We’re 10 rounds into the 2018 Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 campaign and just one win separates second from eighth – making for one of the most exciting runs to the finals imaginable.
It’s the season that just keeps giving.
Every game in the final eight rounds looks set to have a massive impact on the ladder, as seven sides try desperately to squeeze into the final four places in the top-five, with runaway leader Macleod the only lock for a finals place.
Round 11 is the starting point for the final two months of the home and away season, with three of this weekend’s five matches featuring two sides firmly entrenched in the most absorbing finals race imaginable.
Bundoora has moved back into sixth place on the ladder – its highest position since Round 2 – ahead a clash with Northcote Park at Yulong Reserve. The Bulls have won the past two between the sides, including a 41-point triumph in the season opener along with last year’s preliminary final.
Bundoora made it three wins on the trot last week after overcoming Hurstbridge in a titanic struggle at Ben Frilay Oval. It was only the home side’s inaccuracy that kept the contest within nine points at three-quarter time, before Bundoora gained the upper hand with a 3.7 to 1.2 last term, to win by eight points.
Brenton Keating played his best game of the season to help the Bulls get across the line. Andrew Sturgess and Nathan Thomas found plenty of the football and finished with two goals each, while Scott Dowell featured in the best players for the fifth time from his past eight games.
The Bulls’ 12 goals were shared by eight players in a theme that is becoming common. Gary Moorcroft leads the club’s goal kicking with 27 majors, however the star forward is the only Bull to have kicked more than 10 goals for the season.
This week’s game is the start of a season-defining month for Bundoora, with matches against West Preston-Lakeside, Macleod and Heidelberg to follow in the next three weeks.
Decimated by a host of injuries and the unavailability of many key players, Northcote Park’s four-game winning run was brought to a halt by North Heidelberg last week.
The Cougars’ side featured eight different faces to the outfit that smashed Heidelberg the week prior. Jackson Starcevich was called up to Collingwood’s VFL team, Ash Close and first-choice ruckman Alastair Punshon were unavailable for selection, while Bronik Davies, Jake Mills, Joel Donaldson and Lachlan Boscarini all missed through injury.
Despite that, the Cougars led deep into the final quarter before a masterful Brent Harvey goal in the dying minutes from deep in the forward pocket gave the Bulldogs a famous two-point victory.
Luke Svarc played his best game in 2018 for Northcote Park, Jordan Perry and Paul Dirago once again had a major influence, while Cameron Simpson was solid in defence and won some vital one-on-one battles.
Montmorency and Heidelberg are both looking to end two-game losing runs when they square off at Montmorency Park. Both sides take 5-5 records into the game, with the loser set to fall one game out of the top-five by round’s end.
Montmorency squandered the early ascendancy with poor kicking at goal during last week’s 17-point defeat to Greensborough. The Magpies made the running for much of the first quarter but booted 3.9. They headed into quarter time with a six-point deficit, despite having four more scoring shots.
The major damage was done throughout the second and third quarters, with Greensborough breaking away to a 27-point advantage by three quarter time. Montmorency managed to peg back the deficit in the last quarter, but never looked a winning chance.
Ben Kennedy and Ben Walton were again the Magpies best players last week, while Patrick Fitzgerald and Kye Declase combined for seven goals. The duo has the potential to be a lethal combination if they get enough supply.
Last week’s loss handed Montmorency a 1-4 record against sides placed inside the top-five, with the only win coming against West Preston-Lakeside back in Round 5, when the Magpies prevailed by five points.
Heidelberg regained Sam Gilmore and Will Goss among five changes last week, however the Tigers were unable to keep pace with a rampant Macleod in an 81-point defeat at Warringal Park.
The Tigers’ cause wasn’t aided by an early injury to Josh Minogue, however after kicking three goals in the opening term, they added just one more in the next three quarters to suffer a second-successive heavy defeat, with Macleod finishing with 26 more scoring shots.
With a combined losing aggregate of 147 points over the past fortnight, Heidelberg’s percentage has slumped to 85.23 – considerably lower than the sides it is competing with for a finals place. It means the Tigers may have to win an extra game to make the finals.
Tom Sullivan and Lachie Wilson fought hard against the tide last week, while skipper Michael Brunelli featured among the coaches votes for his tireless efforts.
West Preston-Lakeside is back in second place ahead of clash with North Heidelberg at J.E. Moore Park. It is the first meeting between the sides at this ground since 2011, with their 2015 encounter played at Preston City Oval.
The Roosters made an emphatic return to the winners’ list last week with a 117-point demolition of Whittlesea. The 23.9 (147) to 4.6 (30) result provided the greatest winning margin of the season, eclipsing Greensborough’s 107-point win over the Eagles in Round 5.
After entering the game on the back of successive losses, the Roosters made their intentions known early and skipped out to a 32-point advantage at quarter time. They never relented and stretched the lead at every change – boosted by a six-goal to nil final term.
Jackson Clarke returned to his early-season form and received maximum votes in the Coaches MVP award. The reigning best and fairest produced a blinder to eclipse Ahmed Saad for best afield honours, despite the mercurial forward booting eight goals.
North Heidelberg secured its third successive home win and fourth victory from its past five starts with last week’s last-gasp win over Northcote Park. The Bulldogs are back within percentage of the top-five – an outstanding effort in their first season back in the top flight.
Despite Northcote Park fielding an undermanned side, no credit can be taken away from the Bulldogs. They fought back from a three-goal deficit at quarter time and rallied late to snatch back the lead after looking like being overrun by their visitors.
Brandon Bailey was once again a standout for the Bulldogs and would be firming as the club’s best and fairest leader after an outstanding month of football, while Kyle McDonald produced a season-best performance to help his side secure its fifth win.
Greensborough will start favourite when it makes the trip down Plenty Rd to face bottom-placed Whittlesea.
The Boro made it a season-sweep against Montmorency last Saturday and have returned to third place on the ladder after sitting outside the top-five just a fortnight ago. It is a credible effort, given the number of youngsters currently playing senior football to cover the club’s long injury list.
Billy Murphy made himself an instant favourite amongst the Greensborough faithful with a best on ground performance in his club debut. The Box Hill Hawks forward booted four goals to sink the Magpies, with assistance from Jacob Ireland who chimed in with three.
Billy Bedford’s move to defence continues to pay dividends and he was again ultra-impressive in last week’s triumph, while youngsters Tom Brindley and Ben Pannam, along with co-captain Chris Clark, also had a major influence on the final result.
Whittlesea’s campaign hit a new low last week when completely outclassed by West Preston-Lakeside and the Eagles will now look for a swift response against a side that handed it a drubbing in their most recent meeting.
One positive from last week’s match was the return of Jai Robinson from injury, with the two-time best and fairest winner named among the Eagles best in his first game since Round 2.
With only Hurstbridge in its sights and the remainder of the competition fighting for a finals place, Whittlesea will have to cause a number of upsets against finals aspirants in the run home to avoid a drop back to Division 2 – with their next fixture against the Bridges not until the final round.
Macleod will be shooting for a 10th-consecutive win when it hosts Hurstbridge at De Winton Park. In an even season – it is a remarkable effort by the Roos and a testament to their excellence and consistency.
The Roos reaffirmed their star power at Warringal Park in Round 10 and now look to have the minor premiership sewn up for the second-successive season, with their lead at the top of the table stretched to three games.
What would please coach Garry Ramsay most is the even spread of contributors. Jack Langford moved into the ruck last week to cover the injured Chris Long and produced a best on ground showing, while Nick Lynch booted six goals in just his second game of the year to help offset the absence of Reid Brandt and Ben Lennon.
While the Roos will start favourites this week, they do come up against a Hurstbridge side which has shown plenty of improvement over the past fortnight. They will also likely do so without Lucas Hobbs and Brad Leggett, who look set to represent Vic Metro in its clash against Vic Country.
Hurstbridge was perhaps a touch unlucky to not record its third win of the season against Bundoora, but what is certain is that the club will add to its wins tally if it continues to play the way it did in the second and third quarters against the Bulls.
Trent and Troy Barbero were exceptional against their former side and did everything possible to will their team across the line. Tom Simpson continued his good form since representing the NFNL at the AFL Victoria Community Championships, while Mitch Burton’s three goals made it 20 majors in his past seven games.
The Bridges will be underdogs heading into this game, however they did match-up well against Macleod in both outings last year – including a memorable come-from-behind win at De Winton Park in their last trip to the ground.
