Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 Preview – Round 17


Published on Thursday, August 15, 2024

Author : Josh Ward

The final fortnight of the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 season is here, with some mouthwatering contests set to take place in Round 17 this weekend.

It’s another season-defining clash for Hurstbridge at Ben Frilay Oval when they take on an in-form North Heidelberg outfit.

This weekend marks the second of three weeks where Joel Cordwell’s men face a side inside the top five, with ladder leaders Heidelberg to follow next weekend at Warringal Park.

They passed their first test last weekend, running over the top of Greensborough in the final quarter to defeat them by 16 points, and move a game clear in fourth position on the ladder.

Joel Naylor was at his best up forward with another four goals, while makeshift ruck Jake Wild also had one of his better games of the year alongside midfielder Blake Fitzgerald.

It was a victory that eases the pressure on Hurstbridge heading into a tough fortnight, but one more win may still be required if they are to earn back-to-back finals appearances.

To do so this Saturday, they will have to knock off a North Heidelberg team on a five-game winning streak, the latest being a 31-point victory over Eltham at Shelley Street Reserve.

Key pillars in Lachlan Smith and Parker Heatley continued their stellar seasons and were star performers in the triumph over the Panthers. Smith finished as his side’s best for a second consecutive week, while Heatley booted another three majors to take his 2024 tally to 52 goals.

There’s plenty at stake for the Bulldogs, who will confirm a top three finish with the four points on the weekend, however a defeat may mean a win over Banyule in Round 18 is required to stay in the double chance hunt.

The Bulldogs have won their last three matches against the Bridges, including by just eight points earlier this season. But it was Hurstbridge who won the most recent meeting between the two at Ben Frilay Oval to the tune of nine points.

There’s plenty on the line for local rivals Greensborough and Montmorency as they renew hostilities at Greensborough War Memorial Park.

The hosts will give themselves every chance of knocking over their next-door neighbours, having found some form since the league-wide bye.

Despite losing to Hurstbridge last week, they were always in the hunt thanks to stirring performances from Brody Glenn, who finished with four goals, and Benjamin Fisher, who finished in his side’s best for the fifth time in his last six games.

If Matthew Hyde’s men secure the four points this weekend, it would likely sure up a return to the finals for the club, with a match against bottom placed Macleod to conclude the home and away campaign.

There are similar stakes on the line for Montmorency, with a win on Saturday to push them one step closer to gaining the double chance spot for a third consecutive year.

Nick Rutley’s side got back onto the winners list in a high scoring affair last weekend against Macleod, kicking 22 goals in their 51-point triumph at Montmorency Park, producing their highest total score since Round 15, 2022.

Patrick Fitzgerald kicked seven of those goals while captain Stefan Uzelac continued his purple patch with another best on ground performance.

Billy Jenkin has also been another player to stroll towards this finals series in brilliant fashion, being named in his side’s best in three straight games, after only doing so once in his first seven.

It was the Magpies that won their matchup with the Boro earlier in the season, defeating them by 27 points at Montmorency Park. Montmorency have also claimed triumphs in two of their last three games at this week’s venue in War Memorial Park.

But expect Greensborough to put their best foot forward as they aim to take their place in September action.

West Preston-Lakeside will look to add another scalp to their 2024 collection ahead of their intriguing clash with Banyule at J.E. Moore Park.

Ian Aitken’s side have caused headaches for sides inside the top six at times this season, but that wasn’t the case last weekend, being outclassed to go down by 141 points to Heidelberg away from home.

The heavy loss didn’t affect Dante Colosimo’s stats though, kicking three of the Roosters four goals in another solid display from the young star. Aleksandr D’Arro and Lennox Williams also continue to emerge as players of the future at the club after the pair were named in their side’s best in Round 17.

While they may not be playing finals in 2024, Ian Aitken’s men have continued to show glimpses of their best against the top sides of the competition and will aim to do so again when they battle an out of form Banyule side.

The Bears have won just one of their last five games, with their previous pair of defeats coming against bottom three sides Bundoora and Eltham.

Their 30-point defeat to the Bulls came despite the return of Riley Loton and Tim Martin to the team, as they were kept to just eight goals or less for the fourth time since Round 12.

Recent form against the Roosters hasn’t gone Banyule’s way either, having not defeated them in their last two meetings, including a 19-point loss at Beverley Road in Round 8.

Whilst the Bears are certainly capable of returning to the winners list on Saturday, a contest with North Heidelberg in Round 18 means a victory this week is almost a must, if they want to make history and earn a spot in the top flight finals series.

Bundoora can officially confirm their safety for another year while ending Macleod’s Division 1 run in the process when the two sides battle at Yulong Reserve.

The Bulls have put themselves in this position after one of their most impressive performances of the 2024 campaign, a 30-point victory over Banyule at Beverley Road Oval.

It was the fourth time they kept an opponent to 55 points or less this year, and the third straight time it’s been against a team currently in the top six.

Leading the charge again was Jackson Davies, who has hardly put a foot wrong on the defensive end throughout the last month, as he was named as his side’s best once again.

Peter McEvoy also continues to enjoy a strong season, after he kicked four majors in the win over the Bears.

Bundoora will go in as favourites this weekend, but they do face a Macleod side who defeated the Bulls by 19 points back in Round 8.

The Roos produced their highest score of the season last week at Montmorency Park, but also conceded their second largest total in the same game during their 51-point defeat to the Magpies.

They have now had 120 or more points kicked against them in three of the previous four weeks.

Zac Hudson finished as his side’s best after a great battle with Stefan Uzelac in ruck, while Darcy Barden led the way up forward with four majors.

They did lead Montmorency by a point at the main break and it’s that effort that Craig Hayes will hope to get out of his side in the final two weeks of the home and away season, as wins in both games are a minimum if they want to remain in the top flight.

Another massive test is set to present itself to Eltham this weekend in their clash against a rampant Heidelberg side at Eltham Central Park.

The Panthers have continued to improve as the season’s gone by, and that has been particularly highlighted in the last fortnight.

After defeating Banyule in Round 15, they led at half time to North Heidelberg last Saturday before ultimately falling short by 31 points against the second-placed Bulldogs.

Sebastian Molloy made it nine goals in his last two matches after a three-goal effort in the defeat, while Declan Ayres continues to shine bright, and has played a significant role in the club’s last two performances.

Even though there has some promise, Tim Bongetti’s men will need everything to go right if they are to topple the top of the ladder Tigers.

Heidelberg got back to their best quickly after suffering their first defeat of the season in Round 15, piling on 26 goals to defeat West Preston-Lakeside by 141 points last week.

Zane Barzen and Dylan Clarke returned to the lineup after being unavailable for multiple weeks and settled into the team immediately, with the duo combining for seven goals.

They also had the luxury of having two-time Frank Rosbrook Medallist Lachlan Wilson in the team for another week, who went on to be the best player on the ground.

There was a 115-point gap between the two sides in their last meeting in Round 8, with the Panthers being kept to just two goals. If Eltham can improve on that effort, it will only benefit the side ahead of next year’s campaign.

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