Another great set of Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 matches are in store this weekend, including a top of the table blockbuster and a semi-final rematch.
The current top two sides in the competition in Greensborough and Heidelberg will meet in what’s shaping up as a massive game at Greensborough War Memorial Park.
The Boro occupied top spot for the opening month of the season after winning their first four games by an average of 38 points. However, they let the position slip from their grasp last weekend after going down by 10 points to Banyule.
Despite terrific performances from young guns Deakin Lawler and Kristian Ferronato in the absence of key players such as Harrison Andronaco and Jamie Smith, Greensborough’s inaccuracy cost them dearly, kicking 8.17 to Banyule’s 11.9 to register their lowest score of the season.
Sharper shooting in front of goal will be crucial if Matthew Hyde’s men are to get close to a Heidelberg side that has won its last 22 games.
Last weekend saw the Tigers register another comfortable win in the Grand Final rematch over Bundoora, with Mitchell Jorgensen’s three goal performance seeing him earn 10 Coaches MVP votes.
While Jorgensen was a standout, the likes of Keenan Posar, Luke Bunker and Dylan Clarke continued their strong starts to the season, with Clarke sitting equal first in the Division 1 Coaches MVP table.
Some notes to keep an eye out for in this clash include the fact that both teams enter this clash sitting in the top two in the competition for points for and least points conceded after five matches.
The Tigers have won the last four meetings between the two sides, with the Boro not winning a game against the reigning premiers since Round 17, 2019.
But with renewed energy under first-year coach Matthew Hyde, Greensborough will give themselves every chance of knocking over the team to beat in 2024.
The stakes won’t be as high as their semi-final meeting last year, but it’s still a must win game for both North Heidelberg and Montmorency when they do battle at Shelley Street Reserve.
Jason Heatley’s men have shaken off their early season blues with back-to-back victories against winless sides Bundoora and Macleod to sit back inside the top five.
What’s aided the Bulldogs in the last fortnight has been their 2024 recruits.
Ben Giobbi played his first game of the season after coming across from Euroa and had an immediate impact alongside Lachlan Smith who came to the club from Kyabram in the last week. Both men finished with Coaches MVP award votes for their efforts.
But what North Heidelberg will be keen to get back to is their ability to put sides away. They’re averaging 13 less points a game than they did in 2023, while they’ve won two of three matches by 30 points or less this season, something they only did twice in 13 matches last year.
They have a chance to pile on the pressure on Montmorency, who have struggled with consistency and sit in seventh position with a 2-3 record.
The Magpies went down to Hurstbridge by 17 points at home last week, despite star forwards Ayhan Bajramov and Patrick Fitzgerald combining for seven of their side’s 10 goals for the afternoon.
They also saw the return of Ben Paterson for his second match of the season and while he didn’t get on the scoreboard, was still influential enough to finish in his sides best again.
Another loss for Montmorency will see them on a three-game losing streak for the first time since 2022, when they fell short in three matches from Round 16 to the qualifying final.
But as they meet North Heidelberg for the first time since their disappointing first semi-final last year, the Magpies will be keen to turn the tables this weekend.
Banyule and Eltham will renew acquaintances for the first time since the 2022 MC Labour Division 2 Grand Final when they face off at Beverley Road Oval.
Unlike that day over 18 months ago, the Bears will go into this game as heavy favourites after arguably their most impressive win in club history, when they defeated an unbeaten Greensborough outfit away from home.
Sam McLarty and Jack Sammartino were once again among the best while young stars Davin Cameron and Lewin Davis combined for seven of Banyule’s 11 goals in the triumph.
The Bears have now defeated Hurstbridge, Montmorency and Greensborough this year while also leading Heidelberg at half time before falling short by 30 points a few weeks ago, signalling their intent to be one of the sides to watch out for in September.
It’s set to be a slightly simpler task against an Eltham this weekend, who have still got just one win to their name in their return to the top flight.
Despite a strong start, the Panthers were blown away in their Round 5 defeat to West Preston-Lakeside, suffering their biggest loss of the season and producing their second straight game of kicking just eight goals.
Harvey Furlong and Ben Montanaro have been shining lights for Tim Bongetti’s side despite defeats in the last fortnight, being named in their side’s best in both games, while Alex Bellchambers continues his good form since returning to the senior side.
Banyule defeated the Panthers in both finals matches during their premiership run in 2022, and while they will be intent on keeping the streak going on Saturday, Eltham will have a point to prove as they look to bounce back from recent defeats.
West Preston-Lakeside will look to continue its brilliant run during the last couple of weeks when they play Bundoora at J.E. Moore Park.
Under new coach Ian Aitken, the young Roosters have turned over a new leaf to start season 2024 after a slow opening fortnight.
Led by Division 1 Coaches MVP award leader Max Dreher’s 10 vote outing, along with five goals each to Dante Colosimo and Kobe Brown, the Roosters were able to put the foot to the pedal in last weekend’s big win over Eltham.
It was the club’s biggest total score since Round 13, 2022 and their largest winning margin since Round 15, 2021, highlighting the positives steps that the Roosters are taking this season.
They will get the opportunity to continue to improve against Bundoora, who are still yet to register a win in 2024.
Despite kicking a very accurate 8.1, as well as solid performances from Nelson Lane and Sam Green, the Bulls still went down convincingly to reigning premiers Heidelberg in their Grand Final rematch last week.
The Bulls have not had a losing streak of greater than five since they were defeated in the final nine matches of the 2019 season, however the fact that they have only lost two matches by greater than five goals does suggest a triumph is not far away for Heath Scotland’s men.
The last three meetings between the two saw Bundoora come out on top by more than 100 points. But with the form that West Preston-Lakeside are in at that moment, the Roosters will look to defeat the Bulls for the first time since the opening round of the 2022 season.
Hurstbridge will look to end the first third of the season with a 5-1 record as they welcome Macleod this weekend to Ben Frilay Oval.
Their fourth victory of the year has been their most impressive to date, holding off Montmorency away from home to win by 17 points.
Led by Cooper Perrin, who had 10 Coaches MVP award votes, and Mitchell Hymus in defence, the Bridges were able to pull off their first win at Montmorency Park since joining the top flight in 2017.
It’s officially the club’s best start to a Division 1 campaign, not only by record, but also through the fact they are averaging 15 more points than they did in the first five matches of last season.
They’ll have the opportunity to break more top flight records when they face a Macleod outfit who are looking to open their account in 2024.
They were very close to doing so in Round 5 after putting up an admirable performance against North Heidelberg, before falling short by just 10 points.
It continues Macleod’s trend of being competitive in most matches so far this season, having lost just one match by more than six goals.
Their ability to do has come thanks to both Darcy Barden and Zac Hudson who have each produced outstanding seasons to date, the latter earning another six Coaches MVP award votes on the weekend to sit two points behind joint leaders Dylan Clarke and Max Dreher.
In their last battle at Ben Frilay Oval, the Bridges produced a tight 15-point triumph that secured their first finals berth in Division 1, and with Macleod showing signs of improvement again last weekend, the final margin could be just as competitive.
