The ladder has a familiar look to it after Round 2 action of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 football, with Laurimar and South Morang sitting atop as the only two unbeaten teams.
Winless Mernda and Lalor share bottom of the table, while Heidelberg West, Old Eltham Collegians, Kilmore and Reservoir fill the middle spots with a win apiece.
After enjoying the Easter break, teams now face a stretch of seven straight games to jostle for ladder positions leading up to the Queen’s Birthday bye.
Round 2 action had plenty of highlights, but the win by Reservoir over Lalor at Lalor Reserve tops the bill. The Mustangs hadn’t won since late in the 2017 season but pulled away from the Bloods for a 31-point win. The Reservoir team looks younger, quicker, and improved this year.
Lalor lost a plethora of talent from the 2021 team, including Justin Bentley, Lachlan Evans, Louis Hill, Bradley Johnstone, Sam Rexhepi, Pasquale Saccuzzo and Hirsi Twomey. With a proud history including eight flags, the Bloods will look to rebuild and improve during the year.
Kilmore and Laurimar played out yet another thriller. The Blues had some injuries in the first half and the Power had an 11-point lead at the main break.
Kilmore played a terrific third term with a slight breeze at their backs and took a 14-point lead into the last break.
The final term was tight and, as per recent clashes, it went down to the wire. Power defender Jake Richards moved onto the ball late in the game and played a big part in the resurgence. A late goal gave Laurimar a 2-point win.
“I’m really proud of the way we fought out the game, said coach Jimmy Atkins. “We’re a team that fights it out to the end.”
Atkins was impressed by the work of Mitch Thompson, recruit Nathan Andrews and Josh Leather in the ruck.
“The boys played with heart”, said Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips. “They were undermanned, we asked a lot of them, but Laurimar’s fresher legs got them over the line.”
Phillips gave a big tick to Grant Paxton who kept Jacson Cecil to a solitary goal. Scott Swindells booted four majors and he shares the goal-kicking ladder on 7 goals with Nicholas Paton from Heidelberg West. Laurimar’s Josh Campbell kicked two goals to join Swindells and Paton.
Coach Gary Hall was a late withdrawal for South Morang and assistant coach Rodd Loughrey filled in when his team played Heidelberg West at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
The Hawks are pushing hard to play finals in 2022 and provided a serious challenge for the Lions. But South Morang was able to find another gear when needed and won to the tune of 22-points.
“Happy to get the win under the circumstances”, said Loughrey, “and looking forward to Gary taking the reins next match”.
Loughrey praised the work of Ben Muscat and Mitch Kalpakis, while giving the entire defence a big tick.
Ryan Offer was clearly the best player for Heidelberg West and played in the ruck. Allan Young booted five majors in his first game for the season, while Louis Hill got plenty of touches.
“You don’t give good teams three or four goals from undisciplined acts and expect to win”, said coach Michael Missen. The lesson for the Hawks was that the top teams make you pay for your errors.
Old Eltham Collegians put aside the disappointment of an opening round loss when recording an emphatic 53-point victory over Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve. A 4.5 to 0.1 first term set up the win.
“It was a real stand-out performance”, said coach Matt Sleeman. “In years past, we might have let a game like this slip. We’re excited to play Heidelberg West after the break.”
New Turtles captain Eden Simpson led from the front with some big tackles and kicked a great goal into the wind. The main stars of the team such as recruit Nicholas Milne performed well, but Sleeman also highlighted a couple of players who had been in and out of the team in the past two seasons.
Jay Smith and Ben Cox showed their potential, with both featuring in the best and combining for three goals.
It was a disappointing day for Demon fans. A win in this type of clash would’ve set them team up well, but they go to the break 0-2.
Rory McIntyre impressed for Mernda as did first gamer Christian Evans. Evans looks likely to play many more senior matches after that effort.
Round 3 action is highlighted by the clash between Heidelberg West and Old Eltham Collegians at Heidelberg Park.
The 2021 season began with a Friday game between the Hawks and Turtles at Heidelberg Park. Heidelberg West won that night by 77-points with Allan Young kicking four.
With a truncated 2021 season, this was their only encounter in 2021. Had the season been completed, a possible outcome was these two teams fighting for fourth spot.
Early in 2022, a similar scenario has occurred. The winner will be in the top four at the end of the round and the loser out.
Despite the lop-sided score line when these teams last met, more recent form would suggest a tight contest.
Reservoir hosts Kilmore at Crispe Park. The week’s break may have come at a good time for the Mustangs, who would’ve celebrated after their breakthrough win a couple of weeks back and will now play with a weight lifted off their shoulders.
The Blues will, nonetheless, go into the game as hot favourites in this must-win game. A victory would propel them into the top four.
Kilmore’s last trip to the venue saw them come away with a 126-point win. Reservoir fans would love a huge upset win, but would also be pleased if the result was a substantial improvement on the 2021 result at the venue.
South Morang has back-to-back home games either side of Easter and hosts Lalor at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. Given that this is a top versus bottom game, few would give the Bloods a chance.
Lalor fans would be looking for the team to build as the season progresses, but few would give them a chance of winning.
The Lions hope to get coach Gary Hall back and Ben Peterson will be available for selection after completing his 2021 suspension.
South Morang will look to bank the win and consolidate its position near the top of the table.
Laurimar hosts neighbour Mernda at Laurimar Reserve to round out this weekend’s action. Demon fans will be looking for their team to lift after a 0-2 start, but it will be a tough battle to overcome the Power.
An upset win would put the season back on track for Mernda. Laurimar would see this as a must win game and would be keen to remain unbeaten ahead of a trio of games against finals aspirants in Old Eltham Collegians, Heidelberg West and South Morang.
