The challengers will look to take it up to some of the contenders this round in another massive weekend of action in Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1.
Four games are set to take place this Saturday, with Eltham and Greensborough having the bye after playing on Good Friday.
It’s going to be another big test for Banyule when they welcome Montmorency to Beverley Road Oval.
The Bears were very competitive during the first half of their clash with Heidelberg last week, leading at the main break before being outclassed by the reigning premiers in the remaining two terms to fall short by 30 points.
But Paul Harris’ men certainly showed that they were capable of being in the finals conversation despite the defeat, with the likes of Vivian Blackmore-Moore and Sam McLarty missing from the side last weekend.
They were able to kick a respectable score, thanks to Daniel Owen, who has made it 10 majors in his last two games following his bag of four. Meanwhile, Jack Sammartino produced his best performance of the season to date and was rewarded with nine Coaches MVP award votes.
This weekend marks the third consecutive game where Banyule will face a finals side from last year, and they will need to keep the competitive juices flowing on Saturday if they are to defeat the Magpies for the first time.
Montmorency responded to their narrow loss to Heidelberg in Round 2 with a comfortable 28-point triumph over Eltham away from home last week.
Recruits Ayhan Bajramov and Nash Holmes have continued to maintain their good form to start the 2024 campaign. Both kicked three goals while Holmes picked up nine Coaches MVP award votes in the win over the Panthers.
Stefan Uzelac has also enjoyed a solid opening few weeks to the season and has played important roles in both of Montmorency’s victories so far this year.
Last season saw the Magpies win both games against Banyule, with their last matchup at Beverley Road Oval in Round 17 being decided by only 11 points. As both teams aim to move to a 3-1 record this weekend, a close affair is likely to occur again.
Two sides looking to bounce back from close defeats in North Heidelberg and Bundoora are set to meet at Shelley Street Reserve.
In Round 3, after holding a seven-goal lead at the 18-minute mark of the third term against Greensborough, the Bulldogs conceded 11 of the last 12 goals of the match to lose by 19 points.
It’s a game that the club would see as a missed opportunity to record back-to-back victories, however enough signs last week suggested the Bulldogs aren’t far away from their best.
One of those signs is Parker Heatley, who has announced himself as North Heidelberg’s main target up forward after a nine-goal, 10 Coaches MVP award vote performance.
Despite the 19-year-old’s brilliant efforts, he was the only forward to fire off multiple goals during last week’s loss, a problem that this week’s opponents in Bundoora have also found themselves dealing with of late.
While veteran Daniel Younan has led the charge up forward with eight goals in 2024, the Bulls have only produced two multiple goalkickers in each of their three losses.
Last weekend however was a positive performance from Heath Scotland’s men despite going down by four points to Hurstbridge.
Lachlan East and Peter McEvoy continue to stand up for Bundoora, and each produced outstanding games to keep their side in the hunt against the Bridges.
The Bulls have an advantageous record against North Heidelberg in recent years, winning four of their last five games, including an 87-point thumping of the Bulldogs in the 2023 preliminary final.
But Jason Heatley’s men will be determined get back on the winner’s list ahead of a favourable month of football fixture wise.
Hurstbridge will be looking for their first home win of the season when they face West Preston-Lakeside at Ben Frilay Oval.
The Bridges sit with a 3-1 record heading into their clash with the Roosters, having narrowly escaped with a four-point triumph over Bundoora away from home last week.
Joel Cordwell was able to regain Joel Naylor, Sean McLaren, Jake Wild and Kye Agosta for the match, however it was David Mennen who shone the brightest in defence in his third game for the club.
The Bridges tasted defeat in just three of their nine matches at Ben Frilay Oval in 2023. It proved to be a catalyst in their maiden Division 1 finals berth, and they will hope they can return to having that home ground advantage when they face a West Preston-Lakeside outfit filled with confidence following their breakthrough win last week.
The Roosters impressed in their Round 3 battle with Macleod, kicking 11 goals to five in the second half to run out 38-point victors in front of their faithful.
A new look West Preston-Lakeside team saw its youngsters lead the way last Saturday, with Dante Colosimo headlining things up forward with a five-goal performance.
Others such as Felix Dreher, Lachie James and Regan Uwandu also paved the way for the Roosters inaugural triumph in 2024.
Hurstbridge claimed a tight three-point win over their Saturday opponents when they last played at Ben Frilay Oval in Round 1, 2023, and while the Bridges will fancy their chances to secure a similar result, the confidence from their victory last week will put Ian Aitken’s side in good stead to challenge last year’s elimination finalists.
Two sides with vastly different starts to season 2024 in Macleod and Heidelberg will renew hostilities at De Winton Park.
The Roos remain winless to begin the year and are now the only side without a victory in the top flight following a 38-point defeat to West Preston-Lakeside last Saturday.
Although they haven’t been able to claim any points yet in 2024, credit has to be given for the fight Macleod are showing while the chips are down, with the club managing to keep their losing average margin to under four goals.
Craig Hayes’ men have continued to rely heavily on Zachary Hudson, Mackenzie Hogg and Darcy Barden, with all three continuing their strong starts to the campaign last weekend. Their efforts will be needed again to have any chance of putting the Tigers to the sword this Saturday.
Heidelberg continue to find ways to win games, even if they suffer lapses throughout matches, as shown in their 30-point win over Banyule in Round 3 when they turned around a two-point half time deficit.
Led by Division 1 Coaches MVP award leader Dylan Clarke, the Tigers kicked 11 of the 17 majors scored in the final two terms against the Bears.
Club leading goalkicker Zane Barzen impressed once again inside 50 with five majors, but heads into this clash having kicked no more than two goals against the Roos in their two meetings last year.
Heidelberg will start the warmest favourite of any team this round and have not tasted defeat to Macleod since 2019.
