Round 3 action in Division 1 delivered a mix of dominant performances and tight contests, with several sides beginning to separate themselves as early-season contenders.
Heidelberg produced a commanding performance to defeat Banyule by 56 points, controlling the game from the opening bounce. The Tigers set the tone early with six unanswered goals in the first quarter, locking the ball inside their forward half and denying Banyule any real opportunity to build momentum.
That dominance continued into the second term, with Heidelberg’s superior ball movement and marking power proving too much to handle. By half-time, the margin had stretched beyond nine goals, with Luke Bunker (32 disposals, two goals), Dylan Clarke (30 disposals, one goal) and Lachlan Wilson (23 disposals, three goals) leading the charge. Heidelberg’s ability to win the ball and generate repeat inside 50s ensured a comfortable 118–62 victory.
While Banyule showed some fight in the second half as Jack Langford and Jean-Luc Vellisaris continued their stellar form but will need to regroup quickly before a trip to Hurstbridge this weekend.
North Heidelberg chalked up its first premiership points of the campaign with a 45-point win over West Preston Lakeside. The Dogs led wire to wire over an inaccurate Roosters outfit, turning a 25-point three quarter time lead into a convincing win by the full-time siren.
The Bulldogs kicked four goals to none in the opening term, immediately putting the Roosters on the back foot. The visitors made a better fist of things in the second term but 3.7 for the quarter wasn’t quite the reward for effort they would have hoped for.
A strong final quarter sealed the result, with North Heidelberg kicking four goals to one. Their edge at the contest and cleaner ball use proved decisive, as they ran out 100–55 winners.
Max Yeoland booted three goals for the winners, well-supported by Curtis Brown (31 disposals) and Joshua Hamilton (29 disposals). For West Preston Lakeside Kristian Lawson continued his prolific ball winning start to the season with another 27 touches and Matthew Harman was the dominant big man in the ruck but they need more support to get that first win on the board.
Hurstbridge came from behind to defeat Greensborough by 18 points, overturning a half-time deficit with a dominant second half. The Borough had the best of the early going, booting six goals to the Bridges’ one in the second term to open up a 20-point advantage going into the main break.
The momentum shifted in the third term however as Hurstbridge took control in the midfield and piled on five unanswered goals to swing the advantage their way at the final change.
Despite a competitive final quarter, Greensborough couldn’t regain the ascendancy as both sides kicked a couple of goals each and Hurstbridge maintained the buffer they’d built up in the third term. Their domination of the clearance battle and inside 50 count across the day proved decisive.
Cameron Wild, Ethan Taylor and Tom Simpson led the way for the Bridges who would be reasonably please with the way they’ve started the season, sitting in third spot on the table.
Division 1 newcomers Diamond Creek edged out Bundoora by four points in a low-scoring, hard-fought contest on Saturday night. Both sides struggled to find attacking fluency, with pressure and contested ball dominating throughout.
After just one goal between the two sides in the opening term, things started to flow in the second term as the Creekers kicked four goals to two to take up a four-point lead into half time.
Bizarrely from that point on the scoring dried right up, with both sides kicking just one goal each in the second half. Diamond Creek maintaining the slender margin they had at the main break.
The last quarter was a similarly tense defensive battle, with neither side able to find a way through the other’s defence. The Creekers managed to hang tough and secure a valuable four-point win. They’ve been the surprise packet of the season to many punters, yet to taste defeat in their new division and currently sitting second on the ladder.
Eltham has stayed inside the top five with a 21-point win over Montmorency. After an even first quarter, the Panthers edged ahead and maintained their lead for the remainder of the contest.
They maintained that advantage in the second half through disciplined ball use and solid defensive structure. Montmorency were within striking distance at the last change, down by just 13 points, but couldn’t reel in the Panthers who dominated time in forward half in the final quarter of the game.
Jason McCormick led the way for Eltham with 24 disposals and three goals, as the Panthers ran out deserved winners and moved to 2-1 on the season.
One of the big early season surprises is Montmorency sitting second last on the table without a win through its first three fixtures.
Many would have tipped the Magpies to again be eyeing a finals spot in 2026, but a draw and two losses find them a fair way back in the queue. The positive is that with the competition being relatively even, one win could get them on a roll and trending in the right direction.
