For understandable reasons, most of the attention throughout the course of a home and away season is focused on the top half of the ladder and those challenging for a place in the finals.
Therefore, in normal circumstances, this week’s clash between Bundoora and Heidelberg would earn standalone star-billing as the Division 1 heavyweights meet in a battle to cement their place at the top end of the ladder.
It’s a massive encounter at Yulong Reserve where a Bundoora victory would leave it two games and plenty of percentage ahead of the Tigers in its quest for a double chance in September.
However, fired by five goals from Chaz Sargeant and prolific displays by Lance Oswald, Michael Finn, Blair Harvey and Justin Murphy, Heidelberg continued its return to form with a solid win at Greensborough last week.
The Tigers ran out of gas in a 39-point loss to the Bulls in Round 7, but victory this weekend would move them equal on points with the 2011 premier.
A massive crowd will be in attendance at Yulong Reserve, although the match will share the limelight with another contest just as important, although for vastly different reasons.
Epping hosts Lower Plenty in a fixture that could well decide this season’s relegation battle. The sides reside in the bottom two places on the Division 1 ladder and are locked in a two-way battle to avoid demotion back into Division 2 in season 2014.
The Blues currently languish in bottom place on the ladder, four points and percentage behind this week’s opponent. They have struggled in their first season back in the top flight, having registered just one win in 11 matches – that victory being a two-point triumph over the Bears in Round 3.
However, their recent form has certainly improved and more competitive efforts in recent weeks would provide great optimism that they can avoid this season’s wooden spoon.
Lower Plenty will head into the encounter knowing a victory would likely book its place in Division 1 next season, a fate which was severely aided by its surprising Round 9 win at Heidelberg.
Last week it was forced to head into its match with Eltham severely undermanned, with key duo Billy and Darcy Barden unable to take their place in the side. The Bears stuck within a point of the Panthers in the first half but were unable to keep touch thereafter.
West Preston-Lakeside and Greensborough both head into this weekend’s clash at J.E. Moore Park with a 4-7 record and the loser of this contest may well wave goodbye to their finals hopes.
Greensborough showed positive signs early against Heidelberg last Saturday but was made to pay for errant kicking at goal in the first half, where it registered a wasteful 4.11. It was a big winner the first-time around against the Roosters, when it claimed a 53-point win.
West Preston-Lakeside endured a high-scoring loss to Montmorency last week. The Roosters were highly competitive early in proceedings and then booted seven goals in the final term.
Eltham is aiming to become the first time to beat Montmorency when it travels Montmorency Park – a ground that has provided great success in recent times. The Panthers have been victorious in their past three visits to the Magpies’ nest, which included a thrilling two-point victory last season courtesy of a goal to Paul Currie in the dying stages.
Conversely, Montmorency will be aiming to make it a dozen wins on the trot. Jesse Donaldson was the star of the show last week, kicking five goals in a best afield display. He was ably supported by Ryan Willits and Rowan Nayna, while youngster Luke Collins also impressed.
Northcote Park hosts Macleod in the fifth game of the weekend, in what shapes as a genuine danger game for the reigning premier against a side it has lost to in each of the past three years.
The Kangaroos came within a whisker of upsetting Bundoora last week, falling five points short, just five weeks after losing by 129 points to the Bulls. Anthony Doherty had a chance to tie the game with the last kick, but unfortunately shot wide. It followed a late snap by Matt Veszpremi which appeared goal bound before bouncing on a right angle and in for a minor score.
The Cougars comfortably accounted for Epping last Saturday, although the margin did stand at just 24 points at three quarter time. Mitch Papas and Koden Colman shared eight goals, while Brock McLennan starred in his return match.
