As finals approach, here is a look ahead to the defining games in this weekend’s senior men’s football competitions.
Meadows Greyhounds Division 1: Bundoora vs West Preston-Lakeside
With just three rounds remaining in the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 season, a clash between Bundoora and West Preston-Lakeside at Yulong Reserve is the perfect way to prepare for the upcoming finals.
The third-versus-first match-up pits the competition’s two form sides against each other, in a game that could well provide a glimpse of what is to come in September.
There is no doubt West Preston-Lakeside is the side every team is chasing in 2021. The two-time reigning premier boasts an 11-1 record to sit two wins and percentage clear atop the ladder and will clinch the minor premiership with a win this weekend.
The club’s sole loss this campaign was a single-point defeat to Greensborough back in Round 2, with that loss its only blemish in its past 19 matches, after famously winning its final seven games en route to the 2019 flag.
The cancelled 2020 season and two lockdown-enforced breaks this year have done nothing to halt the club’s momentum nor diminish its hunger as it hunts a third-successive premiership.
Last week’s 116-point demolition of Hurstbridge was an emphatic statement after a two-week layoff, with Ahmed Saad putting on a clinic with 11 goals – his highest tally in a decorated career with the Roosters.
Standing in West Preston-Lakeside’s way this weekend is a Bundoora outfit that has emerged as one of the Roosters’ biggest challengers for this year’s flag.
The Bulls have won their past five matches by comfortable margins and will now be aiming to claim their biggest scalp of the season against the competition’s benchmark.
West Preston-Lakeside claimed a 48-point victory when the sides met in the opening round of the season, but the Bulls have since won 9 of their past 11 games – with the two losses coming at a combined tally of just nine points.
After winning four games on the trot following the return from the season’s first interruption, the Bulls were all class last week in first game back from the second extended-break, romping to a 42-point win over Macleod, spearheaded by five goals from John Jorgenson.
The result did come at a cost though, with Sam Lloyd suffering what looks to be a season-ending arm injury.
The loss of Lloyd is a cruel blow on the eve of the finals series, but it does pave the way for the return of club legend Gary Moorcroft, who has booted 24 goals in four reserves games since transferring back to the Bull Ring from Bright.
Can he wind back the clock and lead the Bulls to another memorable finals tilt? This weekend’s match might just give an insight.
Meadows Greyhounds Division 1: North Heidelberg vs Heidelberg
It’s been a long wait for the first Heidelberg derby of the season, after the earlier fixture between the two sides set for Round 9 was cancelled.
But this Round 15 encounter between the Bulldogs and Tigers is season-defining for the fierce rivals, as both sides look to take a major stride forward in their push for a finals berth.
Fifth-placed North Heidelberg remains a game and percentage ahead of Montmorency in sixth spot, despite a heavy loss to Greensborough last week. The Bulldogs were the major beneficiary of the Magpies’ shock defeat to Whittlesea at Montmorency Park.
With a top-three finish now looking out of reach, North Heidelberg’s attention now turns to ensuring it holds on to its place in the top-half of the ladder. This weekend’s clash against their old foe looms as a crucial battle in their finals quest.
Heidelberg currently sits comfortably in fourth place with an 8-4 record and a healthy percentage, needing to win just one more game to book its place in the finals.
But it won’t come easily across the final three rounds, with the Tigers also drawn to play top-two sides West Preston-Lakeside and Greensborough in the final two rounds of the season.
North Heidelberg has won four of the five encounters between these clubs since returning to the top-flight, with includes wins by 55 and 44 points in the two matches played at Shelley Reserve.
They also won a thrilling qualifying final in the last meeting between the sides, holding on for a three-point win after leading by 53 at three quarter time.
The Bulldogs have been undermanned in recent weeks but did have reigning best and fairest Billy Hogan return last week for his first game since Round 7. They should be further bolstered by the inclusion of Jesse Tardio and Jackson Starcevich this week.
Despite winning just three of their past eight games, with their best side on the park the Bulldogs are more than just making up the numbers in the finals and they will be determined to reverse their form-line, starting this week.
Heidelberg has been in outstanding form over its past two matches and backed up a seven-goal win over Montmorency with a 107-point thrashing of Northcote Park last week.
The Tigers continue to get an even contribution across the board, led by the likes of Lachlan Wilson, Matthew Smith, Sam Gilmore and Josh Minogue. Last week they found an up-and-coming star in Kai Kearns, who booted six goals – including three in the first term.
While Heidelberg has been playing the much better football of these two sides in recent weeks, the form line often goes out the door when the old foes go head to head.
And with so much at stake, another great battle is expected this Saturday.
MC Labour Division 2: Banyule vs Thomastown
by Sean Mortell
Banyule and Thomastown haven’t played each other since the final round of the 2019 season, and now finally collide in a season-defining clash at Beverley Rd Oval.
The two Bears sides have famously played some incredible matches, particularly at this week’s venue, including a last-gasp thriller midway through the 2019 season – where a Devin McDonald goal on the final siren snatched a remarkable comeback victory for Banyule.
In their most recent match-up, back in Round 18, 2019, Banyule was again a close winner, registering a 12-point win at Main Street Recreation Reserve on the eve of the finals.
While the timing of this meeting is similar to their last encounter, this one is under new circumstances.
Thomastown have overcome several obstacles throughout the season and is looking in good nick at the pointy end of the season, nestled in third place on the ladder.
After a whirlwind start to the campaign, led by starring performances by recruits Tyrone Leonardis and Michael Tang, the Bears looked like the team to beat when they knocked off Eltham.
Yet a host of injuries to key players led to somewhat of a mid-season form slump, one which has since been correct, with Thomastown returning to the top-three and now one game clear of fourth-placed Eltham.
For them, the equation looks clear. With two rounds remaining and an inferior percentage to the Panthers, they must win the final two games against Banyule and St Mary’s to secure the double chance.
Given Eltham plays the bottom-two teams in the final two rounds, one Thomastown loss in the last fortnight would likely seem the Bears resigned to an elimination final in the opening week of finals – while two defeats could see them miss out on finals action entirely.
Their fate is in their own hands and this week’s match shapes as a great opportunity to make a statement on the eve of the finals.
Banyule has putting together a similar campaign to their 2019 home and away effort, which resulted in a first-place finish, before coming up just short on Grand Final day.
Having gone unbeaten through multiple COVID interruptions, the versatility of their star-studded line-up, led by Reuben Blackmore-Moore in the middle, has often had the answers for their opponents throughout the season.
That was, until their away match against Lower Plenty, where they dropped their first game of the season and finally felt ladder pressure.
Now locked on the same the number of points as Lower Plenty, Banyule must continue winning if it wants to lock in top spot and progression straight through to the second semi final.
Last week they held out a fast-finishing Eltham to win by six points and the challenges continue to present late in the year, in what looks a perfect preparation for finals.
After the 2019 heartbreak, Banyule will be raring to consolidate and give itself every chance of going one better in 2021 and securing promotion to Meadows Greyhounds Division 1.
For now, they must simply beat one of their biggest rivals to maintain top spot and evade Lower Plenty’s challenges, or else they may slip to second and be forced to take a longer route through September.
Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3: South Morang vs Old Eltham Collegians
by Doug Long
The race for the top-four, and the double chance, heats up as teams ready themselves for Round 17 of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Laurimar and Kilmore find themselves in a battle for second spot, while Old Eltham Collegians and Heidelberg West are locked in a thrilling race for fourth.
Every match in Round 17 can impact the shape of the top-four and the top-two.
This includes Kilmore travelling to Waterview Recreation Reserve to play an improving Mernda outfit in a vital game. While the Demons are playing to finish off the year well, a win is imperative for the Blues as they eye off a chance to grab second spot.
However, the pick of this weekend’s games in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 is set to take place at Mill Park Lakes Reserve, with fourth-placed Old Eltham Collegians travelling to take on ladder-leader South Morang.
While it remains mathematically possible that the Lions could slip to third spot by season’s end, it is extremely unlikely.
So, the motivation for South Morang players will be to head into the finals in top form, starting with a win in this contest against an opponent that has been in great form despite a loss last week.
Old Eltham Collegians sits in fourth place with a 7-5 record and a percentage of 126.23. Trying to take their place in the finals is Heidelberg West, who sits in fifth place with a 6-6 record and a percentage of 112.81.
The Turtles face a tough run home, playing away to South Morang and then journeying to meet Kilmore at J.J. Clancy Reserve. If the Turtles can win both, they will have well and truly earned their spot in the finals.
By comparison, Heidelberg West faces bottom-placed Reservoir this week before hosting Mernda next week.
Old Eltham Collegians will still be in the finals hunt with a loss this week, where the battle for the last remaining spot in the finals would likely to come down to the final round.
Despite South Morang being undefeated at home this year, the venue won’t hold as many fears for Old Eltham Collegians as it would other travelling sides.
The Turtles scored their first ever premiership points in the NFNL at this ground – with a draw back in early 2019.
They then recorded a resounding victory when the sides met at Eltham College later in the season, in a game that South Morang desperately needed to win to book a finals place. As it turned out, the Lions still made the top-four before progressing to the grand final.
In the earlier contest between these sides this season, South Morang produced a 30-point win in Round 2 thanks to a haul of four goals to Alex Colaidis. However, the final scoreline probably didn’t indicate just how close the contest was for most of the day.
