We’ll be treated to two enthralling semi-finals in this weekend’s Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 action at Preston City.
For the second straight year, Heidelberg and Bundoora will play the second semi-final in the hopes of being the first side to book a spot in the decider.
Vin Dattoli’s men come in fresh off a first week bye and with a headful of steam, having scored 100+ points and kept sides to 11 or goals or less in their last five games.
They have also averaged just over five goals in every first term in that five-game period, highlighting their ability to have the match in their control from the opening siren.
It’s been the usual suspects who have again excelled for the minor premiers in 2023.
Matthew Smith has been named in his side’s best for seven consecutive games, Lachlan Wilson in four of his last six, meanwhile only once in 15 games has Zane Barzen not hit the scoreboard this season and has produced 25 goals in his last six matches.
If they win on Saturday, they will have fallen just twice in their last 38 games and would no doubt head into the Grand Final as overwhelming favourites.
But their challenge to overcome this week comes from a Bundoora outfit who like last year, head into this match with plenty of confidence.
They’ve won five consecutive games, including a huge result in their Qualifying Final over Montmorency last week, winning by four points.
It was their star forward duo in Shaun McKernan and Peter McEvoy who delivered for the Bulls, kicking eight goals between them to help seal victory.
Jake Hobbs produced one of his best matches of the season, meanwhile captain Luke Collins returned to the side and had an immediate impact.
Like their Saturday opponents, Bundoora boast stars on every line, and with the likes of Neville Jetta and Ben McNiece not appearing in the Qualifying Final win last week, it will make selection a very interesting exercise for Michael Ryan and his men ahead of the weekend.
These two sides have become well acquainted with one another over the past two seasons, having now met six times since the beginning of the 2022 season, including of course, last year’s decider.
However, all six meetings have been won by the Tigers, including their most recent clash, which saw the reigning premiers dominate in Round 14, prevailing by 78 points.
The closest match the two sides have had in that span was this corresponding game last season, when the game was decided in extra time following an intense four quarters. It finished with Heidelberg running out six-point victors.
Despite their most recent meeting being one-way traffic, the Bulls look primed to take it up to the minor premiers once again.
A do or die first semi-final sees Montmorency and North Heidelberg meet for the second time in the last three weeks, this time at Preston City Oval.
Jonathan Manzoney’s men will now have to take the long way in order to win the premiership having gone down to Bundoora for the seventh time in their last eight meetings during last week’s Qualifying Final.
With the second chance intact, the Magpies will still have an opportunity to bounce back and still certainly have the squad to go all the way.
Meanwhile their opponents in North Heidelberg will give themselves every chance of pulling off the win having regained some form last Sunday.
They returned to the finals with a bang, producing a very impressive 57-point victory over Hurstbridge in the elimination final, registering their 10th score over 100 in 19 matches in 2023.
There are going to be some mouth-watering match ups to keep an eye on throughout the match.
Liam Wale-Buxton has had another dominant season, but will this time have to deal with an in-form Michael Florance and at times, Majak Daw.
It means the midfield will be critical to how this contest goes. Sam Binion and Marcus Lentini will lead the charge for the Magpies, plus, keep a close look out for Kyle Kankaanpaa who may play a tagging role as he has done many times this season.
The Bulldogs’ victory last Sunday was led from their star pair in Liam Hunt and Jesse Tardio and if they are the ones that get on top early, North Heidelberg will be a difficult side to slow down.
Jason Heatley’s men had the best attacking record in the home and away campaign and will look to Daw and Baddeley-Kelly, who kicked eight goals between them last week, to pile the scoreboard pressure on their opponents.
But Montmorency possess the competition leading goalkicker in Patrick Fitzgerald, who has kicked two goals in at least every game he’s played this season. Corey Sleep has also produced 14 majors in his previous six games.
Both sides rested players in their Round 18 game, with the Magpies prevailing by 25 points, but the Bulldogs took it right up to Montmorency in Round 9, with only some Marcus Lentini brilliance seeing them fall just 13 points short at Shelley Street Reserve.
This however is their first finals clash since the 2008 Division 1 preliminary final, which saw the Magpies comfortably claim a 50-point victory.
With how evenly matched these two sides are, we could be set to see another high scoring encounter as both look to keep their premiership aspirations alive.
