It is a statistical delight as teams enter Round 14 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
The top five teams on the ladder have 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 wins respectively, making for a very meaningful final five rounds of the home and away season.
Despite its first loss, South Morang remains on top with a percentage of 209.85%, a win ahead of Laurimar (191.74%), then Kilmore (182.71%), Old Eltham Collegians (131.94%) and Heidelberg West (117.46).
It gives plenty of scope for movement up or down late in the year should a team hit a hot streak or a form slump.
Old Eltham Collegians had shown they were capable of matching it with the top of the table teams in recent matches. They finally broke through against a 2019 finalist in Round 13 action – winning an absolute thriller over Kilmore at Eltham College.
The Blues hit the lead with a late goal, but Turtles captain Tim Woods was mobbed by team mates when he kicked truly after the final siren to seal a three-point win for the Turtles.
“Externally, it may have been seen as an upset, but we went into the game thinking we were going to win,” Old Eltham Collegians coach Matt Sleeman said.
Jacey Winter was in the reserves early in the season, but later established himself in the senior team and was best for the Turtles. As well as booting the sealer, Tim Woods shone and finished the day with three goals.
“We had our chances, but didn’t take them,” Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips said, referring to some errors his team made late in the game.
Chris Jackson got plenty of the football for the Blues, while Caden Fitzpatrick impressed in the ruck.
Mernda hadn’t won since the break but followed up a close loss on the road to Kilmore with its biggest win since 2016, with the Demons recording a huge 151-point win over Reservoir at Waterview Recreation Reserve.
Their list of 12 goal-kickers was headed by William Crouch with seven. Jake Stavrevski came in for his first game of the year and stood out, while Dayne Kellett and Riley Edwards contributed well.
The Mustangs weren’t able to keep pace with the Demons, apart from an even second term.
“As a group, it was out worst performance for the year. That’s what happens when you only play 20 minutes,” Reservoir coach Jason Hamilton said.
Nick Gregson was outstanding and finished off his work for the Mustangs with two goals. Tom Holloway continued his recent good form, while Matthew Verduci did a good job in tagging the dangerous Aaron Colliss.
South Morang lost its first game for the season against Laurimar at Laurimar Reserve in a top of the table clash. The Power got off to a flyer and led from pillar to post but had to withstand a third-term challenge from the Lions.
Sixteen-year-old Brody Glenn booted four majors for the victors and looks to have a bright future.
“We got off to a slow start and couldn’t recover,” South Morang coach Gary Hall said.
Hall was pleased with the work of Mitch Kalpakis in defence and Aaron Lazaric in the ruck.
Benjamin Peterson scored his best haul in senior football with five majors – taking him to equal second place with Lalor’s Sam Rexhepi on 25 goals. Josh Williamson of Laurimar scored another three majors to lead with 39 goals.
Heidelberg West snapped a four-game losing streak in style, recording a 115-point win over Lalor at Heidelberg Park.
“We felt like we weren’t that far away recently, but were able to put it together today,” Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen said.
Alex Hywood (six goals) and Ryan Offer (five) finished off well, while Missen was also happy with the form of Brad Moore and Masaki Miki.
It was a disappointing day for Lalor coach Gary Cutler against his old club.
“They just outworked us and outran us”, Cutler said, although he did have praise for Sam Rexhepi, who booted four majors, and Pasquale Saccuzzo.
It was vital for the Heidelberg West to get the win, while the percentage boost will give them confidence as they head into a critical match in Round 14 action against Old Eltham Collegians at Eltham College.
When the Hawks opened the season with a 77-point win over Old Eltham Collegians on a Friday night, few would have predicted they would be a game behind the Turtles when they next met.
But four wins on the trot has seen the Turtles advance to fourth spot, relegating Heidelberg West to fifth.
A loss would see the Hawks end the round two games behind Old Eltham Collegians. But if they can win, they would draw level on wins and probably trail the Turtles only marginally on percentage.
So, with so much at stake, it shapes as an enthralling contest.
South Morang hosts Reservoir in a top versus bottom match-up at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
The Lions will be keen to get back on the winner’s list and should be able to win comfortably against an undermanned Mustangs line-up.
Reservoir had improved after the bye marginally in terms of losing margins until a poor result against Mernda.
The Mustangs lost by 173 points in Round 1 against South Morang at Crispe Park and would be looking to find a way to better that scoreline this time.
The focus for the Lions will be to use this game to prepare for their finals campaign.
Mernda will be looking to build on its confidence-boosting win last week when it travels to Lalor Reserve to vie with Lalor.
Based on last week’s results, the Demons would be strongly fancied to win.
But the Bloods have gone within a whisker of upsetting both Old Eltham Collegians and Heidelberg West at their home ground this season. So, Lalor fans will be hoping that their maiden win at Lalor Reserve for the year is imminent.
Mernda would like to get back-to-back wins for the first time in 2021 and hit their Round 15 home game against Laurimar with some momentum.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of Round 14 is the clash between Kilmore and Laurimar at J.J. Clancy Reserve.
The Power would virtually sew up the double chance with a victory. It would put them two games and percentage clear of the Blues with four rounds to go.
Both teams have equally difficult runs home. In fact, they play the identical teams in the last four rounds – Lalor, Mernda, Old Eltham Collegians, and South Morang.
Should Kilmore prevail at home, the race for the double chance is likely to go down to the wire – with the Blues hosting Old Eltham Collegians in the final round, while Laurimar ends its home and away season playing South Morang at Laurimar Reserve.
Should Kilmore miss the double chance narrowly, their fans will be ruing the two narrow away losses.
There was the kick after the siren loss last week at Eltham College. And when the Blues travelled to Laurimar Reserve back in Round 1, they were in front in the dying minutes until Mitch Thompson kicked the winner for the Power.
Judging by that result, fans should expect a tight tussle in this vital encounter.
