This week’s Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 matches won’t be easy to predict, as sides jump at the opportunity to either claim their first win of the season or build a gap from the rest of the competition by going 2-0.
After an agonising one-point defeat last week, North Heidelberg prepare for back-to-back games at Shelley Street Reserve when they face Bundoora.
The Bulldogs almost produced an incredible comeback against Heidelberg last week when they came from 25 points down to tie the scores late in the match, but despite kicking five of the last six goals of the game, they still fell short by a single point.
The day was soured with a severe leg injury to Bulldogs superstar Brent Harvey, but the talent of midfield duo Liam Hunt and Jesse Tardio will be difficult to stop this year after a superb opening round game. Kieran Jaksic was also handy in his ruck-forward role, kicking three goals.
Their Saturday opponents in Bundoora won’t make the Bulldogs’ task of claiming their first win of the season easy, after last year’s grand finalists survived a late Banyule surge to win by eight points.
The Bulls did look like a true premiership contender in the opening half of last week’s game with an 11 goal to four effort, but this time around they will be hoping to produce a four quarter performance.
A highly anticipated recruit coming into the season, former Essendon and St Kilda star Shaun McKernan delivered in spades, kicking six majors, to help lead Michael Ryan’s side to victory.
Jake Hobbs and Hamish Shepheard also had strong performances whilst club debutant Jack Maruff supported McKernan up forward with three majors.
Bundoora won their two meetings with North Heidelberg last year but only claimed 20 and six-point wins from those matches. The Bulldogs will be hoping to make proceedings close again, only this time, finish on the right side of the result.
One of the fiercest rivalries in Division 1 will reignite this Saturday, with Greensborough hosting Montmorency at Greensborough War Memorial Park.
The Boro will come into this game off a 15-day break having played on Good Friday against Macleod, where after an even start to the match ,Saade Ghazi’s men were able to take control in the second half and cruise to a comfortable 29-point victory.
Captain Jack Johnston had yet another outstanding game in defence while Thomas Phelan had a strong showing up forward with four goals. New recruits Joseph Ayton-Delaney, Jamie Smith, Charlie Bowes and ex-Carlton and St Kilda player Jack Newnes contributed to their side sealing the four points.
It’s the start of a tricky three weeks for Greensborough who take on three finalists from last year in the Magpies, West Preston-Lakeside and Heidelberg, but off the back of a strong opening round triumph, the Boro won’t make things easy for those trio of opponents.
Despite a slow start Montmorency were eventually able to get on top of Whittlesea, comfortably defeating the Eagles by 11 goals on their home deck.
Patrick Fitzgerald was the main man up forward once more for the Magpies, kicking five goals on the day to resume his incredible goal kicking efforts of 2022. Mitch Honeychurch and Sam Binion also had starring roles in midfield, both claiming nine Coaches MVP Award votes.
These two split their meetings last year, with the Boro winning at Montmorency Park whilst the Magpies won their most recent meeting at War Memorial Park. With both sides coming off big wins, this will be a great test between two sides destined to make a mark in the top five this year.
An important contest awaits at J.E. Moore Park as West Preston-Lakeside and Macleod will look to avoid an 0-2 start in 2023.
Coming from 25 points down at quarter time the Roosters almost pulled off a terrific victory over Hurstbridge in an entertaining opening round match at Ben Frilay Oval, but just fell short by two points.
The positives were on show from quarter time from Luke Giles’ men as Chris Ryall had a strong West Preston debut while Adam Valeri and Aidan Tilley also started the season off well with terrific performances around the ground. Carl Adams and Mitchell Crapper led the way up forward with three goals each.
Macleod have had almost 15 days to prepare for a response to their 29-point defeat to Greensborough on Good Friday and will be relying on their best players from that match to back up again on Saturday.
Darcy Barden was excellent in defensive 50 and complimented to midfield work of Jordan Corelli and Kurt Manuel to help create scores on the board for his side.
This is also Macleod’s last top five opponent until Round 5, meaning a triumph will help Craig Hayes’ men launch into the season in good stead.
It was the Roos who got on top of the Roosters in their two meetings last year, winning by 12 points at J.E. Moore Park and by one-point at De Winton Park, and with both sides desperate to avoid falling behind the eight ball early on in the season, expect another tight contest between these sides.
Banyule will host Hurstbridge at A.K. Lines Reserve in the first ever meeting between these two teams.
In their inaugural match in the top flight last weekend, the Bears had a shaky start, but found their feet in the second half, kicking six goals to two, while keeping Bundoora scoreless in the last quarter to only go down by eight points.
It was a positive finish for Paul Harris’ men, with recruits Vivian Blackmore-Moore having an impact up forward with three majors, and Tom Hallebone performing admirably in the ruck.
They also put the scores on the board, having more scoring shots than the Bulls, but inaccuracy meant they couldn’t cause the upset of the season.
Regardless, they’ll face another challenge in a red-hot Hurstbridge side, who claimed their first opening round in victory in nine years by defeating West Preston-Lakeside by two points.
Joel Naylor proved he’ll once again be a headache for opposition defenders, kicking three majors, including the goal to put them in front late in the last term, whilst Mitchell Wild had a tremendous Bridges debut, with two goals as well as being his club’s best.
Looking ahead, both teams face two top five sides and two non-top five sides from last year in their next four games, meaning this match could be worth more than four points as both sides look to keep their spot in Division 1 by the end of the season.
After a gallant display against Montmorency last week, Whittlesea will face another difficult task, in overcoming Heidelberg at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
The Eagles showed plenty of promise against the Magpies in the first half, only trailing by six points at the main break, before an 11 goal to two second half threw the Eagles’ chance of a triumph right out of the window.
Riley Carter received a Coaches MVP Award vote for his efforts while Luke Jeffs was his side’s only multiple goal kicker with two majors.
A strong side awaits Wayne van der Ross’ men again this Saturday as Heidelberg look to make it 18 consecutive wins in the top flight.
The Tigers survived a final quarter charge from rivals North Heidelberg in Round 1, just holding on to claim a one-point win away from home.
After a club best and fairest, a premiership and a Team of the Year selection last season, Heidelberg skipper Sam Gilmore proved he wanted more after a perfect performance in the ruck and around the ground saw him finish with 10 Coaches MVP Award votes.
Brayden Sier and Lachlan Wilson showed their talent in a great display while debutant Jonathan Tomasiello made the most of his opportunities up forward with four goals.
Heidelberg have had a terrific recent record over Whittlesea, winning by an average of 112.5 points in their last two games and although they’ll be heavy favourites again to take out Saturday’s match, the Eagles’ first half performance last week suggests the final result may not be as clear cut.
