Teams will be battling for spots three, four and five as Round 15 of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 football.
Reservoir (3rd) has 8 wins and a percentage of 133.01
Their run home is: Ivanhoe at home, Laurimar away, Heidelberg West at home and then Old Eltham Collegians away.
Mernda (4th) has 8 wins and a percentage of 122.60
Their run home is: Epping and Watsonia at home, then Lalor and Kilmore away.
Watsonia (5th) has 7 wins and a percentage of 110.95
Their run home is: bye, Mernda away, Kilmore at home and Kinglake at home.
Heidelberg West (6th) has 7 wins and a percentage of 90.15
Their run home is: Kilmore at home, bye, Reservoir away and Lalor at home.
Mernda takes on Epping at Waterview Reserve in what is a must-win game for the Demons as they aim for third spot on the table. Having snapped a three-game losing streak last weekend against Kinglake, they should have renewed vigour in what will be their third of four consecutive home games. This anomaly has been caused by Kinglake playing all away games in the latter part of the season.
After an emotional game last week for the Blues and, with finals not an option, the team can focus on playing for each other and giving Mernda a run for their money.
Brent Marshall’s men will be strongly fancied now that they appear to be back in form, and their loyal fans will be expecting a win.
Heidelberg West hosts Kilmore at Heidelberg Park in an intriguing contest. The Hawks would love to win this one to keep in touch with the teams above them as they head to the Round 16 bye.
Their form reads well enough to be the tip at home. They have won five out of their last six games and had a loss to Ivanhoe. Their best victory was a convincing 42-point triumph over Watsonia at this venue back in Round 11. After drawing away last weekend to defeat Epping comfortably, they will go in with plenty of confidence.
The Blues have been reasonably good following the bye. They easily defeated Kinglake in between losses to Reservoir and Ivanhoe. To go down by 33 points to Reservoir at Crispe Park would suggest that they can be competitive this weekend, as does the form they showed for the first half last weekend against Ivanhoe.
But their challenge is made a little harder because they are on the road for the second week in a row. It will be a good test for their young brigade against a team desperate to secure their maiden finals berth.
Old Eltham Collegians and Lalor clash at Eltham College. The Bloods are still looking to open their account for the 2026 season and, judging by ladder positions, this is their best chance to break through in an eleventh versus ninth match-up.
Lalor has now had a double bye because of the abandoned game versus Epping two weeks ago. It may make it difficult for them to hit their straps in this one, unless the break has helped them regain some quality players.
The Turtles would like to get back on the winners list after back-to-back losses against finals contenders. Their fans will turn up expecting a win and hoping that they can make the Round 16 trip to Kilmore with some momentum.
Kinglake and Laurimar meet at Laurimar Reserve. It has been tough going on the road week after week for the Lakers. Of the games to come, this will be their toughest test, and it is hard to make a case for them.
However, Kinglake coach Justin Sherman would love to cause the big upset against the team that he coached several years ago and is sure to have his charges motivated.
The Power will be looking to use this game to give them momentum to a vital last two weeks against Reservoir and Ivanhoe before having the bye in the final round. Their fans would love to see Patrick Fitzgerald return to action, especially as their next player in the goal-kicking ladder in Hayden Trim is likely to miss through injury.
Fans will flock to Crispe Park for a huge match between Reservoir and Ivanhoe. The Mustangs face the top two teams back-to-back and will see this as a great test on their home deck.
After being 2-4 at Round 7, Reservoir has now won six straight. This purple patch includes three victories over finals contenders, so they should have plenty of confidence for the contest.
Nonetheless, it is difficult to tip against a team that has won all 12 games. The Hoers really hit top form in the second half last weekend against Kilmore. A reproduction of that effort will give them confidence that they can continue their winning run as they aim to follow in the footsteps of the Stars as the second team in the division to go through a season undefeated.
The Round 3 clash between these team saw Ivanhoe win by 110 points in a twilight game. The Mustangs have improved greatly since then and it shapes as a fascinating spectacle.
