WHILE Heidelberg continues its stronghold over the competition, the continual improvement of Whittlesea means there are few easy wins in Meadows Greyhounds Division 1.
In Round 10 three of the competition’s bottom-four teams notched convincing wins, turning the ladder on its head moving into the final two months of the home and away season.
Other than Heidelberg – who looks assured of first place on the ladder – all remaining spots in the top five are up for grabs as the race for a place in the finals intensifies heading into July.
Whittlesea has enjoyed a mid-season resurgence following the Queen’s Birthday long weekend and the Eagles head to Eltham this week with a sense of belonging in the top flight.
The Eagles last week led from start to finish at the Whittlesea Showgrounds to record their maiden victory against Bundoora.
The home side contained the Bulls to just one goal in the first half and led by 47 points at the last change, before easing to a 28-point triumph.
Northern Knights product Clancy Bland produced his best senior game to lead Whittlesea, with strong support from Jai Robinson and Chris Horman.
With a one-game and percentage gap over bottom-placed Lower Plenty, a third-straight win this week would go a long way to sealing the Eagles’ place in Division 1 next season.
Eltham missed an opportunity to push inside the top five following last week’s 54-point defeat to Northcote Park.
The Panthers slipped to seventh on the ladder, and while equal on points with fifth-placed Montmorency, the big percentage gap between them and the Magpies is worth nearly a game.
Matthew Evans booted three of Eltham’s five goals at Bill Lawry Oval last week, while Bailey Taglieri continued his good recent form.
The Panthers were comfortable winners in their Round 4 clash with Whittlesea.
The second of this season’s grand final rematches takes place in Round 11 when second-placed Macleod hosts third-placed Greensborough at De Winton Park.
It is a crucial match as both sides look to secure a top-three finish, with the loser likely to sit inside the top five by only percentage.
Without a host of key players, including Kane Shaw, Hamish Paynter and Cathal Corr, Macleod’s depth was put to the test in last week’s 45-point win over Lower Plenty.
The Roos were forced to fight all the way, breaking clear late courtesy of five unanswered goals in the final quarter.
Matthew Clark’s rebirth as a forward continued, booting eight goals and hauling in a number of telling contested marks. Clark has kicked 26 majors in the past five matches after going goalless in his first three appearances this year.
Lucas Hobbs was also an influential figure and featured in the Roos’ best players for the fifth consecutive match.
For the second time this season Greensborough heads into the grand final rematch on the back of consecutive losses, following last week’s 30-point defeat at Heidelberg.
Despite being bolstered by the return of Matthew Hyde, Lachlan McQuilken, Tristan Stead and Josh Callaway, the Boro trailed the Tigers all day at Warringal Park.
The Boro were again restricted to just seven majors and have not reached triple figures since Round 1. By comparison, they kicked more than 100 points on 10 occasions last year.
Bundoora has slipped to fourth spot on the back of consecutive defeats and faces the unenviable task of hosting a white-hot Heidelberg at Yulong Reserve.
The Bulls have been well beaten in their past two starts and will hope for a massive form reversal against one of their fiercest rivals.
A loss could see Phil Plunkett’s side slip outside the top five for the first time since Round 1.
Bundoora was denied any quick ball movement in last week’s upset loss at Whittlesea.
Brent Marshall shook off injury to try to inspire his teammates, while Ben Young, Matthew Dennis and Josh Grabowski also featured among their side’s better players.
Still yet to play Bundoora this season, an 11th-straight win this week would give Heidelberg a competition clean sweep, having beaten all other Division 1 rivals over the opening ten rounds.
Last week’s win over Greensborough again displayed the Tigers’ premiership credentials, having now beaten last year’s grand finalists in successive weeks.
Adam Symes was again among the Tigers’ best last week, booting four goals in the second quarter to feature among the coaches votes for the fourth-straight match.
Paul Bower was prominent off half back, while Sam Gilmore was able to push forward for three goals.
Montmorency will be favoured to claim its fourth win on the trot when it hosts next-door neighbour Lower Plenty at Montmorency Park North Oval.
Montmorency’s midfielders benefitted from Joel McLellan’s dominance in the ruck last week as the Magpies claimed an impressive 64-point win away to an in-form West Preston-Lakeside.
The Magpies’ top-end talent were all influential, with Ben Fennell (four goals), Stephen McCallum, Jesse Donaldson and James Brooker all finding plenty of the footy, and Patrick Fitzgerald and Ben Walton sharing seven goals. Billy Jenkin was also in great touch off half back.
The Magpies have proven themselves to be genuine finals contenders over the past month and were 100-point winners in their previous outing against their neighbours in Round 5.
Lower Plenty was gallant in last week’s defeat to Macleod, winning the second and third quarters to trail the reigning premier by just 14 points at three-quarter time.
A final quarter fadeout was worsened by Round 10 wins to Whittlesea and Northcote Park, which have left the Bears a distant way behind the pack in the battle to avoid relegation.
Patrick Flynn continued his exceptional season with a dominant performance in the ruck against the Roos, while Darcy Barden moved forward and booted four goals
This week’s action includes a Sunday showdown between West Preston-Lakeside and Northcote Park at J.E Moore Park.
After an impressive month, West Preston-Lakeside was ordinary in last week’s home loss to Montmorency, where it was outplayed for all but the opening 20 minutes of the game.
Shaun Gannon was clearly his side’s best player, winning plenty of the footy and booting two goals, but he had few helpers in the big defeat.
The Roosters have enjoyed little success against Northcote Park in recent times, managing just one draw in their past nine outings. Their last win against the Cougars was in Round 6, 2012.
Northcote Park produced its best performance of the year last Saturday and will remain in the finals hunt if it can this weekend record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Leading by 13 points at three-quarter time, Harmit Singh’s side put its foot down in the last quarter, booting 6.5 and keeping Eltham scoreless to win by nine goals.
Aaron Shaw and Mannon Johnston combined for seven majors in heavy conditions, Ben McNiece returned from Essendon’s VFL outfit and played a starring role, while ruckman Simon Potter was named among the Cougars’ best in his second game since crossing from Oak Park.
