The Highlighter – Round 7


Published on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

For the Stars, last week’s loss was the first blemish in an otherwise perfect start to the 2012 season, while for the Demons last week’s defeat to North Heidelberg was the second in four weeks as injuries begin to take their toll.

The Creekers began the season in blistering form, smashing Hurstbridge and Thomastown by 120 and 140 points respectively in the opening fortnight of the season, before enduring a difficult period over the past month.

The third-placed side has suffered losses to Epping and the Doggies, and has been forced to grind out tight wins over both Lalor and South Morang over the past four weeks.

With six of its starting 18 out injured, Paul Kennedy’s side has begun blooding youth with a handful of under-19s gaining a taste of senior football in recent weeks, something which could prove a blessing in disguise in the latter part of the season.

Last week’s 15-point loss was compounded by an injury to talented young ruckman Jai Norman who was concussed and hurt an ankle in a sickening boundary throw-in collision in the final quarter.

To the Demons’ credit, they never threw in the towel and, after trailing by five goals at three-quarter time, managed to close to within five points of the Doggies in the last quarter.

They eventually ran out of steam but showed that even with a depleted list they can still match is with the best teams in the competition – particularly when Brent Gutterson is firing up forward.

But as gallant as the Creekers have been, a loss this Saturday puts them in serious danger of missing out on a top two spot come season’s end. Should the Stars get the spoils, Diamond Creek will most likely slip to fourth place on the ladder and with a 4-4 record, will fall two games behind the top two sides.

Fitzroy will rue its last quarter fadeout at Epping where it eventually succumbed to a 41-point loss to the ladder-leader. The Stars trailed by just six points early in the final term before conceding seven of the final nine goals of the match.

Despite the disappointing final term, the Stars must be buoyed by their performance during the first three quarters where they more than matched it with the Division 2 premiership favourite.

Youngsters Jye Brennan and Jai Burns looked in their element on the big stage and both offered pace, skill and excitement. Brennan capped off his performance with a spectacular high-flying mark that will be a contender for mark of the season.

James Dau was inspiring at half back and despite playing in noticeable pain, was able to replicate the form which saw him selected in the 2011 Coaches Team of the Year.

What ultimately cost the Stars was its lack of potency up forward, something which proved surprising given the club’s attacking prowess so far this season.

John Hayes and Patrick Davis had booted 42 goals heading into the game but could only combine for three, with Epping’s big men having far greater impact down the other end of the ground. 

Prior to the loss, the Stars had been the form team of the competition, winning its opening five games of the season by an average of 43 points.

The competition’s most prolific scorer thus far, the Stars’ rapid improvement has been one of the highlights of the season and a win this week would put the club one big stride closer to an elusive finals birth.

Past results between the two sides have certainly favoured Diamond Creek, with the Demons winning four of the past five clashes between the sides – three of those wins coming by 40 points of more.

However, the Stars were victorious in the most recent clash between the pair, upsetting the more fancied Creekers by nine points in Round 17 last year. 

Past four meetings:
Diamond Creek 3, Fitzroy Stars 1

Rd 17, 2011: Diamond Creek 13.9 (87) def by Fitzroy Stars 13.17 (95)
Rd 9, 2011: Fitzroy Stars 13.8 (86) def by Diamond Creek 16.11 (105)
Rd 1, 2011: Diamond Creek 19.12 (126) def Fitzroy Stars 8.12 (60)
Rd 9, 2010: Diamond Creek 17.18 (120) def Fitzroy Stars 6.12 (48)

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