A massive top of the table clash headlines what could be a season defining round in MC Labour Division 2.
We’ll be treated to a potential grand final preview at Beverley Road Oval when Banyule take on Eltham.
Expect this match to be a lot closer than their previous meeting in Round 8, where the Panthers slammed on 12 consecutive goals to run out 66-point winners at Eltham Central Park.
The Bears are yet to taste defeat since that match and have played some excellent football in the last month to give them a golden opportunity at grabbing the minor premiership.
They’ve shown their capabilities to be the team to beat after comprehensive victories against St Mary’s and the Fitzroy Stars in the last fortnight.
Three of the top six players on the Coaches MVP leaderboard are Banyule players including leader Riley Loton. The other two names in Jack Langford and Kye Yodgee are continuing to play consistently well.
Youngster James Kayrooz has quickly risen back to form, kicking seven majors against the Stars last week.
The Bears will face their biggest test of the year when they host an Eltham side who haven’t looked like losing for the most part of the season.
Robert Hyde’s men have won 11 consecutive games and with just two top five sides to play for the remainder of the season, a win on Saturday will sure up a top place finish.
Eltham’s young brigade were again on show in their big win over Panton Hill last week, with Jason McCormick, David Evans, Daniel Horsfield and Benjamin Smith all playing excellent games.
Another victory for the Panthers could also go a long way to bettering their 2018 season in which they finished on top of the ladder with a record of 16-2.
Now two games out of the top five, Watsonia won’t be able to afford any more slip ups when they host Lower Plenty at Binnak Park.
The Saints pulled off an incredible win when these two sides met in the opening round of the season. A similar result will keep them in finals contention right until the last game of the home and away campaign.
George Latouff’s side will need to pick themselves back up after a disappointing defeat to Thomastown last week. The Saints led by 22 points at three quarter time before the breeze proved too strong for the visitors, allowing the Bears to complete a 41-point turnaround.
Individuals still continue to impress for Watsonia, particularly Ben McKenzie who was brilliant across half back last week. Efforts from Corey Potter and Kobe Van Zwienen have also played big roles in the Saints’ competitive performances all season.
If they can prevail over the Bears, the Saints will likely sit just one game shy of the top five if the Burra go down to Diamond Creek. Watsonia also have a favourable run home with games against the Fitzroy Stars and Epping to follow this Saturday’s encounter so they’ll believe anything is possible if they can defeat Lower Plenty.
The Bears picked up a vital 18-point victory over Diamond Creek last week, which has now given them a shot at securing a top three spot by season’s end.
Trio Tyler Wallace, Tom Keys and Josh Turner have had an outstanding last month while both Billy and Darcy Barden continue to shine at both ends of the ground.
The four points will confirm a finals place for Lower Plenty but more importantly, it’ll apply some real pressure on Diamond Creek as they close on a double chance finish.
Coming off two vastly different weekends, Diamond Creek and St Mary’s square off at Coventry Oval with the result set to have big implications on the top five.
The Creekers are hitting a slump at the wrong time after two consecutive losses to top five teams. As a result, they’re in danger of falling out of the top three with another defeat.
Losing by an average of 16 points in those last two losses, Diamond Creek certainly haven’t lost any admirers, but they’ll hope to end the season on a high if they’re to do damage throughout finals.
David Mennen has settled in well since arriving from Whittlesea earlier this year while Hugh Kavanagh had his best game of the season in their defeat to Lower Plenty last week.
Saturday is the beginning of a three-game stretch for St Mary’s in which they play top five sides, meaning their big win against Epping last week was an important momentum booster.
Jake Dambrauskas is continuing to have an influence on his side since his return from injury in May and has appeared in the Burra’s best in four of his last five games. Tane Cotter and Jacob Yeomans have also been handy contributors in recent weeks, with the latter only going two games this season without hitting the scoreboard.
While Fabian Carelli’s men still have a two-game buffer on the sixth placed Watsonia, this will be their best chance in the next three weeks to claim another win if they’re to ensure an inaugural finals berth in Division 2.
Diamond Creek prevailed by 18 points over the Burra when they last met in Round 5. Conditions were difficult and inaccurate goalkicking affected both sides, but with a lot more on the line, expect a higher scoring contest.
After all but assuring a place in MC Labour Division 2 next season, Panton Hill will have a golden opportunity to win their fifth game of the year when they play the Fitzroy Stars at A.E Cracknell Reserve.
Following a promising few weeks for the Redbacks, they were brought back down to earth by the ladder leaders as they were on the receiving end of a 94-point defeat to Eltham.
Jesse Owens-Draper had his best game of the season and also produced the highlight of the day with a mark of the year contender. Nathan Jasper was also impressive again in what’s been a successful first season for him at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
If the Stars are to somehow avoid relegation and a winless season, their trip to Panton Hill will be their best chance to turn things around for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
The Stars were again no match for Banyule last weekend, it was their seventh 100+ point loss of the year.
Riley Livingstone continues to shine, so too Hotak Akram, but they’ve been the few consistencies in what’s been a tough season for Lionel Proctor’s side.
Last time these two sides played, the Fitzroy Stars got as close as they could to knocking off the Redbacks but ultimately fell short by 14 points. If they can remain as competitive this time around, an upset win could very much be on the cards.
Neighbours Epping and Thomastown will do battle at Epping Recreation Reserve as the visitors look to produce an unlikely finals appearance by season’s end.
Although survival seems secure, the Blues will still want to end the season on a high and their match against the Bears could be their best chance to claim a third win with three top six sides rounding out their 2022 campaign.
Since their famous win over the Stars in Round 10, Epping haven’t looked close to competing with their opposition. Their 33-point loss to Panton Hill over a fortnight ago is an exception.
Leigh Judd continues to stand up for the Blues, finshing in the best in all but one of his 10 games this season. Omar Mustafa has also been a revelation up forward, kicking at least a goal in every game since Round 10.
The rejuvenated Thomastown side claimed a brilliant come from behind win over Watsonia last week as they aim to prove to the competition that they can still be a threat.
Efforts last week from the likes of Tyla Barrow, Josh Beare, Anthony Capeci and Jarryd Coulson will need to continue across the last four weeks of the season if Thomastown are to push into the top five.
When these teams last met on Good Friday, the Bears got their first win of the season with a 99-point drubbing at Main Street Recreation Reserve. A similar performance will have St Mary’s a little nervous.
