A look ahead to Round 8 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3. With every game having plenty of interest, a great round of football is assured.
Panton Hill moved back into the top-two for the first time since Round 2 with a huge 84-point win over Heidelberg West in Round 7 action at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
Matthew Byron booted seven and Rhys Boyden six for the victors in the comprehensive win, while Scott Conte and Sam Parks found plenty of the football.
The Hawks had a bad day but, thanks to a 5-0 start, still sit well placed at third on the ladder. Oliver Welsh played in the midfield and was their best.
Reservoir – fresh off the bye – put in its best effort for the year when defeated by ladder-leader Laurimar by 25 points at Crispe Park. Most would have expected a much bigger margin in the bottom versus top clash.
Scores were level at the last change, but the Power pulled away to the scoring end in the final term.
Mitchell Hawkins followed up a good performance against Kilmore in the previous match to be best for the Mustangs, while Emrys Black continued to shine. In another positive for the club, their reserves team notched up its first win for the year on the day.
Laurimar was not at its peak on the day but secured the vital four points. The win puts the Power two games clear on top of the ladder.
Josh Williamson was best and has now kicked six goals in each of the past two games to remain two goals ahead of Rhys Boyden on the goal kicking table. Fellow forward Dallas King returned after missing the previous week and booted three majors.
“We’re rapt we could win for the three debutants we played today,” coach Justin Sherman said.
Kilmore made it three away wins out of four with an impressive 63-point win over Lalor at Lalor Reserve. The difference in the game was the Blues managed to score into the wind, whereas the Bloods failed to score a major in the first and third terms.
The win returned Kilmore to the top-four and displaced South Morang – who had the bye.
Marcus Webb had a day out with six goals and had Matthew Swindells supporting with four. Chris Ryall again dominated in the middle.
“Happy to put together a four-quarter performance for the first time this year,” coach Nathan Phillip said. “We’ve set the bar now – that’s our norm and we also have some improvement in us as well.”
In a disappointing day for Lalor, Sam Rexhepi booted three majors to remain third on the goal kicking table, while Daniel Langborne was best.
Mernda had momentum following a good last half against Panton Hill the week prior and validated that form with a 48-point win over Old Eltham Collegians at Waterview Recreation Reserve.
Dayne Kellett with six goals and Nicolas Aleksovski with four impressed for the Demons. Christopher Roussos and Christian Cawsey also stood out.
Although trailing at the first break, kicking 2.0 to 2.6 into a strong wind set up the victory. Despite then losing both ruckmen by half time, Mernda held the Turtles to a modest lead at the last change and then romped home with the wind – kicking 8.6 to nil in the final stanza.
“The boys played for each other in tough conditions and ran out a great last quarter to come away with the win,” a happy coach Paul Derrick said. The win keeps their finals hopes alive as they go to the Round 8 bye.
Old Eltham Collegians failed to manage the conditions when playing at the venue for the first time and didn’t capitalise on the early breeze, then failed to kick a goal into the wind.
The Turtles restricted Mernda quite well in the second term to keep the game alive, then rolled the dice in the final term against the breeze to go for the win.
“The boys were never going to give up on trying to take the game on,” coach John Garrard said. He was pleased with Kieran Malone in his first game, while Nick O’Kelly, Corey Ray, Luke Bower and Trent Grindal all contributed well.
Round 8 action takes the teams up to the Queen’s Birthday weekend bye.
Match of the day status belongs to the clash between Laurimar and Heidelberg West at Laurimar Reserve.
Despite the Hawks being undefeated a week earlier, they face the prospect of being three games behind the Power if they lose, albeit with a game in hand.
Laurimar will want to keep its perfect start to the season going, while the Hawks will be desperate to prove they are better than last week’s bad loss to Panton Hill.
The Power won the Round 14 encounter at this venue last year and the win helped propel them to their first finals campaign. Dallas King booted five on the day, as did Kyl Ewart up the other end.
Depending upon selection news, this could be the first Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 match in which both coaches participate in a playing role.
Old Eltham Collegians hosts Lalor for the first time at Eltham College.
The Turtles have looked likely, without notching a win in the NFNL and would be keen to do so this weekend. The Bloods would also love to salute – having not won since their Round 3 victory against Reservoir on Anzac Day.
Both teams have had trouble getting their best side on the park this season, so a win leading up to the bye and a chance to strengthen their team would be a huge confidence boost for the victor.
Reservoir travels to Mill Park Lakes Reserve to play South Morang.
The Mustangs will be underdogs due to their ladder position but did produce a good enough performance against Laurimar last weekend to be considered worthy challengers. So, it is a danger game for South Morang unless it performs well off the bye.
The Lions will return to the top-four if other results go according to ladder positions.
In another match critical to the top end of the ladder, Kilmore welcomes Panton Hill to J. J. Clancy Reserve.
The Redbacks looked like premiership material last weekend against Heidelberg West, while the Blues also put in an accomplished performance at Lalor Reserve.
Despite playing at home, most would consider it an upset if Kilmore could overcome Panton Hill. Should the Blues be able to do so, they will draw level on five wins apiece. But a loss could see them slip to fifth.
The Redbacks would be determined to back up their win last week and strengthen their grip on second place.
