Heidelberg and North Heidelberg another a new chapter to their rivalry, while the reigning premier meets a powerhouse making a September return in a massive start to the finals series.
QUALIFYING FINAL – HEIDELBERG v NORTH HEIDELBERG
Heidelberg and North Heidelberg will add another chapter to their storied rivalry when they meet at Preston City Oval in the 2019 Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 qualifying final.
It shapes as one of the most highly anticipated finals in recent times, with the two old foes to meet in a final for the first time since the 2005 Division 1 grand final – when the Bulldogs stunned the Tigers to claim a famous premiership.
Both have had plenty of time to prepare for the encounter – with the sides all but locked in for second and third-place finishes for the best part of the final month of the home and away season.
Heidelberg has been the most improved side in the competition in 2019 in Frank Raso’s second season at the helm. After consecutive sixth-place finishes over the previous two years, the Tigers recorded a 14-4 win-loss record in 2019 to book a return to Preston City Oval for the first time since winning the 2016 grand final.
Sam Gilmore has been a major reason behind his side’s surge up the ladder this season. Gilmore assumed captaincy with Ryan Stone and has taken his game to even greater heights this year to become the competition’s number one ruckman.
Given the class that both sides possess in the midfield this week, Gilmore’s duel with Michael Florance looks pivotal in determining which side advances to face Greensborough in next week’s second semi final.
On the back of their strong work through the midfield, the Tigers have also become a much greater attacking force in 2019 – averaging 11 points a game more than they did throughout the 2018 campaign.
Chaz Sargeant and Sam Grimley have each booted 34 goals despite each missing periods of the season, while Josh Minogue has also been a presence when used in attack – booting 23 goals, which includes multiple goals in five matches.
Plenty of interest will surround Heidelberg’s team selection, with the Tigers managing an extensive injury list throughout the back half of the season. Tom Sullivan, Will Knight, Will Goss and Nathan Honey have all returned to the side over the past two weeks, although star recruit Jack Blair hasn’t featured since the Round 14 win at Hurstbridge.
North Heidelberg enters this week’s game on the back of four-consecutive wins, which includes a 55-point triumph over an emotionally charged Bundoora last week. Brent Harvey and Shane Biggs both sat out the game but are set to be certain starters this week.
After making a blistering start to the season, the Bulldogs endured a slight mid-season lull – where they won just three games between rounds 7 to 14. But they seem to have gotten back on track since a Round 14 thrashing at the hands of West Preston-Lakeside.
Injuries have certainly hit harder than they did last year, yet the Bulldogs have still finished with a better record than in 2018. They are the only one of last year’s top-three sides to again take a double chance into this year’s finals – a mighty effort for a club that was playing in second division two years ago.
Daniel Harris arrived at the club late in the pre-season but has been one of the recruits of the season. The former North Melbourne and Gold Coast midfielder’s impact has reached far greater than his on-field performance, with his leadership also playing a major factor in the Bulldogs’ remaining one of this year’s leading flag contenders.
Billy Hogan has taken his game to a new level and has featured among North’s best players in 10 of his 15 appearances, while also booting 22 goals. Meanwhile, former skipper Leigh Gilbert continues to perform at a high level despite playing a slightly different role this year.
Heidelberg may be the slight favourite entering the qualifying final based on its superior record across the regular season. However, the sides shared wins in their two encounters throughout the year, both of which were played in the first half of the season.
North Heidelberg made a fast start to the Round 4 encounter at Shelley Reserve and held sway all day, with Shane Harvey booting seven goals in a 44-point win. However, Heidelberg was equally dominant in the return fixture at Warringal Park – where Chaz Sargeant booted five goals to steer the Tigers to a 53-point triumph.
HEIDELBERG
14 wins – 4 losses
Points For – 1596, Average For – 89
Points Against – 1057, Average Against – 59
Average Winning Margin – 46
Average Losing Margin – 28
Leading Goal Kicker – Sam Grimley and Chaz Sargeant (34)
Most Times in Best – Sam Gilmore (14)
NORTH HEIDELBERG
12 wins – 5 losses – 1 draw
Points For – 1526, Average For – 85
Points Against – 1235, Average Against – 69
Average Winning Margin – 38
Average Losing Margin – 33
Leading Goal Kicker – Shane Harvey (61)
Most Times in Best – Daniel Harris (11)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2019
Round 9: Heidelberg 12.10 (82) def North Heidelberg 3.11 (29)
Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: C. Sargeant 5, P. Della Rocca, J. Blair, J. Minogue, L. Wilson, F. McIvor, G. Fable, A. Bonaddio
Best Players: R. Stone, L. Wilson, D. O’Dwyer, J. Gribben, T. Sullivan, S. Gilmore
North Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: D. Bramich, S. Harvey, J. Jones
Best Players: K. Jaksic, K. McDonald, D. Bramich, L. Gilbert, R. McGhie, S. Biggs
Round 4: North Heidelberg 13.20 (98) def Heidelberg 7.12 (54)
North Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: S. Harvey 7, S. Biggs 2, J. Baddeley-Kelly 2, N. Matthews, B. Hirt
Best Players: R. McGhie, S. Harvey, B. Bailey, B. Harvey, B. Hogan, J. Tardio
Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: M. Cecchin 3, J. Blair 2, A. Bonaddio, R. Stone
Best Players: M. Cecchin, A. Bonaddio, D. O’Dwyer, N. Honey, S. Gilmore, F. Carroll
ELIMINATION FINAL – WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE v MONTMORENCY
The stage is set for an elimination final blockbuster at Preston City Oval on Sunday, where the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 reigning premier takes on a powerhouse returning to the finals after a five-year absence.
There have been times throughout the 2019 season where playing finals has looked highly unlikely for West Preston-Lakeside and Montmorency – yet both have managed to overcome adversity to feature in September.
West Preston-Lakeside’s form over the past two months makes it as good a chance to contend for the premiership as any of the sides that finished above it on the ladder – although the Roosters are going to have to do it the hard way if they are to defend last year’s flag.
After a 0-6 start to the year, even the most optimistic supporter would have had large doubts about the club’s finals chances – however with 10 wins from their past 12 games the Roosters have stormed into the finals with great momentum.
Ahmed Saad has again been central in the club’s success in booking a third-successive finals berth, with the 2018 premiership co-captain claiming his second Division 1 leading goal kicker award with a 76-goal season – which includes hauls of nine, eight and two bags of seven.
2017 best and fairest winner Jackson Clarke is tracking towards his second club champion award and was instrumental in turning the club’s fortunes around, while Luke Lirosi and Alex Federico have been dominant through the midfield.
The loss of Ozgur Uysal to suspension will be felt after a strong home and away season, however the club could be bolstered by the return of several VFL-listed players during the finals series.
Collingwood pair Sam Glover (who has been invited to the AFL state draft combine) and Michael Marotta won’t take part in the VFL finals, while Matt Signorello’s Port Melbourne finished seventh and will be underdogs in their elimination final against Geelong.
Montmorency’s season looked shot after winning just five of its opening 13 matches, however the Magpies’ ended the year with wins in four of their last five games to secure a top-five finish for the first time since 2014.
The past month has proven to be somewhat of a finals series for the Magpies – who have banked outstanding wins against the Roosters and Macleod, before scraping over the line last week in a tense battle against neighbour and fierce rival Lower Plenty.
Jesse Donaldson could hardly have done more to propel his side back into the finals, with the club and representative captain producing arguably his best season – a mighty feat from a player who has long been one of the competition’s elite players.
Jai Robinson was one of few recruits to join in Garry Ramsay’s first season at the helm, but has justified his inclusion with a dominant campaign, while Stefan Uzelac is developing well and could figure among the top-five in the club’s best and fairest at season’s end.
Patrick Fitzgerald has been as consistent as ever up forward and finished the year with 57 goals – marking the sixth time in the past seven years that he has booted more than 50 goals in a season.
A return to the finals is well deserved for Fitzgerald, who has stuck with the Magpies despite some lean recent seasons. He could be joined by Ben Walton inside 50 this week – with Walton looking set to return from a two-match suspension.
West Preston-Lakeside may enter the elimination as favourite, however Montmorency has matched up well against the Roosters in both encounters this year.
The Magpies led for three quarters before fading out to a 26-point loss in their Round 8 encounter at J.E. Moore Park, before squaring the ledger with a 32-point upset in the Round 15 match at Montmorency Park – set-up by an eight-goal to one second term.
WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE
10 wins – 8 losses
Points For – 1513, Average For – 84
Points Against – 1445, Average Against – 80
Average Winning Margin – 41
Average Losing Margin – 42
Leading Goal Kicker – Ahmed Saad (76)
Most Times in Best – Jackson Clarke and Luke Lirosi (14)
MONTMORENCY
9 wins – 9 losses
Points For – 1315, Average For – 73
Points Against – 1435, Average Against – 80
Average Winning Margin – 25
Average Losing Margin – 38
Leading Goal Kicker – Patrick Fitzgerald (57)
Most Times in Best – Jesse Donaldson (15)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2019
Round 15: Montmorency 15.9 (99) def West Preston-Lakeside 9.13 (67)
Montmorency
Goal Kickers: B. Walton 4, P. Fitzgerald 4, A. Chiocci, B. Gillard, J. Donaldson, S. Uzelac, J. Bedrac, J. Steele, R. Howe
Best Players: B. Murphy, M. Fitz-Gerald, B. Walton, S. Uzelac, C. Dalgleish, B. Fotheringhame
West Preston-Lakeside
Goal Kickers: A. Saad 3, G. McDonagh 2, M. Vincitorio, M. Harman, M. Crapper, L. Lirosi
Best Players: G. McDonagh, L. Lirosi, D. Costanzo, J. Tadd, M. Dreher, J. Clarke
Round 8: West Preston-Lakeside 14.12 (96) def Montmorency 11.4 (70)
West Preston-Lakeside
Goal Kickers: A. Saad 6, A. Tilley 2, M. Marotta 2, O. Uysal 2, M. Signorello, A. Federico
Best Players: J. Clarke, O. Uysal, A. Saad, L. Lirosi, A. Federico, J. McDonald
Montmorency
Goal Kickers: M. White 4, B. Walton 2, R. Howe 2, S. McCallum, P. Fitzgerald, J. Donaldson
Best Players: J. Donaldson, B. Jenkin, J. Robinson, S. McCallum, J. Steele, M. White
