Three games are scheduled for the opening week of the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 split round, with each result set to have a major impact on the ladder in the lead-up to the finals.
A big buffer will emerge between the top and bottom half of the ladder if the higher-ranked side wins each game.
However, there shouldn’t be too much certainty amongst tippers this week, with three entertaining match-ups on the card.
Macleod’s finals hopes hang by a thread and the Roos will be aiming to keep their season alive when they host Heidelberg at De Winton Park.
The seventh-placed Roos have slipped two games outside the top-five following last week’s defeat to West Preston-Lakeside and simply must win this week to have any chance of making a late charge for fifth spot in the final month of the season.
Heidelberg has just as much to play for, with the fourth-placed Tigers yet to confirm their finals place, but still very much in the hunt for a top-three finish after last week’s dominant win over Montmorency at Warringal Park.
Macleod was far from disgraced in its Round 13 loss to the reigning premiers, with the Roos missing several chances to hit the front early in the last quarter, before being overrun by the Roosters – who kicked the last four goals to win by 23 points.
But after making a slow start to the year, honourable defeats won’t cut it now and Macleod will likely have to win each of its final five games to ensure it doesn’t miss the finals for the second consecutive year.
Given the way the Roos have performed over the past seven matches, they have every reason to go into each of their remaining games in the run home with confidence. But ultimately every game is now a final – a daunting prospect this far out from the finals series.
Heidelberg bounced back in style following a disappointing home loss to Bundoora, with the Tigers in control from start to finish in a 43-point triumph over Montmorency – which was highlighted by three goals to mid-season recruit Tom Bellchambers.
However, the availability of the former Essendon ruckman becomes a little less clear going forward. Bellchambers serves as the Bombers’ ruck coach and the club has just jetted north for what appears a several weeks stay in Queensland.
De Winton Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Heidelberg in recent seasons, with the Tigers victorious in just one of their past five trips to the ground, with their average losing margin over that period a tick under seven goals.
The sole win at the venue over the past five seasons came in the 2016 premiership season, when Adam Symes booted a goal with the very last kick of the game to give the Tigers a one-point win.
However, Heidelberg did triumph in the earlier clash between the sides this year. The Tigers trailed for much of the opening three quarters at Warringal Park, before piling on six unanswered goals in the opening half of the final term to win by 26 points on Anzac Day.
The situation looks very similar for the game at Montmorency Park North Oval, where Montmorency hosts old foe Greensborough.
Missing several key players, Montmorency was never in the hunt in last week’s loss at Heidelberg and has now slipped a game and nine percent outside the top-five.
On paper the sixth-placed Magpies do have a better run home than the two teams directly above them on the ladder, but they do not have room for error from here and must find consistency in their week-to-week performance.
Montmorency should be bolstered by the return of Stephen McCallum and Will Golds from suspension for this weekend’s encounter, while Sam Binion’s availability is pending VFL selection after last week playing for Coburg.
Greensborough enters this week’s clash in third spot, just percentage behind second-placed Bundoora and a game and 10 percent above Heidelberg in fourth spot.
Similar to its win a week earlier, Greensborough was able to break the shackles late in last week’s triumph over Whittlesea. The Boro booted six of the last eight goals to run away with a 44-point victory, while breaking the 100-point barrier for the first time since the mid-season break.
After consecutive losses to Bundoora and Macleod following the season restart, the Boro do look to have gotten back on track over the past fortnight, albeit against sides placed eighth and ninth on the ladder. This week’s clash will give another indication of how far they have come.
Skipper Chris Clark has been leading from the front superbly and has played his best football of the season over the past month, while big man Jake McNamara enjoyed his best game for the Boro last week and should take great confidence into this week’s game.
The previous encounter between the sides provided Montmorency with one of its best wins in the recent era. The Magpies coughed up the opening five goals at War Memorial Park, booted nine of the next 10 – then overcame a late fightback by the Boro to win by three points.
The final game of the weekend sees Bundoora make the trip to Ben Frilay Oval to take on Hurstbridge.
The Bulls will be heavily favoured to notch their ninth win of the season and fifth in succession since the return to play in June.
They will be exceptionally wary of Hurstbridge, with the previous fixture between the sides producing one of the upsets of the season – with the Bridges saluting by five points at Yulong Reserve back in Round 7.
However, if Bundoora can reproduce its recent form, it should have enough weapons to reverse that result this time around – with many of the club’s best players in exceptional touch heading into this week’s game.
Sam Lloyd slotted six goals in last week’s 28-point win over Northcote Park, while Luke Collins, Jackson Davies and Bailey Thompson continued their strong form to ensure the Bulls maintained second place on the ladder.
Hurstbridge enters the clash on the back of four consecutive losses, however the club’s performance over the past three weeks has been encouraging, despite not saluting for a victory.
Despite Bailey Jordan being sidelined, the Bridges booted a season-high 18 goals in last week’s defeat at North Heidelberg – with Joel Naylor, Nick Milne and Mitch Hymus combining for 13 majors.
The performance followed solid showings against Greensborough and Heidelberg in the fortnight prior.
Recent matches at Ben Frilay Oval between these two sides have gone down to the wire. Hurstbridge saluted by a point in the 2019 outing, while Bundoora was an eight-point victor in 2018.
Add in the close result when the teams met at Yulong Reserve earlier this year and it is reasonable to think another tight encounter could be on the cards this Saturday.
