A preview of the Round 17 matches in Meadows Greyhounds Division 1.
Expect the unexpected.
It’s been the mantra all season long in Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 and will continue to be ahead of a compelling final two rounds.
Big Round 16 wins to Bundoora and Heidelberg, coupled with a close loss and a tough run home for Greensborough, means there may well be two spots still up for grabs in the top five – breathing more life into the finals race than appeared to be the case last week.
Throw into the mix a slight hiccup from ladder-leader Macleod and suddenly the final two rounds are looking even harder to predict than we first imagined.
With a host of games to be contested between sides fighting against one another for places inside the top-five and top-three, the final fortnight could hardly be better scripted. Not that we should forget the relegation clash that looms between Hurstbridge and Whittlesea.
This week’s clash between Greensborough and Bundoora at War Memorial Park will have a huge bearing on the make-up of the top-five – with major ramifications looming for the loser.
Greensborough looked destined for double-chance finish when it led North Heidelberg late in a classic at Shelley Reserve last week. However, the Boro couldn’t hold out their fast-finishing host and are suddenly at risk of missing the finals together should results not go their way in the final fortnight of the regular season.
One positive from the defeat was an impressive return by Charlie Molyneux in his first game since Round 6. However, just as the Boro looked to be regaining players at the right time of the season – injuries have again struck heavily over the past two weeks.
Chris Clark and Zak McCubbin look to be lost to season-ending injuries, while Brody Tickell and Dan McLinden also missed the defeat to the Bulldogs. Compounding matters, Nick Riddle came off on a stretcher in the third term following a heavy collision in a marking contest.
Bundoora enters Round 17 in fifth place – percentage above sixth-placed Heidelberg. The Bulls could still find themselves in the race for a top-three finish with a win this week. Alternatively, a loss could have them a game outside of the five entering Round 18. Could the stakes get much bigger?
The signs weren’t good for the reigning premiers in the opening term of last week’s clash against Hurstbridge, when they trailed by four goals early in the piece.
However, they were able to get the game back on their terms to run away with a commanding 59-point win.
The Bulls kicked 17 goals to six after quarter time and will look to carry that momentum into the final two rounds – where they face very stiff opposition against the Boro and then North Heidelberg. It goes without saying – the Bulls will certainly have to earn their place in an 18th successive finals series.
Greensborough was a 46-point winner when the sides met back in Round 2 – leading at every change, before going on with the job in the final term when they piled on five goals to two at Yulong Reserve.
Macleod hosts Heidelberg at De Winton Park in another clash that is set to have a massive impact on the top-five.
Macleod claimed the minor premiership last week, albeit with an unconvincing performance against Whittlesea. The Roos booted 9.20 in a wasteful display that saw them edge out the bottom-placed Eagles by just five points.
By their lofty standards, the ladder leaders have had been slightly out of sorts over the past three matches – losing to West Preston-Lakeside in Round 14 and then beating Montmorency and Whittlesea by an aggregate of just 22 points.
Of greatest concern would be the way they have been finishing matches over the past month. Since Round 14, the Roos have been outscored by an average of four goals in fourth quarters – scoring a combined tally of 50 points, while conceding 136.
It may well be a sign of the club managing its list late in matches ahead of the finals. Regarless, it does give opponents some encouragement if they are within touching distance at three-quarter time.
Heidelberg will take confidence into this week’s clash after last week romping to a 60-point win over Northcote Park – completing a 126-point turnaround from the pair’s first outing in 2018.
The Tigers will hope they can produce a similar reversal against the Roos – who they were smashed by in Round 10, when managing just four goals in a 73-point drubbing at Warringal Park.
Jordan Treloar returned from a long layoff against the Cougars, however Tom Sullivan, Ben Irving, Harrison Payne and Matthew Cecchin were all missing. The final result was an emphatic indication of the club’s improving depth.
If they can produce an upset this week, Frank Raso’s side may well be in the box-seat for a fifth-place finish, ahead of a home clash against Montmorency in the final round of the season.
West Preston-Lakeside can further entrench itself in the top-three when it hosts Whittlesea at J.E. Moore Park.
The Roosters are storming towards the finals and have moved into third place on the back of four-straight wins – including last week’s 22-point triumph over Montmorency in extremely trying conditions.
With Ahmed Saad sidelined, the Roosters were kept to just one goal in a dour first term, before gradually getting on top to score their 10th win of the season. While it wasn’t an attractive victory, any win away at Montmorency Park is certainly one that is well deserved.
Rob Maiorana’s side will start a resounding favourite this week after a season-high 117-point win when the side’s met in Round 10 at Whittlesea Showgrounds – spearheaded by eight goals from Saad.
A win this weekend, coupled with a Greensborough loss, would ensure West Preston-Lakeside earns a top-three finish for the first time since 2010. That campaign ended with the Roosters holding aloft the premiership cup on the last Saturday of the season.
Despite starting as the outside this week, Whittlesea would have taken plenty of positives from last week’s performance against Macleod – where it showed that it is capable of competing against any side when it plays its best football.
Blake Watson, Luke Deards and Riley Dyson all produced great showings at De Winton Park, while Jaron Murphy booted three goals as their side finished within five points of producing the upset of the season.
The Eagles have averaged just 60 points a game this year, however their attack could be bolstered by the return of Andrew Fairchild. The premiership skipper returned from injury via the reserves last week and booted eight goals. He looms as a key figure as the Eagles strive to avoid relegation.
Northcote Park plays its final home game of the season when it hosts North Heidelberg at Bill Lawry Oval.
When the sides met in Round 10 it was the Cougars who entered in second place, while North Heidelberg sat in eighth. The roles have reversed over the past seven matches, with the Bulldogs now outright second on the back of eight-straight wins, while the Cougars have won just once since and are destined to miss the finals for the first time since 2014.
Northcote Park’s woes continued last weekend when it fell to another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Heidelberg. The game was over at quarter time, when the Cougars trailed by 45 points. Despite offering strong resistance thereafter, the damage had been done.
North Heidelberg continues to hone in on a top-two finish and last week produced one of its best wins of the season against Greensborough. The Bulldogs are riding a wave of momentum and look capable of winning from any position – such is their confidence at present.
Brent Harvey looks set to be the competition’s most important player heading into the finals. His final term against Greensborough was a genuine masterclass – continually driving the Bulldogs forward in a tense final term and having a direct hand in most of the Bulldogs’ scoring chains.
If the Harvey brothers and Liam Hunt produce their best in September, North Heidelberg will be well on its way to an unprecedented premiership triumph.
However, in the short term, the Bulldogs will be looking to secure wins over the Cougars and Bundoora to ensure a top-three finish.
The final game of the round sees Montmorency travel to Ben Frilay Oval to take on Hurstbridge.
Hurstbridge plays its final two matches at home and one win over the next two rounds is likely to be enough to secure the club a third-straight season in the top flight.
The opening quarter of last week’s clash against Bundoora showed just how good the Bridges can be, as they rose to the occasion early in skipper Brayden Shaw’s 250th game – ironically, against his former side.
However, the Bridges were unable to sustain their effort after the main break and slipped to a heavy loss. After 11-straight defeats, the question will undeniable be posed as to whether they remember how to win.
But with experienced campaigners like Shaw, Ryan Jackson, Daniel Keenan and Trent Barbero in the line-up – the Bridges certainly aren’t lacking in on-field leadership ahead of what is, in essence, a mini-finals campaign to avoid relegation over the next fortnight.
The season hasn’t panned out as Montmorency would have hoped, however the Magpies will play a large part in determining both the relegation battle and the top-five over the final two rounds.
The Magpies’ past three matches have been a marked improvement on their previous five games. They proved too good for Northcote Park away from home in Round 14 and have since finished within four goals of flag contenders Macleod and West Preston-Lakeside.
A major positive in a trying campaign has been the form of first-year player Blake Murphy. Last year’s Under-17 competition best and fairest winner has featured in the Magpies’ best players in four of the past five matches and looks a star of the future.
