Following an extraordinary weekend where Round 17 was declared null and void, the final home and away round in Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 will focus on three sides still fighting it out for a top five finish.
A mini elimination final will take place at De Winton Park when seventh-placed Macleod hosts fifth-placed Greensborough.
Macleod sit only half a game behind the Boro in fifth, with the winner of this match most likely playing in an elimination final against West Preston-Lakeside the following weekend.
It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the Kangaroos, however they’re still in with a chance to make finals despite only beating one top five opponent in 2022.
Greensborough have almost been just as inconsistent as their Saturday opponents and currently have a losing record despite being in pole position to make yet another finals appearance.
But their confidence will be a little shot having lost their last two matches against top three sides in Heidelberg and Bundoora.
There’s plenty of stars everywhere, however the game could be won in midfield. Strong individual efforts from Lucas Hobbs, Kurt Manuel and Sebastian Latina, for the Roos and Tom Bell and Joel Trudgeon for the Boro will be needed in order to ensure victory.
When these two previously met on Good Friday at War Memorial Park, Greensborough thumped Macleod with a 107-point win. The Roos kicked their second lowest score to date on the day while the Boro looked like a force to be reckoned with.
If Saade Ghazi’s side can re-create that form again, it will be the perfect confidence booster heading into an elimination final while a Macleod victory could see them shock the competition and book their clash with the Roosters.
Bundoora will be looking to continue their red-hot form when they face a North Heidelberg side that is still in the finals race at Yulong Reserve.
The Bulldogs also sit two points outside of the top five and will be needing a victory plus a Macleod defeat to Greensborough if they are to miraculously play finals footy once more.
But it will be a mighty challenge to knock off a Bundoora outfit which has been in scintillating form since going down to Hurstbridge over a month ago.
Sam Lloyd has been the in-form player of the side since that defeat alongside captain Luke Collins in midfield, who they will miss in this match due to suspension.
Although not to the Bulls’ level, North Heidelberg have also had a good run of late. In recent weeks they’ve gained the likes of Jhye Baddeley-Kelley and Jesse Tardio back into the lineup whilst Majak Daw has been in stellar form since making his Bulldogs debut in round 14.
These two also last met on Good Friday, with a massive six goal to nil third term helping the Bulls on their way to a 20-point victory.
The Bulldogs have proven time and again this season that they can match it with the best, but it’ll need to be a winning result if they can turn their poor start to the 2022 campaign into a finals berth.
Two sides that have struggled in 2022 will look to end their season on a high as Hurstbridge host Whittlesea at Ben Frilay Oval.
Whilst both are still mathematically a chance to be relegated, both look likely to stay in Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 for another year with Northcote Park playing the minor premiers in Heidelberg.
Nonetheless, for any of these sides to finish eighth by season’s end will be an impressive achievement and put them in good stead ahead of 2023.
The Bridges have won two of their last four matches to all but ensure survival, with their victory over Bundoora a month ago proving to be the triumph that has kept them up.
Joel Naylor has been in excellent form up forward whilst Sunny Brazier and captain Lachlan East have led the way in midfield and defence.
The Eagles have also had a slightly improved second half of the season after struggling earlier on, highlighted recently by almost defeating North Heidelberg at home a fortnight ago, going down by just four points in the end.
Jaron Murphy has shone up forward with 11 goals in his last three games, including impressive bags of four against Montmorency and the Bulldogs. Clancy Bland and Mitchell Andrews also continuing to stand up.
Hurstbridge were the winners last time around on ANZAC Day at the Showgrounds. It would end up being their last win until that Bulls triumph in Round 13.
With both teams gearing up for 2023, Saturday might give us a glimpse of what’s to come next year.
West Preston-Lakeside will be looking to pick up another top five scalp when they face Montmorency at Montmorency Park.
The Roosters have confirmed their spot in the top five and will be the ‘home’ team in their elimination final at Preston City Oval next week.
Despite a shaky start and a difficult last couple of games, a strong middle patch saw the two-time reigning premiers book themselves a fourth consecutive finals appearance.
Aidan Tilley has had to be the focal point up forward with co-captain Ahmed Saad’s unavailability, and with 28 goals in 16 games, he’s certainly done more than just fill the void.
Alex Federico and Michael Ercolano have been the two constants in the middle, working well with ruck Matthew Harman.
Their opponents have slowed down their dominance in recent weeks but still comfortably booked a double chance finish for the first time since 2014.
Their top three finish has been off the back of a stellar season from Liam Wale-Buxton as well as another outstanding goal kicking campaign from veteran, Patrick Fitzgerald.
A convincing win on Saturday will be the perfect lead in to rematch with the Bulls in next week’s qualifying final, a side they fell to just two weeks ago.
Garry Ramsay’s side have the edge over the Roosters judging by their last meeting this year at J.E. Moore Park, where a five goal to two final term gave the Magpies a 17-point win.
Northcote Park will have nothing to lose when they host the minor premiers in Heidelberg at Bill Lawry Oval.
The Cougars still sit a game and percentage behind the Bridges and Eagles but gaining the four points against the Tigers looks to be a bridge too far.
Injuries and unavailability’s have cruelled them this year and a five-game losing streak in the second half of the season has caused them to be stuck at the bottom of the ladder.
If they were to pull off an upset triumph, they would deserve a spot in the topflight in 2023.
But realistically, the juggernaut that is Heidelberg have been almost impossible to stop and are currently on a 13-game win streak.
While it would be reasonable to suggest that Danny Nolan’s side can afford to take things down a notch this weekend, particularly with the week off coming up, the Tigers may very well want to put their foot down to ensure they have as much momentum as possible heading into the finals series.
Unsurprisingly, the Tigers cruised to victory when these two last met, with Josh Minogue kicking six goals.
With Heidelberg’s finals route already decided, Northcote Park will hope to end their 27-year journey in Division 1 with some respectability against a strong opponent.
