Greensborough and North Heidelberg clash for the first grand final spot, while Heidelberg and West Preston-Lakeside are fighting to keep their season alive in this week’s semi finals.
SECOND SEMI FINAL – GREENSBOROUGH v NORTH HEIDELBERG
The first place in the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 grand final will be decided on Saturday when Greensborough and North Heidelberg lock horns at Preston City Oval.
The second semi final marks the beginning of Greensborough’s finals campaign following the best home and away campaign by a Division 1 side since Heidelberg stormed through undefeated in 2009.
The Boro went within a whisker of completing a perfect regular season, with their sole defeat in 2019 coming by just two points. However, they will be well aware that finals football brings a whole new ball game and a much bigger challenge now presents.
For North Heidelberg, it is its second-successive appearance on this day and the Bulldogs will be looking for redemption after last season losing a close second semi to Macleod, before being trounced by West Preston-Lakeside the following week.
Greensborough’s biggest asset throughout the home and away season has been its endless depth and the ability to get an even contribution across its entire playing group.
Yes – the Boro have been wonderfully served by recruits Tom Bell and Ben Fennell, along with midfield dynamo Charlie Molyneux – who has proven to be one of the competition’s elite players following an injury-plagued first season with the club last year.
However, if you look across the field it is hard to find a point of weakness.
The star-studded midfield is backed up by the best defence in the competition. The Boro conceded a miserly 906 points throughout the regular season – at an average of just 50 points a game.
As well as having the No.1 ranked defence in the competition, the Boro also had the No.1 attack – kicking just shy of 200 points more than their closest rival. It’s a might effort – even more so when you consider the club’s leading goal kicker is Fennell with just 27 majors.
Greensborough will have to cope with the burden of expectation this September. After winning 17 of 18 games in the regular season, the Boro are the outright flag favourite. However, their three remaining challengers are all worthy contenders for this year’s flag and will take serious beating.
Jordan McIvor-Clark will be available for selection after spending time with North Melbourne’s VFL side this year, however the Boro will sweat on the availability of Ben Fennell and Tynan Smith.
Neither suited up for Essendon in last weekend’s VFL qualifying final loss to Richmond, however the Bombers are still in the finals race and meet Werribee in the first semi final on Sunday.
North Heidelberg earned the right to have first crack at Greensborough after clinging on for a thrilling victory over Heidelberg in the qualifying final. The Bulldogs led by as much as 59 points during the third term, before falling in to win by three.
It was a taxing contest in warm conditions, and it will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs back up this week against a Greensborough side that will be cherry ripe after sitting out last weekend.
The final term fadeout, where it conceded eight unanswered goals, was certainly alarming. However, North Heidelberg did demonstrate its premiership credentials in the opening three quarters.
With Jesse Tardio and Billy Hogan in dominant form, the Bulldogs made their highly-rated foes look second-rate as they piled on 15 goals in the opening three quarters – a mighty effort against a Heidelberg side which conceded an average of just 59 points during the regular season.
Nothing less than a four-quarter effort will suffice against a Greensborough side which is desperate to break through for its first flag since 2014. However, the Bulldogs do have enough match winners to cause the minor premier concern.
Greensborough won both outings between the sides during the home and away season. The Boro romped to a 38-point win at Shelley Reserve in Round 7 on a day where the final margin flattered the Bulldogs.
However, it was much closer in the most recent encounter at War Memorial Park. Scores were level in time-on of the fourth quarter before late goals to Tynan Smith and John Desmond helped the Boro clinch a 12-point victory.
GREENSBOROUGH
17 wins – 1 loss
Points For – 1793, Average For – 99
Points Against – 906, Average Against – 50
Average Winning Margin – 52
Average Losing Margin – 2
Leading Goal Kicker – Ben Fennell (27)
Most Times in Best – Charlie Molyneux (14)
NORTH HEIDELBERG
13 wins – 5 losses – 1 draw
Points For – 1628, Average For – 86
Points Against – 1334, Average Against – 70
Average Winning Margin – 35
Average Losing Margin – 33
Leading Goal Kicker – Shane Harvey (65)
Most Times in Best – Daniel Harris and Billy Hogan (11)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2019
Round 13: Greensborough 11.9 (75) def North Heidelberg 9.9 (63)
Greensborough
Goal Kickers: T. Smith 2, J. Johnston, J. Rogers, B. Pannam, Z. McCubbin, J. Desmond, C. Molyneux, B. Tickell, J. Riddle, T. Bell
Best Players: C. Molyneux, A. Cataldo, C. Clark, J. Callaway, T. Bell, B. Bedford
North Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: S. Biggs 3, B. Hogan 2, B. Harvey 2, J. Jones, L. Gilbert
Best Players: R. McGhie, B. Bailey, M. Florance, D. Bramich, S. Biggs, B. Hogan
Round 7: North Heidelberg 13.7 (85) def by Greensborough 18.15 (123)
North Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: S. Harvey 4, B. Hogan 3, J. Baddeley-Kelly 2, B. Harvey, J. Jones, S. Biggs, G. Assi
Best Players: D. Harris, B. Hogan, R. McGhie, M. Florance, K. McDonald, J. Jones
Greensborough
Goal Kickers: T. Bell 3, B. Tickell 3, A. Stellas 2, B. Pannam 2, Z. McCubbin 2, T. Smith 2, M. Haynes 2, J. Callaway, D. Marcon
Best Players: J. Johnston, T. Bell, Z. McCubbin, T. Smith, J. McIvor-Clark, C. Molyneux
FIRST SEMI FINAL – HEIDELBERG v WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE
It’s hard to recall a first semi final that has featured two sides with better premiership chances than this year’s encounter between Heidelberg and West Preston-Lakeside.
Elimination beckons for the loser of Sunday’s clash at Preston City Oval, while the winner will advance to the preliminary final and remain a realistic premiership chance despite being forced to take the long route.
After finishing the regular season in second place, Heidelberg was forced to use its double chance in the opening week of the finals after succumbing to old foe North Heidelberg in one of the best finals in recent times.
The Tigers’ fourth-quarter performance was one for the ages – piling on eight unanswered goals to fall just three points short of pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in league history.
Alas, they were ultimately made to pay for several missed opportunities during the first half, as well as a poor third term – where North Heidelberg piled on eight goals to stretch its lead from 19 points at half time to 53 points at the final break.
The pressure is now on to respond to avoid becoming the first side to exit the finals in straight sets since Montmorency in 2014 and it won’t be easy against a West Preston-Lakeside that is brimming with confidence.
The reigning premier advanced to the first semi final after a 77-point win over Montmorency in a dominant display on Sunday – with the Magpies’ final tally of 1.7 (13) the lowest score in a Division 1 finals since North Heidelberg was kept to three behinds in the 1991 grand final.
The Roosters seem to be getting better with each victory since their poor start to the year. Having now won 11 of their past 13 matches there wouldn’t be an opponent they would fear as they push to become the first team to defend a premiership this decade.
Ahmed Saad put on a clinic in last week’s win, finishing with six goals to take his season tally to 82. Heidelberg defender Daniel O’Dwyer took the job on Shane Harvey last week and may be in line to take first crack at the Roosters’ star forward.
Max Dreher was been in blistering form over the past month and was fantastic in his first final last week, while Aiden Tilley and Alex Federico continue to play to a level that belies their years.
The ruck battle will be intriguing. Sam Gilmore was kept in check early last week but proved to be instrumental in getting the Tigers rolling in the second half – with his tap work to Michael Brunelli particularly impressive.
Matthew Harman had a great game for West Preston-Lakeside last week in the absence of Mark Kovacevic and the young ruckman has a big job this weekend if last year’s grand final hero doesn’t return for the first semi.
With wet weather predicted right throughout the weekend it will be interesting how Heidelberg lines up inside forward 50m. The Tigers went tall early against North Heidelberg but looked most dangerous late when Tom Sullivan was swung forward.
Heidelberg takes the far superior head-to-head record into the game, with the Tigers winning all four clashes between the clubs since Frank Raso took over as senior coach at the beginning of 2018.
The Tigers were the only side West Preston-Lakeside didn’t beat during last year’s premiership campaign and they also hold a 2-0 record in 2019, although the most recent meeting between the side was back in Round 6.
The then winless Roosters led that match for the best part of the opening three quarters, before the Tigers stormed home thanks to six goals to Sam Grimley. Josh Gribben also excelled, although he was missing from last week’s qualifying final loss.
Regardless of the outcome this week, the loser will feel their season has come to a premature end. Rarely has a first semi final been more anticipated.
HEIDELBERG
14 wins – 5 losses
Points For – 1695, Average For – 89
Points Against – 1159, Average Against – 61
Average Winning Margin – 46
Average Losing Margin – 23
Leading Goal Kicker – Sam Grimley and Chaz Sargeant (36)
Most Times in Best – Sam Gilmore (15)
WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE
11 wins – 8 losses
Points For – 1603, Average For – 84
Points Against – 1458, Average Against – 77
Average Winning Margin – 44
Average Losing Margin – 42
Leading Goal Kicker – Ahmed Saad (82)
Most Times in Best – Jackson Clarke and Luke Lirosi (14)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2019
Round 6: Heidelberg 14.14 (98) def West Preston-Lakeside 11.9 (75)
Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: S. Grimley 6, C. Sargeant 4, A. Bonaddio, J. Minogue, B. Irving, L. Daniels
Best Players: J. Gribben, S. Grimley, D. O’Dwyer, T. Sullivan, S. Gilmore, R. Stone
West Preston-Lakeside
Goal Kickers: O. Uysal 4, A. Saad 3, D. Valeri 2, M. Vincitorio, M. Harman
Best Players: J. McDonald, A. Federico, O. Uysal, D. Valeri, L. Lirosi, M. Signorello
Round 1: West Preston-Lakeside 12.10 (82) def by Heidelberg 17.14 (116)
West Preston-Lakeside
Goal Kickers: A. Saad 6, A. Federico 3, L. McVeigh 2, A. Khalil
Best Players: A. Federico, A. Saad, O. Uysal, L. Lirosi, J. Clarke
Heidelberg
Goal Kickers: S. Wright 3, S. Grimley 3, W. Knight 2, J. Blair 2, A. Bonaddio 2, W. Goss 2, T. Noakes, C. Sargeant, J. Minogue
Best Players: J. Blair, S. Wright, W. Goss, S. Gilmore, M. Brunelli, L. Wilson
