ONE game and four per cent. That’s all that separates finishing best of the rest in 2014 and being relegated to Division 3 in 2015.
Just where do you pick a candidate for relegation? A couple of weeks ago, Diamond Creek looked like it was set for safety, yet now sits on the bottom of the ladder.
Last week, Epping looked set to guarantee a stay in second division but a shock 10-goal loss to Hurstbridge sees it back in the relegation battle. At the top, North Heidelberg and Fitzroy Stars asserted their authority over their prospective finals opponents with big wins over Lalor and Mernda respectively.
The big result was at Ben Frilay Oval, however, as Hurstbridge took a 62-point triumph over Epping to move off the bottom of the ladder at Diamond Creek’s expense. Leading by three goals at half time, the Bridges kicked away in the third quarter, kicking seven goals to one to blow the game apart.
The star of the show up forward was Aron Burns, kicking seven goals – one short of Epping’s eight for the afternoon. He also hauled in a leading contender for this year’s mark of the year award.
Tom Simpson kicked three goals himself, while Dale Eames and Adam Gambling were the Bridges best players. For the disappointing Blues, who missed a golden opportunity to cement their place in Division 2 for 2015, Aaron Willits kicked three goals.
Hurstbridge now takes on Diamond Creek in an enormous clash at Ben Frilay Oval, with the loser looking likely to suffer relegation to third division next year.
Diamond Creek, who prior to this season had not even missed the finals since 2008 when they were relegated from Division 1, could be left to rue its final quarter fadeout against Panton Hill at Coventry Oval last Saturday. Having held the Hillers to two goals in three quarters, Brian Hardman’s side was unable to stop a late Redback onslaught as they fought to preserve their own status.
The visitors’ six-goal final quarter was enough to take a 16-point victory, their fifth triumph since being promoted from Division 3 last year. Brendan O’Connor kicked three goals in the win, with young gun Jonty Rushton adding two more. Rushton, elevated from the under-19s, was also named amongst the best players.
North Heidelberg asserted its dominance once again with a quite exhilarating third quarter against Lalor, demonstrating its power once it gets on a roll. Having smashed Mernda the previous week, the Bloods were helpless as they saw a three-point half time deficit suddenly become a 71-point three-quarter time demolition.
Shane Harvey added another bag of six goals in the 93-point victory, and was amongst the Bulldogs’ best alongside Louis Hill. There were only three goal kickers for Lalor, whose five majors all came in the opening half. Nick Mafilovski and Todd Hughes kicked two each, while Scott Dowell was the Bloods’ best player.
Fitzroy Stars in the meantime proved too strong for Mernda, responding to every challenge in a 32-point victory over the Demons at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval. The result ensured the Stars again cemented a double chance in this year’s finals series.
A seven-goal to one third quarter saw the Stars move 50 points clear at three quarter time, before the Demons won the last quarter. John Hayes kicked five goals in the victory, and along with Allan Norris and Alex Isailovic were the best players on the ground, while Colin Ribbons was impressive for Mernda kicking four goals.
The pick of the games this weekend sees the Mernda travel to North Heidelberg, looking for a much improved effort after losing by 100 points in their last meeting with the Dogs at Shelley Reserve. Both sides will be looking to fine tune their game ahead of their finals preparations.
Lalor makes the short travel to Epping where a Blues outfit will look to respond from their big loss to Hurstbridge. A win would guarantee survival for the Blues once and for all, while Lalor will try to build for its upcoming first semi final against Mernda in two weeks time.
Panton Hill is in the same position as Epping when it hosts Fitzroy Stars at Cracknell Reserve. Should they cause an upset, the Redbacks are also safe in their first season back in Division 2.
