Round 2 provides the chance for the challengers to atone after the contenders flexed their muscle in the opening weekend of the 2021 season.
The long-awaited return to action in Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 was met with several blowouts, with the average margin across the five opening-round matches a whopping 51 points. Montmorency’s 29-point win over Northcote Park was the closest result in Round 1.
A poor showing first-up can be excused given the length of time between competitive matches, however a quick rebound will be essential for several sides this weekend, who otherwise risk falling away from the pack just a fortnight into the 2021 campaign.
Understandably, the match that will generate the most attention this weekend will be the 2019 grand final rematch between Greensborough and West Preston-Lakeside at Greensborough War Memorial Park.
By Saturday it will have been 574 days since the hard-fought premiership decider between the two sides back in September 2019, where West Preston-Lakeside secured a 12-point triumph to become the first Division 1 club in a decade to defend a senior premiership.
For Greensborough it will mark 574 days of anguish after losing just their second game of the 2019 season on the most important day of all. Will the pain of the grand final defeat prove a motivating factor on Saturday, or will the lingering emotion have a hindering impact?
One thing for certain is the outcome of Saturday’s match will not change the outcome of what occurred on the final day of the 2019 season, however it could have a big say in what happens going forward in 2021.
Most pundits have tipped the Boro and Roosters to again be the dominant sides in the top-flight this year. Therefore, this weekend’s encounter could well provide a clearer picture as to which side will carry the premiership favourite tag through the early part of the season.
Both sides were impressive Round 1 victors – with Greensborough scoring a 53-point win away to Whittlesea, while West Preston-Lakeside was a runaway 48-point victor against Bundoora at J.E. Moore Park – giving the club a much better start to its premiership defence than the six-consecutive losses to begin 2019.
Greensborough was without several stars in the win at the Whittlesea Showgrounds, however the Boro will sweat on the availability of Nick Riddle this week, ahead of a potential head-to-head battle with West Preston-Lakeside superstar forward Ahmed Saad.
Riddle missed the season opener but again looms as the ideal match-up for Saad if fit for Saturday’s match. Saad’s highlight-laden performance last week was something to behold – with the Roosters’ co-captain at his magical best in the second half to finish with a round-high five goals.
Saad topped the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 goal kicking table in 2019, with 91 majors in 22 appearances. However, he was somewhat contained in three matches against Greensborough, which yielded just five goals – due largely to Riddle’s outstanding defensive work.
Despite how prolific Saad continues to be for West Preston-Lakeside, the job being produced at the opposite end of the ground has been just as instrumental in the Roosters’ continued dominance.
Last week the reigning premiers conceded just five points in the second half. That is on the back of a 2019 finals series that saw them cough up a total of just 140 points in four matches. In fact, over their past 12 competitive matches, the Roosters have conceded an average of just 50 points.
One of Greensborough’s greatest strengths is its ability to find many avenues to goal. The highest scoring side during the 2019 season, the Boro were one of only three teams to crack 100 points in Round 1 and registered the most goal kickers of any club – with 11 players recording a major.
It will be fascinating to see whether the Boro can pick through the Roosters’ well-drilled defensive structure on Saturday, or whether they are stifled from scoring by an opposition that has expertly contained all comers in recent times.
Hurstbridge and Macleod will both be looking to open their winning account when they meet at De Winton Park.
Hurstbridge had a a forgettable start to the 2021 season, falling to a 14-goal defeat to Heidelberg at Warringal Park – a result made worse by injuries to skipper Lachlan East, Cameron Cloke and Mitch Dale.
If the injured trio are not available for selection this week, the Bridges will rely on their young talent to step up – with the club’s leadership stocks already taking a hit over the off-season following the departure of the likes of Daniel Keenan, Tom Simpson and Ryan Jackson.
The Bridges certainly have plenty of room for improvement following the dismal display, where their poor skill execution was made to pay by a Heidelberg side that feasted on countless turnovers.
There were some positives to come out of the heavy defeat, with Tom Grimes producing a solid game in his return to the club following a season at Warrandyte, while Jack Stewart impressed in his club debut.
Macleod was jumped by North Heidelberg in the first quarter of last week’s defeat at Shelley Reserve. The Roos managed to make some in roads in the second term, however the fightback was short lived following match-ending injuries to Shane Doherty, Liam Wanders and James Trainou all before three-quarter time.
The Roos commenced the season without 2018 Frank Rosbrook medallist Lucas Hobbs, Brad Leggett, Anthony Doherty and Kurt Manuel and could ill-afford the additional injuries sustained in the opening round.
The form of Ned McKeown was one shining light from last week’s defeat, while Patty Flynn got better as the match went on. His clash with Jamie Smith in the ruck looms as pivotal this week – with the midfield battle always instrumental on the smaller confines of Ben Frilay Oval.
Despite Macleod generally being at the pointy end of the ladder since Hurstbridge’s return to the top flight in 2017, the Bridges have enjoyed some success in head-to-head battles between the sides in recent seasons.
That includes a five-point triumph in the most recent clash between the sides at Ben Frilay Oval back in Round 7, 2021.
For the second consecutive week Whittlesea hosts a league powerhouse at Whittlesea Showgrounds, this time in the form of Heidelberg.
The match pits former teammates and great mates Blair Harvey and Danny Nolan against each other in the coaches’ box for the very first time.
The Heidelberg legends shared memorable playing careers alongside one another during the most dominant era in league history, however the friendship will be put aside for two hours when their sides go to battle on Saturday.
Whittlesea received a tough initiation to life back in first division in last week’s 53-point defeat at the hands of Greensborough. While the final scoreboard wasn’t flattering, the Eagles were far from disgraced and will take valuable lessons from the match.
It is a tough start to the season for the reigning Division 2 premiers, who take on the top-four sides from 2019 in the opening five rounds of the year – however taking on those that are the benchmark may well fast-track the Eagles development, as they quickly learn what is needed to match the best sides.
Riley Carter showed he is up to the grade last week with a promising showing against Greensborough, Blake Watson slotted three of his side’s nine goals, while fellow youngster Zach Molloy also featured in the Eagles’ best players.
The reigning Division 2 premiers will no doubt go into this week’s clash as underdogs however they have had a knack of troubling Heidelberg in the past, particularly at the Showgrounds.
Heidelberg enters Round 2 atop the ladder following a thumping 87-point home win over Hurstbridge, in a near faultless performance to start the season.
Any concerns as to how the Tigers would fare without the likes of outgoing stars Michael Brunelli, Tom Sullivan, Ryan Stone, Jack Blair, Chaz Sargeant, Sam Grimley and Ben Irving were seemingly quashed with the club’s next generation making an early statement.
Recruits Matthew Smith, Keenan Posar, Nick Richards and Brody Tardio all featured first-up, while four players from the club’s junior program made their debut at senior level and showed they are up to the task.
Based on the opening round performance, the most important ‘recruit’ of this season may well be Tom Schnerring – who joined the Tigers in 2019 but featured just once before suffering a significant knee injury.
Playing his first game since May 2019, Schnerring slotted five goals in the second term against Hurstbridge. Having relinquished his VFL commitments to play full-time with the Tigers this year, he looms as having a massive impact on the club’s fortunes going forward.
A big crowd is expected at Montmorency Park, where Montmorency and Bundoora meet in a twilight clash, with the first bounce at 4:10pm.
The sides played out two classics in 2019, sharing the honours with a win apiece. The most recent encounter was decided by a goal to Montmorency youngster Josh Mills in the final minute of the game.
Montmorency made a winning start to the new campaign, downing Northcote Park in a topsy-turvy encounter under lights at Bill Lawry Oval.
The Magpies were awesome in the opening half, booting the first nine goals to take a 55-point advantage into the main break. However, the game hung in the balance at three-quarter time, with the margin cut to 18 at the last change, before the Magpies steadied in the fourth term.
Despite the third term fadeout, any win in Round 1 is a valuable one and the Magpies will be buoyed going forward by the performance produced by several of its emerging players, who will be vital in continuing to take the club forward after returning to finals action for the first time in five seasons in 2019.
Lachie O’Brien produced arguably his best performance at senior level, Bailey Brown looked at home after crossing from third division club South Morang, Vince Loccisano showed he has a craft for goals, while Stefan Uzelac looks well and truly at home at this grade after a breakout 2019.
An undermanned Bundoora produced a very good first half at West Preston-Lakeside last weekend and held the lead late in the second quarter, before proving no match for the Roosters after half time.
The Bulls lined up in Round 1 without skipper Brent Marshall, key defenders Brenton Keating and Scott Dowell and midfielder Luke Collins, then lost vice-captain Brendan Carlyon to injury during the loss.
The long injury list will provide plenty of opportunities for the many new faces who have joined the Bull ring under new coach Michael Ryan.
Despite the result in Round 1, Hamish Shepheard’s performance would have encouraged Bulls’ fans – with his presence in the air and around the ground certain to be a major asset, while Sam Lloyd produced several moments that outlined the genuine class he will bring to the club.
Northcote Park and North Heidelberg also meet in the twilight timeslot, with the sides to do battle at Bill Lawry Oval.
The venue will bring no surprises to new North Heidelberg coach Jason Heatley, who returns to Bill Lawry Oval to take on the club he famously led to the 2012 premiership.
Ironically, the Cougars are now being coached by two-time North Heidelberg premiership coach Stephen Saddington – who coached many of the Bulldogs stars to the 2017 Division 2 flag, as well as taking the club to the 2014 premiership.
North Heidelberg made a bright start to its new era under Heatley, with a breathtaking four-goal burst in the opening eight minutes against Macleod setting the tone for a 40-point triumph.
There is no doubt the Bulldogs have lost some star talent from their 2019 list. However, the first-up efforts of recruits Anthony Daw, Charles Le Fanu and Jake McSwain showed the Bulldogs are very much in shape to contend again this year.
Jesse Tardio, Shane Harvey, Brent Harvey and Billy Hogan were firing on all cylinders in the opening round. When that group is on song, the Bulldogs can be close to unstoppable, with their ball-winning ability and exquisite skill arguably unrivalled at this level.
Much attention centres around Shane Harvey this week, with the superboot now within touching distance of his 1000th goal for the Bulldogs. His four-goal haul last week moved him to 994 majors for the club.
Harvey booted six goals in each encounter against the Cougars during the 2019 season and an identical effort on Saturday would see him reach the landmark figure.
It is hard to know exactly what to make of Northcote Park based on its Round 1 effort against Montmorency. Therefore, this week’s clash may provide a clearer picture as to where exactly the Cougars sit amongst the competition in 2021.
The worst and best of the club was on display on the opening night of the season. At half-time the Northcote Park faithful would have been dreading what was in store for the year ahead when their side trailed 57-2, however the six-goal to nil third term showed the Cougars’ best football can be extremely damaging.
Trohne Ugle looks to be a genuine excitement machine inside forward 50m. A hamstring injury after kicking three goals in the third quarter was a mighty blow and the Cougars will hope to see him back as soon as possible.
The Cougars won’t be blessed with height this year and could be without gun ruckman Kyle Galloway, who starred last week, if selected for Coburg for the opening round of the VFL season.
That will make the return of skipper Paul Dirago and recruits Matthew Grocott and Daniel Tallariti even more vital once they are back to full fitness.
