A look ahead to Round 3 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
An upset result and some comfortable wins in wet and windy conditions featured in Round 2 action of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 football.
South Morang contested the grand final in 2017, but found itself as an outsider at home against Mernda at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
But the Lions managed to come away with a two-point win in a low-scoring thriller that produced just eight goals. The howling cross wind made play difficult, but the talented players still managed to shine.
South Morang’s Daniel Caruso managed a clever goal during the middle part of the game when his team was having trouble finding the goals. And Jesse Owens-Draper proved to be a handy link man for the Demons.
St Mary’s gradually pulled away from a gritty Lalor outfit at Lalor Reserve to win by 47 points. The result kept the Burra at the top of the ladder after two comfortable wins to start the year.
Eighteen-year-old Mitch Hocking has stepped up after only a handful of senior games last season and was awarded best on ground for the victors, while teammate James Boarotto relished the conditions.
“Both teams scrapped it out. Our fitness held out in the end,” Burra coach Fabian Carelli said after the contest.
Demetrios Constantinou excelled on the wing for the Bloods, as did Daniel Moore (not the ex-Epping player) in the ruck.
“There were more positives than negatives,” Lalor coach Dean Grainger said.
Laurimar’s first game for the year saw it host Panton Hill at Laurimar Reserve. The match was Justin Sherman’s first in charge of the Power.
Scores were level at the main break, but the visitors drew away to win by 42 points. The win atoned for the poor first-up loss by the Redbacks.
Brent Ryan excelled in the win and was joined in the best by Luke Ericson and Mitchell Anderson. Josh Williamson kicked four major in his first game for the Power, while Christopher Menzies performed admirably.
Kilmore jumped out of the blocks to a 27-point quarter time lead over Reservoir at J.J. Clancy Reserve. The Mustangs held their own for the next two quarters before the Blues pulled away late for a 49-point victory.
Calder Cannons and Assumption College player Shane Skidmore performed admirably in his first game for Kilmore. Teammate Benjamin Cooney played in the centre and drifted forward to kick two majors. Adam Milne made the most of the suitable weather to be among the best.
“When the game was there to be won, we played our brand of footy,” Blues coach Nathan Phillips said.
Lachlan Shaw has followed up his Reservoir 2017 best and fairest award with two good performances to begin the new season.
Kilmore faces its toughest assignment to date in Round 3 action when it travels to Whatmough Park to take on ladder-leader St Mary’s. The winner will remain the only undefeated team.
The Burra has looked particularly impressive to begin the new year and would be favoured to win this one. But the Blues seem to have improved and will provide a genuine test for St Mary’s.
Mernda will be desperate to return to the winners’ list when it hosts Laurimar at Waterview Recreation Reserve. With the Power only in its second season, the Demons are expected to take the prize in this contest.
Their ledger stands at one apiece – with Mernda winning well at home in their final game of last season after being the Power’s first scalp earlier in the year.
Dean Grainger will coach Lalor against South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. Less than a year ago, he was coaching the Lions.
A huge positive is that both clubs have been able to register a win early in 2018. The Bloods are likely to be the outsiders, but expect a spirited output from both teams – with an early top-four spot on the line.
Panton Hill plays the first 4:10pm start time game in third division when it hosts Heidelberg West. These teams have not played since the Redbacks’ 2013 premiership season.
The Hawks were extremely disappointing before the bye, but will surely want to lift for this clash, based on their form of last season. Even so, Panton Hill represents a huge challenge in this landmark game.
The Redbacks are currently sixth on the table and a win would position them well for a shot at the top-four.
