Lalor, however fans can look forward to club legend Lance Whitnall taking the reins as coach next year.
Reservoir played their third game in a row at Crispe Park when hosting Old Eltham Collegians, and it was the Turtles who put the game away early with a six-goal to nil first term, going on to win by 103 points.
While Nicholas Milne has been a skilful forward in recent years, he excelled in the midfield for the visitors on this occasion.
Daniel Hallett continues his stellar season in defence, while Matthew Williamson booted four majors to go into the last round with 59 goals and a 13-goal lead on the competition goalkicking charts.
“It’s been an up and down year and it all comes down to the last game,” Old Eltham Collegians coach Matthew Sleeman said.
Meanwhile the Mustangs improved on their first match against the Turtles this year by 42 points.
“We just didn’t play with the effort required today,” Reservoir coach Justin George said.
Clayton Robson impressed George with his ruckwork, while Josh Rogers, Jordan Sacca and Sam Heurtau also contributed well.
Kilmore hosted the Fitzroy Stars at J.J. Clancy Reserve and while both teams were out of the finals race, it was an opportunity to claim an important victory as a springboard into 2024. After an even first half, the Blues romped away with a 10-goal to two second half to win by 45 points.
“Our ball movement was awesome and the best second half we’ve played all year,” Kilmore coach Paul Derrick said.
“It’s a huge game next week and we are up for the challenge.”
Ethan Derrick slotted five goals, while Joseph Barry also performed at a high level, as the triumph now locks up sixth spot on the table for the Blues.
Tyson Pickett was excellent up forward with five goals for the Stars and has now kicked thirteen majors in the past two weeks, while Jai Burns did enough to be considered for votes in the Coaches MVP award.
Heidelberg West plays Lalor at Lalor Reserve in the final weekend of the regular season.
The Hawks need to win and hope Old Eltham Collegians go down to Kilmore if the are to play finals.
Michael Missen’s side are too far back in terms of percentage to overtake the Turtles with a big win and would need to claim a triumph by at least 420 points more than the Turtles if they are to grab fourth on percentage.
So the plan is simple for Heidelberg West, they just have to tick off the win while they cheer for Kilmore to cause the upset.
Laurimar comes off the bye to host Reservoir at Laurimar Reserve.
With the double chance all sewn up and top spot on the ladder only a tiny possibility, the game will be a tune-up for the finals.
The last match between these combatants was in the first week after the mid-season break when the Power triumphed to the tune of 144 points. Given that Laurimar appears to be in red hot at the minute, a loss less than that margin would be a great result for Justin George’s men.
It will also be a good challenge for some of the developing Mustang midfielders to match up against the likes of Luke Wilson and Mitch Thompson.
Mernda travels to Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval for the first time in Division 3 to take on the Fitzroy Stars.
The Stars are returning to the ground for the first time since Round 14 and would love to end the 2023 campaign with a win.
To defeat the Demons will be a tough assignment, as Robert Fletcher’s men are now on a five-game winning streak and would want to keep that run going into the finals.
But the local fans would be looking for a competitive effort after going within 33-points of Mernda in their Round 9 clash as Waterview Recreation Reserve.
Perhaps the hardest game in which to tip a winner is also the most crucial, as Old Eltham Collegians welcome Kilmore to Eltham College.
The Turtles only need a win to remain in fourth spot and make it back-to-back finals campaigns.
Most key indicators point to Matthew Sleeman’s men being able to get the job done, and they had a comfortable 33-point win over the Blues back in Round 9 at J.J. Clancy Reserve.
But a case can be made for Kilmore as well. Matches between these teams have been generally tight, with the Blues defeating the Turtles twice in 2022 by under two goals, before Old Eltham Collegians got over the line in the third match that season by a solitary behind, and then defeated Kilmore in the first semi-final.
The Blues were highly impressive late last week against the Stars and if they can continue that form into this week, their fans will give them a chance to pull off the upset.
It’s set up a massive contest between two sides with plenty of recent history against one another.
