For the second time this year Division 3 has centre stage to itself as teams in Division 1 and Division 2 sit out their final bye of the season.
After 14 rounds the top four teams have all but confirmed their place in this year’s finals series, with the final five rounds of the year a matter of sorting out the exact order in which they will stand.
This weekend’s games pit three sides inside the top three against sides outside the top half of the ladder, with the competition’s best sides all fancied to record Round 15 wins.
Panton Hill welcomes Parkside to Ben Frilay Oval – the third time the sides will meet in 2013. Although the ledger is shared at one win apiece, the Redbacks will be a red-hot favourite heading into this encounter following a 127-point victory the last time the sides met.
The ladder-leader is just about guaranteed a second consecutive minor premiership after easily accounting for Thomastown last week. On the back of eight goals from Ben Finnin, the Redbacks romped to a 58-point win over the Bears in the much-billed top of the table clash. Last season’s leading goalkicker Joffa Byron also continued his dominant form off half back as his side recorded its sixth win in succession to move two games clear in top place.
Parkside had its finals hopes dashed with a poor second half showing against Reservoir at Crispe Park. The Devils led by 14 points at quarter time and by four points at the main break before slumping to a 51-point defeat. The Devils managed just two goals after half time despite the best efforts of Tim Wise and Brad Hockey.
Despite sitting out the bye last Saturday, Watsonia moved into second place on the ladder as a result of Thomastown’s percentage-battering loss to Panton Hill and the Saints will be looking to extend their lead over the Bears when they travel to Heidelberg West this week.
Lochie Dornauf’s side heads into the encounter with a three-game winning streak and will be highly fancied to make it four on the trot against the Hawks ahead of big games against Reservoir and Thomastown in the next fortnight.
Fielding a fresh-faced side which included nine players under the age of 21, Heidelberg West looked set to record its second win of the season when it led St Mary’s by 25 points at half time. However, with youth comes inconsistency, and the Hawks managed just two goals to the Burras’ nine after the long break to slump to a 27-point loss. Craig Dunlop and Dylan Kennedy played their best games of the year, while Kyl Ewart’s five goals accounted for half of his team’s tally.
The third game of the weekend may well be the closest when fourth-placed Reservoir hosts fifth-placed St Mary’s.
Despite sitting just one place apart on the ladder, Reservoir has a three-game buffer over the Burra and would need to capitulate in the final five weeks of the season to miss out on playing finals.
Toby O’Meara’s big second half ensured the Mustangs returned to their winning ways last weekend. Lee Grattidge and Ryan Keyes were also amongst the best, as was Kent Beaumont – marking a good day for the Beaumont family after brother Kael kicked 15 goals for Reservoir’s reserves earlier in the day.
St Mary’s won its first game since May when it overran Heidelberg West – the result ending a run of five consecutive losses for the injury-depleted side. Their 13 goals were shared amongst 10 different goal kickers, with Daniel Basaranowicz leading the way with three.
Recent encounters between Reservoir and St Mary’s have been exceptionally close. The Mustangs won their Round 1 home encounter by 26 points despite trailing during the fourth quarter. They also came from behind in Round 8 to claim a 10-point win at Whatmough Park.
