The Devils (6-9) can secure their fourth consecutive finals berth with a win over the Mustangs (11-4), however a loss to the home side will enable St Mary’s to cling on for fourth-place and a second finals appearance in just its third season of senior football – despite the young Burras losing their past four matches.
Parkside blew a golden opportunity to clinch a finals place last week when it lost to sixth-placed Heidelberg West by 17 points at Heidelberg Park. The win was only the Hawks’ third of the season and their first victory against a side other than Watsonia since 2010.
The Devils trailed at every change and failed to kick a goal in the final term when the three-quarter time deficit was just four points. It was the second consecutive disappointing performance by the side, after only just scraping past wooden-spooner a week earlier when it held on for an 11-point win.
Considering how disappointing Parkside has been at times this season, it is amazing that it is still in finals contention. Its nine losses have come at an average margin of nine goals, and it has been beaten by 100 and 123 points by Mernda and Panton Hill respectively.
The side is well down on most key indicators on last year – where it played off in a third consecutive Grand Final. It averaged 100 points a game during the 2011 home and away season, four goals up on its average of 76 points a game this year.
Defensively it has also been far worse. In 2012 the Devils have coughed up an average of 93 points a game. Last season it conceded only a measly 70 points a game, ranked second best in the competition.
Fortunately Parkside’s home form has been good this season, with five of the club’s six wins coming at Pitcher Park – including a season-best 22-point win over St Mary’s in Round 16. It will need that promising home form to continue this Saturday.
Reservoir has emerged as the biggest improver in Division 3 this season and is without doubt the only side truly capable of worrying either of Panton Hill and Mernda during this year’s finals series.
The Mustangs have won their past four games prior to last week’s bye, which includes a season-defining 12-point win over Mernda in Round 14. They have lost just once since Round 8, that being a competitive an 18-point defeat to minor premier Panton Hill at Cracknell Reserve.
The side looks balanced in all areas with its experienced forward line, led by veteran Toby O’Meara (51 goals) and livewire Ashley Flavel (42 goals), a threat to any side in the competition. However the duo isn’t Reservoir’s only avenue to goal. Leigh Sullivan stood up in the club’s most recent victory over Heidelberg West, booting seven goals to take his season tally to 25, while youngster Kent Beaumont can also be thrown forward.
Beaumont was the match winner the last time the Mustangs played Parkside. He booted five majors, including three in the final term, to help his side turn an eight-point final quarter deficit into a 28-point win.
The club has a host of classy mid-sized midfielders who could cause havoc on the bigger grounds come finals time. After missing the majority of the first half of the season, Ryan Docherty is having a sensational final two months and has featured in the best in six of the past eight matches.
Jarrod Skinner continues to rack up big numbers and his polish and skill enables clean and slick movement through half back and the midfield. Throw in the cool-head of skipper Richard Collins and it’s easy to see why Reservoir is emerging as a genuine premiership threat leading into September.
Down back Ben Mowlam is standing tall and looms as a key figure during the finals when he is likely to come up against the best forwards in the competition. That includes competition leading goal kicker Jonathon Byron should he be given the responsibility of marking the Panton Hill’s star forward.
Reservoir has won the past three encounters between the sides, including both clashes in 2012. It cruised to victory in Round 7, smashing the Devils by 56 points, however it was much closer last time around at Crispe Park where Parkside took it right up to the home side.
Past four meetings: Parkside 1 , Reservoir 3
Round 12, 2012: Reservoir 15.11 (101) def Parkside 11.7 (73)
Round 5, 2012: Parkside 7.7 (49) def by Reservoir 16.9 (105)
Round 16, 2011: Parkside 12. 9 (81) def by Reservoir 14.8 (92)
Round 8, 2011: Parkside 12. 10 (82) def Reservoir 8.10 (58)
