A look ahead to the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 semi finals.
This weekend’s matches see Banyule and Whittlesea meet in the second semi final at Epping Recreation Reserve on Saturday, before Eltham and Thomastown battle it out in the first semi final at Whittlesea Showgrounds on Sunday.
SECOND SEMI FINAL – BANYULE v WHITTLESEA
The first place in the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 grand final is up for grabs when Banyule takes on Whittlesea in the second semi final at Epping Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Both sides finished the season with a 13-3 win-loss record, but Banyule’s superior start to the season saw them finish ahead of the Eagles with a higher percentage.
The Bears burst out of the blocks with eight-straight wins to start their 2019 campaign and have been the premiership favourite for much of the home and away season – despite a -season lull which saw them drop three games in six weeks.
A key factor in the club’s rise from third on the ladder last year to minor premier this year has been the massive impact of star recruits Jack Langford and Tim Martin. Langford’s versatility makes him one of the competition’s most important players, while Martin has been superb in the ruck.
Despite star goal kicker James Kroussoratis being sidelined for large parts of the home and away season, the Bears have been the highest scoring side in second division – scoring 182 points more than their closest rivals.
Mannon Johnston (34 goals) and Mitch Lovell (32) have led the way inside 50 and sit equal second and third respectively on the goal kicking table. Lovell’s tally includes a six-goal haul in the Round 8 win over Whittlesea at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
Despite the club’s form tapering somewhat in the back half of the year, Banyule hase won four of its past five games – which includes victories away to fellow finalists Eltham and Thomastown.
The Bears are also getting key players back onto the field at the right time of year, with superstar midfielder Brent Stanton expected to be available for the entire finals series – providing a major boost for Banyule’s premiership chances.
Whittlesea returned to A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 after being demoted from the top tier last season. If history says anything about the club’s success rate in Division 2 finals, the Eagles should be feeling very confident in September.
The club has won the premiership in each of its past three seasons in Division 2, which includes coming from third place on the ladder in 2015. They will hope to take a more direct route to the grand final on this occasion.
Whittlesea didn’t have greatest start to the season and looked vulnerable in fourth spot with a 4-3 record after Round 8. But since then, the Eagles haven’t been beaten and go into the final with serious momentum on a nine-game winning run.
The likes of Matthew Atta, Mitchell Andrews and Nathan Stefanile have been vital to the Eagles’ surge in the second half of the season, while Xavier Dimasi and Jaron Murphy should relish the big stage.
Coach Blair Harvey will also provide a major factor, with the NFNL legend knowing exactly what it takes to get the job done in September.
The head-to-head battle is locked at one-apiece in 2019. Banyule booted 11 goals to one in the opening half of the Round 8 clash at the Whittlesea Showgrounds, before easing to a 44-point win in what has proven to be the Eagles’ most recent defeat.
Whittlesea turned the tide in Round 16 twilight encounter at Beverley Rd Oval. In heavy conditions the Eagles clinched a six-point win, which proved to be Banyule’s only loss at home in 2019.
BANYULE
13 wins – 3 losses
Points For – 1634, Average For – 102
Points Against – 911, Average Against – 57
Average Winning Margin – 60
Average Losing Margin – 20
Leading Goal Kicker – Manon Johnston (34)
Most Times in Best – Jack Langford and Tim Martin (9)
WHITTLESEA
13 wins – 3 losses
Points For – 1360, Average For – 85
Points Against – 910, Average Against – 57
Average Winning Margin – 42
Average Losing Margin – 30
Leading Goal Kicker – Nicholas Pupillo (20)
Most Times in Best – Matthew Atta, Mitchell Andrews and Nathan Stefanile (7)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2019
Round 16: Banyule 4.7 (31) def by Whittlesea 5.7 (37)
Banyule
Goal Kickers: J. Langford, M. Johnston, D. Camilleri, M. Lovell
Best Players: D. Kelly, T. Martin, J. Langford, B. Embleton , D. Camilleri, K. Yodgee
Whittlesea
Goal Kickers: N. Stefanile, X. Dimasi, M. Langford, C. Bland, J. Murphy
Best Players: B. Bell, N. Stefanile, M. Coen, P. Higgins, M. Andrews, N. Andrews
Round 8: Whittlesea 7.13 (55) def by Banyule 15.9 (99)
Whittlesea
Goal Kickers: X. Dimasi, J. Russell, M. Andrews, P. Higgins, L. Beattie, C. Newport, B. Watson
Best Players: R. Carter, S. McAuliffe, P. Higgins, J. Russell, B. Watson, J. Eid
Banyule
Goal Kickers: M. Lovell 6, M. Johnston 2, M. Italia 2, J. Langford, D. Camilleri, D. Kelly, J. Kroussoratis, R. Keath
Best Players: B. Embleton , M. Lovell, S. Gumbleton, J. Truefeldt, R. Blackmore-Moore, T. Martin
FIRST SEMI FINAL – ELTHAM v THOMASTOWN
It’s do or die for Eltham and Thomastown when they meet in a knockout first semi final at the Whittlesea Showgrounds on Sunday.
The sides enter this weekend’s final in different form, with the Panthers winning their past three matches, whilst the Bears lost their last two matches to end the regular season – albeit both in close encounters against the competition’s top-two sides.
Recent form aside, Eltham does have the edge over Thomastown, which has been outlined by their two meetings in 2019. The Panthers won the home and away encounters by 47 and 44 points and as a result will start favourite this week.
However, it is worth noting that their last encounter against each other was way back in Round 8 and both sides now have caretaker coaches at the helm. So there is only so much you can take from the head to head results.
Eltham enters this year’s finals series hungry to atone for its heartbreaking grand final loss to Lower Plenty last year, where they led for the entire day before losing to a goal on the final siren.
This year has had its ups and downs, although a a long injury list and the departure of Paul King as coach late in the season haven’t stopped the club from booking another finals place – where they loom as a major threat with their best side on the park.
Brent Macaffer and Michael Still will lead the club throughout the finals series and their impact on the field looms as being just as important as their impact off it.
Macaffer has had another outstanding season and would be favoured to take out the club’s best and fairest award for the second consecutive year. Still has been a force in the forward line and topped the competition goal kicking table with 44 majors, despite missing four games.
Anton Woods has been instrumental again this season and , whilst tough nut Bronson Glasgow has taken his game up a notch and could prove to be a finals wildcard – as may former Collingwood defender Adam Oxley, who could play this week after the Magpies’ VFL campaign came to an end last week.
The Panthers’ tall forwards have troubled Thomastown this year, with Still booting five goals in the Round 1 win at Main Street Reserve, while Tim Currie kicked the same number in the return fixture at Eltham Central Park in Round 8.
Thomastown enters this week’s game on the back of consecutive defeats to Banyule and Whittlesea, but the fact the final margins were just 11 and 12 points respectively will give the Bears confidence that they can compete with the best.
Just as Eltham is looking to atone for last year’s heartbreaking grand final loss, Thomastown will also be looking to make amends after leading Banyule for three quarters in their first semi final, only to be overrun in the final quarter.
Matthew Vasilevski, Dylan Chapman and Daniel Chadwick have again starred throughout the 2019 season and if they are all influential on Sunday, it will go a long way to extending their club’s season.
Anthony Capeci has again been a major threat inside forward 50 and sits second on the goal kicking table with 34 majors, while Shannon Ball and Brayden Plant have also been reliable avenues to goal – combining for 49 majors.
ELTHAM
11 wins – 5 losses
Points For – 1322, Average For – 83
Points Against – 931, Average Against – 58
Average Winning Margin – 65
Average Losing Margin – 32
Leading Goal Kicker – Michael Still (44)
Most Times in Best – Brent Macaffer (12)
THOMASTOWN
9 wins – 7 losses
Points For – 1452, Average For – 91
Points Against – 1195, Average Against – 75
Average Winning Margin – 44
Average Losing Margin – 20
Leading Goal Kicker – Anthony Capeci (34)
Most Times in Best – Matthew Vasilevski (11)
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2019
Round 8: Eltham 18.8 (116) def Thomastown 11.6 (72)
Eltham
Goal Kickers: T. Currie 5, J. King 3, B. Freeman 2, J. Merkel 2, D. Jarvis, A. Currie, G. Connelly, B. Macaffer, L. Sinclair, A. Oxley
Best Players: T. Currie, B. Macaffer, D. Vallance, A. Brovedani, M. Keys, J. King
Thomastown
Goal Kickers: S. Ball 3, J. Beare 2, B. Nesci 2, J. Rizzolio, J. Vaccaro, M. Vasilevski, J. Osei-Duro
Best Players: M. Vasilevski, L. Fellows, M. Dirkx, D. Chadwick , C. Toppi, S. Ball
Round 1: Thomastown 7.14 (56) def by Eltham 16.7 (103)
Thomastown
Goal Kickers: A. Capeci 2, S. Mamone, D. Folino, J. Osei-Duro, B. Nesci, J. Rizzolio
Best Players: D. Chadwick , J. Vaccaro, A. Capeci, S. Spiroski, L. Fellows, J. Beare
Eltham
Goal Kickers: M. Still 5, L. Glasgow 2, J. Doukas 2, B. Macaffer, B. Glasgow, B. Montanaro, J. Lorey, D. Jarvis, M. Williamson, N. Reibelt
Best Players: N. Reibelt, M. Keys, L. Wachinger, A. Woods, B. Montanaro, B. Macaffer
