We have four enticing contests to cast our eyes over in Round 6 of the 2023 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season.
Two teams in Kinglake and Heidelberg West entered Round 5 undefeated and at home to an opponent outside the top four.
Kinglake (5-0) took on the Fitzroy Stars (1-4) in the clash of the new Division 3 teams of 2023 at Kinglake Memorial Oval. After trailing by 27-points at quarter time, the Stars worked their way back into the game, but despite a strong five goal to two last term, the Lakers prevailed by 10-points.
“We are happy to be 5 and 0 and we’re onto a new challenge next week,” Kinglake coach Andrew Fairchild said.
Fairchild gave a big tick to Thomas Clarke’s effort in the ruck as well as Jed Tyrell, who kicked four majors.
Despite poor first quarters in the recent games, the Stars now seem to be close to a good vein of form.
“We are starting to click and gel,” said Fitzroy Stars coach Lionel Proctor.
“We’ve showed that we can match it with the top teams, and we will take confidence out of that.”
Proctor shows his skills as a playing coach and some of his positional moves also paid dividends. Corey Wanganeen going to defence worked well while Anthony Walker did the reverse in moving into attack, proving to be dangerous and hitting the scoreboard. The Stars now go to the bye for Round 6.
Meanwhile Heidelberg West went in as firm favourites against Kilmore at Heidelberg Park, but the Blues led for most of the day to clinch a thrilling two-point win.
“Most proud about the great team effort today, it was a four-quarter effort, and we can build on that,” Kilmore coach Paul Derrick said.
Derrick praised the work of Ethan Fitzpatrick at centre half back as well as his wingers Liam Salter and Jake Beattie.
Although the Hawks only lost by two points, some onlookers thought that the Blues should’ve won by more.
“We were completely outplayed by a hungry opposition from start to finish,” Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen said.
The only winners Missen could name on the day were Lachlan Evans, Brad Moore and Jordan Allen, with the defeat droppiing the Hawks back from second to third spot on the table.
Mernda came off the bye to defeat Reservoir at Crispe Park by 113-points.
There was no post-bye rustiness for the visitors who booted nine goals to one in the opening term. The win took the Demons into the top four and they look to be a finals threat in 2023.
“We got to play another two under-19s boys with one playing his first game,” Mernda coach Robert Fletcher. said
“Our young players in Nathan Baccega, Jesse Guelfo and Riley Vincent were really good again.”
Billy Morrison again stood out, while Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson booted ten majors in an impressive display up forward.
The Mustangs were good in patches but were unable to capitalise on their brief periods of dominance.
“We took another step forward,” Reservoir coach Justin George said.
“We’re on an educational journey and we’re learning to compete at this level.”
George liked the work of Ryan Evans in the ruck as well as Tom Dunn and Matthew Barnes.
Laurimar snapped a two-game losing streak against Old Eltham Collegians by winning a thriller at Laurimar Reserve, holding on to claim a three-point victory.
Matthew Williamson retained his spot on the top of the goal-kicking table with a bag of four to take him to 22 majors, while Micah Vecchio booted two to take his tally to 12 and edge ahead of 2022 leading goal-kicker and team mate in Jacson Cecil who is on 11.
Teams have the chance to move up the ladder in a slate of games where every contest looks close to a 50/50 game.
The highlight for Lalor and Reservoir fans is that one of their teams will be celebrating their first win this week when they meet at Lalor Reserve.
The Mustangs won three games in 2022 and all were against a Bloods side who haven’t won since 2021. But Lalor fans will remember game two of their clashes with Reservoir last year when they led by roughly four goals in the second half but lost the match due to a lack of poise.
The form lines of this season would see most tipsters favour the Mustangs, but the Bloods have the home ground advantage. This day has been marked in the calendar by fans of both teams and a great contest is anticipated.
Before the start of the season, few people would have predicted Mernda and Kilmore to play finals. The Demons finished sixth last year, while the Blues lost some quality players after losing the first semi-final in 2022.
But the Demons began the season defeating Old Eltham Collegians and Laurimar, while last week Kilmore defeated the previously unbeaten Heidelberg West at Heidelberg Park. So it’s fair to say these two outfits have pulled off the three biggest upsets of the season.
Also, each side has had one result which stands out as much poorer than the rest. The Blues lost their opening round encounter to Laurimar by 70-points, while the Demons lost to Kinglake in Round 3 by 36-points, but were down 70-points at the last change.
Whichever team brings their best will be mightily hard to beat. The corresponding match at this venue last season saw Mernda produce a huge upset result in overcoming Kilmore to the tune of 25-points.
Demons fans would fancy their chances playing at home as well as the Blues in the second game of back-to-back road trips, but Kilmore must be given a great chance on last week’s form.
Laurimar hosts Heidelberg West at Laurimar Reserve in a critical match as far as spots near the top of the ladder is concerned.
The Hawks sit a game behind the Power and would move above them with a win courtesy of the match ratio. Plus, the desire to prove last week’s shock loss was just a blip on the radar, will provide plenty of incentive.
But it won’t be easy defeating the team that many still believe to be the top premiership contender on their home deck. Laurimar is aiming for four wins on the trot and their previous encounter with the Hawks at this venue in 2022 resulted in a 56-point win for Jimmy Atkins’ men.
Kinglake travels for its first game at Eltham College to face Old Eltham Collegians. While the win / loss ratio would suggest the undefeated Lakers should be too good for the sixth placed Turtles, other considerations suggest that this could be a very tight affair.
Despite Old Eltham Collegians having a 2-3 record, their recent form looks good, and they almost defeated a great team in Laurimar last weekend. They also now return home after two road trips and will be desperate to square the ledger at 3-3.
But it’s also hard to tip against the Lakers who have taken everything before them in 2022. Most pundits would now have them as finals certainties. If they can win the next two games against the Turtles and Laurimar, they would be well and truly in the premiership discussions.
