A preview of the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 qualifying and elimination finals.
QUALIFYING FINAL – BUNDOORA vs NORTHCOTE PARK
The opportunity to take a double chance into the second week of the finals is the prize for Bundoora and Northcote Park when they meet in Saturday’s qualifying final.
Despite both being seasoned finals campaigners, it has been some time since both have entered the post-season in such a healthy position.
Bundoora’s second-place finish means it enters the finals with a double chance for the first time since winning the 2013 premiership.
For Northcote Park, the wait for a top-three spot has been even longer, with this year’s third-place finish the Cougars best result since the introduction of the top-five finals system. Of course, the club famously came from fourth to win the 2012 flag.
The sides enter the finals with differing form lines. Bundoora has won seven of its past nine matches and last week prevailed in somewhat of an early qualifying final, when it downed Greensborough at Yulong Reserve.
Northcote Park has lost four of its past seven games, with its average losing margin 57 points during this period. That includes an 84-point defeat to Macleod last Saturday, albeit with a weakened side in a dead-rubber.
In Ricky Dyson’s first season as coach, Bundoora has become a more attcacking side and has scored an average of 97 points a game – two goals more than in 2016.
Gary Moorcroft has again led the goal kicking with 49 majors, although there is a greater spread this year with Josh Grabowski, Isaac Muller, Todd Hughes and Danny Younan – when available from VFL duties – all capable of hitting the scoreboard.
Two-time Frank Rosbrook medallist Matty Dennis has enjoyed another outstanding campaign and again looms as the Bulls’ biggest asset heading into September.
The star ruckman has been named in his side’s best 14 times, which included a dominant three-goal effort against West Preston-Lakeside in Round 16 to drag his side across the line in a vital match for a top-three spot.
Northcote Park perhaps looms as the greatest unknown heading into the finals series. It looked the premiership favourite at Round 11 after starting the year 9-2, but has since been decimated by injury and unavailability to key players.
With a full side there is no limit on what the Cougars can achieve in September, however the club’s premiership chances could hinge on the availability of Collingwood VFL trio Ash Close, Jordan Collopy and Marty Hore. All three played for the Magpies last Saturday and could again feature in the VFL elimination final this weekend.
A knee injury to Jackson Starcevich has also been felt in the back half of the season. The key forward booted 38 majors in 12 games, but hasn’t featured since Round 14.
Despite the key outs, Northcote Park’s side still possess plenty of star power. Reigning club champion Jordan Perry has had arguably a better season in 2017, while Bronik Davies has maintained his status as one of the league’s elite midfielders.
Brock McLennan has returned to the form that saw him named in the 2013 Division 1 Team of the Year. The speedster will relish the open spaces of Preston City Oval, as should dashing half back Tyson Old, who has shown great potential in his first season at senior level.
BUNDOORA
12 wins – 6 losses
Points For – 1737, Average For – 97
Points Against – 1383, Average Against – 77
Average Winning Margin – 40
Average Losing Margin – 20
Leading Goal Kicker – Gary Moorcroft (49)
Most Times In Best – Matthew Dennis (14)
NORTHCOTE PARK
12 wins – 6 losses
Points For – 1646, Average For – 91
Points Against – 1405, Average Against – 78
Average Winning Margin – 40
Average Losing Margin – 40
Leading Goal Kicker – Jackson Starcevich (38)
Most Times In Best – Jordan Perry (10)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2017
Round 12: Bundoora 14.9 (93) def Northcote Park 10.13 (73)
Bundoora
Goals: G. Moorcroft 4, N. Grabowski 2, D. Guccione 2, J. Furlong, D. Mitchell, L. Byrne, J. Lord, J. Grabowski, B. Carlyon
Best: D. Mitchell, M. Dennis, B. Marshall, J. Furlong, N. Thomas, J. Palazzolo
Northcote Park
Goals: J. Starcevich 4, P. Dirago 2, J. Mitchell, B. McLennan, R. Fandrich, A. Close
Best: B. McLennan, B. Barnes-Webb, B. Davies, J. Starcevich, R. Fandrich, D. Galofaro
Round 7: Northcote Park 15.14 (104) def Bundoora 13.11 (89)
Northcote Park
Goals: A. Close 5, J. Starcevich 3, P. Dirago, J. Perry, D. Campbell, B. Barnes-Webb, J. Mills, R. Fandrich, B. Davies
Best: G. Sutton, A. Close, J. Perry, D. Galofaro, P. Dirago, M. Naldrett
Northcote Park
Goals: A. Carmusciano 3, S. Dowell 3, I. Muller 2, G. Moorcroft 2, M. Dennis, J. Grabowski, T. Mancuso
Best: S. Dowell, M. Dennis, M. Pavlovski, B. Nesci, D. Mitchell, J. Palazzolo
ELIMINATION FINAL – WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE vs GREENSBOROUGH
The stage is set for one of the most anticipated elimination finals in recent history when West Preston-Lakeside takes on Greensborough at Preston City Oval on Sunday.
Both sides have certainly proven themselves to be premiership contenders throughout 2017 and will be desperate to make sure their season doesn’t end in the opening week of the finals.
West Preston-Lakeside returns to finals for the first time since 2012. The club’s strike-rate in September is exceptionally good – claiming premiership wins in 2010 and 2003 off the back of long absences from the finals.
The Roosters certainly won’t be found wanting for match-winners during September, with a host of the club’s top-end talent capable of tearing open a finals match on their own.
Ahmed Saad looms as being the most important player in the finals series after producing a stunning first season at J.E. Moore Park. The former St Kilda forward led the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 goal kicking with 73 majors in 16 games and dazzled crowds with his freakish talent.
Saad sent a scare through the Roosters camp when he suffered a hamstring injury in the Round 16 loss at Bundoora. But he was quickly back to his best last week after a one-match layoff, kicking a season-best nine goals in a best on ground performance at Hurstbridge.
Andrew Walker has been equally dominant in his first season since joining from Carlton and was named in the Roosters best players in nine of his 14 games. He should be well rested for a big finals campaign, having sat out four of the final eight home and away matches.
Importantly, Patrick Karnezis has returned to the line-up over the past fortnight after missing much of the back half of the year with a hamstring injury. Karnezis kicked three goals in last week’s win at Ben Frilay Oval, where he was joined in the Roosters’ best by Jackson Clarke, Mathew Stokes and Nathan Valladares – all of whom have had big 2017 campaigns.
Greensborough missed out on a double chance in the finals after last week going down to Bundoora in a game played in finals-like intensity. Despite the loss, the tough hit-out might serve as a perfect preparation for a long September campaign.
The Boro enter the finals with wins in 11 of their past 13 matches, having overcome a 0-5 start to the season. In the space of three months they have gone from wooden spoon contenders to premiership prospects.
Jack Johnston, Nick Riddle and Ricky Mullins have been vital in Greensborough’s push up the ladder. The trio have consistently led from the front, with strong support from the likes of Chris Clark and Jason Rogers.
Youngsters Billy Bedford, Brody Tickell and Michael Croxford have shown great promise and have continued to improve the longer the season has gone.
The greatest concern for Greensborough ahead of this week’s game will be its poor head-to-head form against West Preston-Lakeside this year. The Roosters remain the only side the Boro haven’t beaten, losing by 78 and 47 points in the two regular-season encounters.
The Boro have managed just 13 goals in those two matches – the same tally that Ahmed Saad has contributed by himself.
WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE
11 wins – 7 losses
Points For – 1617, Average For – 90
Points Against – 1350, Average Against – 75
Average Winning Margin – 37
Average Losing Margin – 20
Leading Goal Kicker – Ahmed Saad (73)
Most Times In Best – Jackson Clarke (11)
GREENSBOROUGH
11 wins – 7 losses
Points For – 1448, Average For – 80
Points Against – 1300, Average Against – 72
Average Winning Margin – 30
Average Losing Margin – 25
Leading Goal Kicker – Josh Grubb (23)
Most Times In Best – Jack Johnston (13)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2017
Round 13: West Preston-Lakeside 14.5 (89) def Greensborough 6.6 (42)
West Preston-Lakeside
Goals: A. Saad 7, S. Balassopoulos 2, M. Vincitorio, G. McDonagh, J. Ramaekers, N. Valladares, S. Hiho
Best: A. Saad, J. Clarke, L. Lirosi, S. Hiho, S. Gannon, M. Vincitorio
Greensborough
Goals: C. Clark, D. McLinden, B. Tickell, B. Bedford, A. Stellas, R. Boyden
Best: J. Johnston, R. Boyden, N. Riddle, R. Mullins, J. Desmond, B. Tickell
Round 5: Greensborough 7.9 (51) def by West Preston-Lakeside 19.15 (129)
Greensborough
Goals: M. Croxford 2, D. McLinden, M. Merkel, B. Tickell, K. Mow, B. Bedford
Best: R. Mullins, J. Rogers, B. Bedford, M. Croxford, D. McLinden, L. McQuilken
West Preston-Lakeside
Goals: A. Saad 6, P. Karnezis 4, J. Novelli 3, M. Stokes 2, M. Batey, M. Tobin, L. McVeigh, S. Gannon
Best: A. Walker, M. Batey, A. Saad, M. Tobin, M. Stokes, J. Novelli
