Last year the sides met in Round 18 for what was a battle for fourth place and a spot in the 2011 finals series, but thanks largely to new coaches and a host of high-profile recruits the two sides are now the favourites to play off in this year’s Grand Final.
Ross Terranova’s transformation of the Reservoir Football Club has been sweeping and all encompassing. He has not only turned over the Mustangs’ list, but also instilled a more professional attitude and culture.
In a chat with NFL.org.au following his appointment as coach last November, Terranova expressed his desire to bring a winning culture to the club which has been bereft of success over recent years.
“I want to change the mentality and the perception of the way we’re perceived in the competition,” Terranova said. “The way we’re going to present ourselves on the field and off the field is going to experience a big change. We’ll play a good brand of football and that will take us a long way.”
Given the Mustangs’ form in the opening five weeks of the season, Terranova is most certainly on the way to achieving his pre-season ambition.
Toby O’Meara has churned out four consistent performances since joining from Pascoe Vale and kicked four goals in each of the Mustangs first three wins.
He was joined last week by fellow Essendon District Football League (EDFL) goal kicking machine Ashley Flavel and together the duo makes a fearsome combination for any Division 3 defence.
Jarrod Skinner has also dominated since crossing over from Pascoe Vale and led all comers in the Coaches Player of the Year award last week after polling eight votes in Reservoir’s opening three games of the year.
Add to the mix recruits Cameron Rooney and Leigh Sullivan and it’s easy to see where Reservoir’s improvement has come from.
After winning just eight games in 2011, the Mustangs are already halfway to that tally after only a month of football this season and the side truly is on the verge of something special.
Panton Hill was one of the premiership favourites early in 2011 but failed to live up to expectations, despite progressing through to the preliminary final – where it was ultimately eliminated by Parkside by just two points.
The club turned has turned to Heidelberg legend Dean Haydock to guide it to greater success and at this early stage of the season, the Redbacks are on the right track to a successful future.
They were forced to grind out wins over finals aspirants Mernda and St Mary’s in their first two games of the year, but over the last fortnight have sent a chilling message to the rest of the competition with thumping wins over Watsonia and Heidelberg West.
Haydock has moved Jonathon Byron into attack and the former Montmorency star has produced immediate results – booting 25 goals in just four games. Byron is the competition leading goal scorer at Round 5 and slotted 10 through the big sticks last week, a fortnight after kicking nine in Panton Hill’s 13-point win over St Mary’s.
Brendan O’Connor has continued the form which saw him selected in the 2011 Division 3 Coaches Team of the Year and is working superbly with Byron up forward, while Heidelberg trio Haydock, Simon Amore and Zachary Williams have all settled in nicely to life at Panton Hill.
In a massive coup for the club, former Heidelberg premiership captain Abe Williams signed on last week and at the weekend played his first match in the NFL since the Tigers’ 2009 Grand Final triumph over Bundoora.
His experience and skill may play a crucial role in this game, and given the formidable lineups both these sides posses, Saturday’s game at Crispe Park should be one of the more memorable clashes in the League this season.
Past four meetings:
Reservoir 2, Panton Hill 2
Rd 18, 2011: Reservoir 10.9 (69) def by Panton Hill 17.15 (117)
Rd 10, 2011: Panton Hill 8.7 (55) def by Reservoir 13.11 (89)
Rd 5, 2011: Reservoir 12.9 (81) def Panton Hill 5.10 (40)
Rd 17, 2010: Reservoir 11.15 (81) def by Panton Hill 14.4 (88)
