The finals hopes of two of the competition’s powerhouse sides could hinge on a vital match up in Round 14 of Meadows Greyhounds Division 1.
Last week’s action provided several telling results as the race towards the finals draws towards a dramatic conclusion.
Greensborough just edged out North Heidelberg in one of the games of the season; West Preston-Lakeside took a giant leap towards September with a big over Macleod, while Hurstbridge kept its finals hopes alive with a huge comeback win over Bundoora.
The outcome means that nine sides remain realistic finals contenders with five rounds to go, however that number could be reduced by the end of Round 14.
Bundoora hosts Montmorency at Yulong Reserve in what shapes as a do-or-die game, with the sides placed seventh and eighth respectively with 5-8 records.
Bundoora will be reeling after letting slip a 38-point lead in last week’s one-point defeat to Hurstbridge at Ben Frilay Oval – handing the club its fourth-consecutive defeat and second loss to the Bridges this season.
The Bulls produced their best football in months during the second term, when they piled on seven goals to two to turn a nine-point deficit into a 24-point advantage. They appeared to have the game in safe keeping early in the last, before conceding seven of the last eight goals.
They must now turn around their recent poor home record to end their losing run and stay alive in the finals race. The Bulls have lost their past four games at Yulong Reserve, where they have kicked just eight goals across their past two games at the venue.
Making this week’s game even more vital for Bundoora is the fact it plays each of the current top-four in the final month of the home and away season. Eight wins looks the bare minimum to finish in the top-five, meaning they will have to win at least three of their final five to play finals. The figure could be as high as four, depending on other results.
Montmorency was unable to continue its strong form in last week’s fadeout home defeat to Heidelberg. The Magpies entered the match in good touch and were within a point midway through the second term but managed just two of the last 12 goals in the 50-point loss.
The Magpies have faltered regularly this season when opportunities have presented to move inside the top-five, but this week’s game provides a massive chance to correct that against an opposition that will be equally desperate for a victory.
Montmorency’s run home is far from easy, but it does look clearer than Bundoora’s – meaning a win this week could reduce the number of sides the Magpies are competing against for a place in the finals.
Bundoora won the last outing between the sides by just seven points at Montmorency Park. The Bulls held out a fast finish from the home side in the Round 7 encounter, however they have managed just one win since.
Gary Moorcroft and Patrick Fitzgerald each booted four goals in that game, and both look set to be vital for their respective team’s chances this week. Fitzgerald (41 goals) and Moorcroft (35) are the only players in this match to feature inside the top-20 on the goal kicking chart and may have to kick a big haul to get their respective side over the line.
West Preston-Lakeside hosts North Heidelberg at J.E. Moore Park in an enticing clash between the competition’s fourth and third-placed sides.
While a place in the finals is far from assured, the Roosters look to be the side most capable of challenging the top-three sides.
The reigning premier have moved to a season-best position on the ladder following wins in six of their past seven matches and if they can notch another scalp this weekend, they will be well on the way to featuring in a third-successive finals series under Rob Maiorana.
Not only have the Roosters recorded wins over the past two weeks, they have also significantly bolstered their percentage – which could be telling at season’s end. Wins by 61 and 47 points over Macleod and Lower Plenty have bolstered their percentage from 87.09 to 98.00.
Last week’s dominant win over Macleod, in the pair’s first meeting since last year’s grand final, was the Roosters’ best of the campaign. In what looked an even match going in, the Roosters kicked seven of the first eight goals, before sealing the result with the opening five goals of the third term.
Luke Lirosi and Alex Federico are in ripping form in the middle of the ground, with Federico lifting his game to another level over the past two weeks – timely given Matthew Signorello’s return to VFL duties.
Ahmed Saad is now seven goals clear atop the goal kicking table with 50 goals to his name. He looks set to be marked by Ryan McGhie this week in what has become a great head-to-head contest over the past 12 months.
Ozgur Uysal is playing his best football since joining the club and was outstanding in last week’s win over Macleod, while Mitch Crapper enters this week’s match off his best game at senior level – which included three goals.
North Heidelberg may go into the Round 14 game on the back of a loss, but the Bulldogs lost no admirers in last week’s defeat to Greensborough at War Memorial Park in a fantastic exhibition of grassroots football.
The Bulldogs fought back from a three-goal deficit several times and even took the lead in the final term, before just being edged out by the ladder-leader in a 12-point result. Despite losing, the Bulldogs will take plenty away from the match.
Shane Biggs is beginning to hit his straps and last week’s effort demonstrated his ability to lift in the big occasions. With Shane Harvey subdued, Biggs was a constant threat and finished with three goals. He looms as a major X-factor at Preston City Oval in September.
Brent Harvey and Billy Hogan will both be better for the run after missing the preceding three games. Their return to the field makes the midfield battle a treat this week, with the duo and Jesse Tardio to take on Lirosi, Federico and Uysal.
North Heidelberg has won three of the five matches between the sides since the beginning of last year. That includes a 71-point triumph at Shelley Reserve in Round 3, when they kept the Roosters to just eight goals – seven of which were kicked by Saad.
Ben Frilay Oval hosts a clash between Hurstbridge and Heidelberg, where the ninth-placed Bridges will be looking for a big scalp to bolster their finals bid.
The home side will still be buzzing after last week’s remarkable comeback win over Bundoora, however they come up against a Heidelberg side which is hitting its straps ahead of a return to finals action.
With five wins from their past nine starts, the Bridges hold a winning record since losing their opening four games of the season, as they enjoy their best period since returning to the top-flight in 2017.
However, none of their five wins have come against a current top-five side and they desperately need to claim a win over one of the competition’s best teams to stake their legitimacy as a finals contender.
The Bridges’ potent forward line provides a threat to any opposition and they again demonstrated that against Bundoora. Nick Milne and Cameron Cloke combined for nine goals, Bailey Jordan took many contested marks, while Cooper Perrin’s two goals improved his season’s tally to 24 and he now sits sixth on the goal kicking table.
The small ground dimensions at Ben Frilay Oval provides the Bridges with one of the competition’s biggest home ground advantages, however it also makes games at the venue conducive to high scoring.
While the Bridges will back in their forward line to kick a winning score, Heidelberg will be equally bullish about its attacking force should its midfield get the upper hand throughout the day.
After being upset at Lower Plenty back in Round 8, the Tigers quashed any queries about their ability to perform on smaller grounds with a crushing win away to Montmorency last week.
The Tigers took the upper hand late in the second quarter when they kicked three consecutive goals to take a 20-point lead into half time. They then booted seven goals to two in the second half to romp to their 10th win of the year – equalling last year’s tally with five games still in hand.
Their 17 goals were shared by 10 different players, including three-goal hauls to Chaz Sargeant, Josh Minogue and Samuel Wright – an under-19 listed player who has been lively in five appearances at senior level.
Sam Gilmore continues to relish the added responsibility of captaincy. The star ruckman is the form player of the competition and last week received the perfect 10 votes in the Coaches MVP voting for the fourth time in five weeks.
It was a record-breaking achievement by Gilmore, whose 47 votes in five weeks is the most by a player over that period in the award’s history – breaking Brent Harvey’s previous record of 43 votes between Round 12 to 16 last year.
Heidelberg stormed to a 10-goal win in the Round 2 clash against Hurstbridge at Warringal Park in the only game this season that Gilmore didn’t play. Jack Blair was best afield, while Chaz Sargeant booted five goals as the Tigers stormed to a 53-point lead at half time before easing to victory.
Northcote Park travels to Greensborough War Memorial Park to meet ladder-leader Greensborough in the round’s second clash between two sides inside the top-half of the ladder.
Both clubs returned to the winners’ list last week, with the Boro atoning for their first loss of the year by downing North Heidelberg, while the Cougars held out Lower Plenty to move back into fifth spot.
The Boro’s win over North Heidelberg represented its smallest winning margin of the season, however the triumph was one of the club’s best against a side that will be one of its major challengers for the premiership.
With Nick Riddle sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Boro were still able to keep the Bulldogs to nine goals, with the backline well led by Adrian Cataldo and Billy Bedford, while Josh Callaway thrived in a more defensive role.
Charlie Molyneux, Tom Bell and Chris Clark relished the contested nature of the game and were again instrumental in getting their side across the line, with the triumph pushing the Boro one step closer to the minor premiership.
After a gruelling month, the Boro will need to be mindful of not having a mental let off this week against a Northcote Park side that will be desperate for a prized scalp to boost its chances of a return to the finals.
The Cougars weren’t overly convincing in their 10-point win over Lower Plenty at Bill Lawry Oval, however the result, coupled with defeats to several over finals hopefuls, helped push the side back inside the top-five.
Matt McLennan’s side looked to be cruising after kicking six of the first seven goals. However, their lead was cut to six points early in the last quarter and an upset appeared on the cards. The Cougars managed to steady and three-consecutive goals midway through the final term sealed the win.
This week’s game begins a tough run home for Northcote Park, who plays four of its remaining five games away from home. That includes trips to Greensborough, North Heidelberg and Heidelberg to round out the season.
How they use skipper Paul Dirago this week will be interesting. The skipper played forward last week and provided a strong target for his teammates to kick to. However, given Greensborough’s immense spread in attack, Dirago may be forced to go back this week.
Greensborough scored an 84-point win in the Round 8 clash between the sides at Bill Lawry Oval. The visitors piled on 14 goals in the second half, with Ben Fennell and Andrew Stellas combining for nine goals – one more than the Cougars on the day.
Lower Plenty hosts Macleod at Montmorency Park South Oval in the final game of Round 14.
Last week’s close loss to Northcote Park, coupled with Hurstbridge’s come-from-behind win over Bundoora, all but sealed Lower Plenty’s fate in 2019 and a return to Division 2 looks a formality.
Sitting last by three games and percentage, the Bears will have to win at least four of their five remaining games to miraculously avoid the drop – a challenge that appears too difficult for a side with a 2-11 record.
Despite relegation beckoning, the Bears have far from disgraced themselves this season and will take plenty out of the campaign – one that has thrown up many challenges, including long-term injuries to captain Patrick Flynn and reigning best and fairest Tom Keys and the mid-season retirement of club legend Darcy Barden.
The aim will be to finish the season on a high and last week’s efforts against Northcote Park showed what the club is capable of. The Bears fought back gamely and were eventually left to rue poor kicking at goal – losing by 10 points despite recording five more scoring shots.
They will bring some hope into this week’s game after taking it right up to Macleod the last time the sides met. The Bears trailed by just eight points at three-quarter time of the Round 6 encounter at DeWinton Park, however the home side finished stronger for a 23-point win.
Macleod will be desperate to bounce back after being completely outplayed by West Preston-Lakeside in last week’s clash at J.E. Moore Park. It was a disappointing performance following outstanding home wins over Heidelberg and Bundoora in the lead in.
Muhammed Saad’s return to VFL duties and the loss of Brad Leggett to injury were certainly felt, with the Roos managing just seven goals for the day in a result which saw them tumble back to sixth spot on the ladder.
Despite the heavy defeat, Justin White continued his red-hot form and was again Macleod’s best player against the Roosters – with a second best and fairest award appearing on the cards if his current form continues.
With three of their final four games to be played at home and Lucas Hobbs and Matt Dornauf set to return next week, the Roos will still be in the box seat to claim a finals place if, as expected, they return to the winners’ list this week against the competition’s bottom-placed side.
Victory this week could send them back into fourth place on the ladder, however an upset loss could see them slide as low as eighth. Given what is at stake, there should be no room for complacency for last year’s runners-up.
