WHILE the top two sides play this weekend before their second semi final encounter, astoundingly that is the least of the Division 2 focus.
Picture for a second these predicted results this weekend: Diamond Creek beating Epping 89-52, Lalor beating Hurstbridge 100-53 and Mernda beating Panton Hill 100-64.
If all these results occur, which is within the realms of possibility, fifth to eighth will be separated by 0.04% on the ladder come season’s end. That, my friends, is how tight the relegation battle is this season.
For Diamond Creek, there is one solution to prevent going down into Division 3. Defeat Epping by 38 points or more. Fail to win, they go down. Fail to win well, and they will have to rely on Hurstbridge or Panton Hill getting belted in order to stay up.
Certainly, the Creekers did themselves no favours by going down to Hurstbridge by 38 points last weekend despite leading by 19 early in the last term.
The Creekers last 25 minutes was disastrous, conceding nine answered goals. Brent Gutterson and Lucas Campitelli kicked three goals each in defeat, with Jai Norman and Brenton Hoppe their best players. However, the threat of relegation now looms largest over the Creekers.
Hurstbridge put itself in a good position to avoid relegation in much the same way it did in 2012, when it defeated Fitzroy Stars on the final day. Aron Burns kicked five goals last week, making it 12 in two matches, with Tom Simpson kicking three. Dale Eames and Joel Baillie were also solid performers.
However, the job is not yet done for the Bridges, who play Lalor at Lalor Reserve. Positively, they can boast victory from their last two trips to the ground.
The Bloods’ first quarter was all the difference at Epping Recreational Reserve last Saturday, building a 29-point lead before winning by 15.
There were only four goal kickers for the Bloods, with Todd Hughes kicking five and Spencer Christopher and Jarrod King three apiece. Shannon Smith and Daniel Morrison were the stars for Lalor as they build towards their first semi with Mernda.
The loss to Lalor keeps Epping in the frame for relegation ahead of a huge encounter with Diamond Creek. Joel Dunmore was the sole multiple goal kicker for the Blues last week, with Michael Robertson and Cameron Brown their best players.
Put simply, to stay up, all the Blues have to do is remain competitive this week. With a 2-0 advantage over the Creekers this season, they will be confident of being up to the task when it matters most. Failure to do so could give Epping an unwanted record – becoming the first team to achieve successive relegations.
Panton Hill also came very close to securing its Division 2 status, with a late charge falling nine points short against Fitzroy Stars. This means twice this season the Hillers have come within single digits of knocking over the second-placed Stars, as well as losing to third placed Mernda by two points.
Tim Duckworth kicked three goals for the Redbacks, with Will Box and Brett Middleton their best players. Similar to Epping, all that is required for the Hillers is a very competitive performance against Mernda.
With a meeting between the two sides already confirmed in the second semi at Whittlesea next week, both North Heidelberg and Fitzroy Stars will be keeping mum about their plans this week when they meet at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
The Stars, despite missing both Patrick Davis and Allan Murray, did the job against the Hillers, with Aaron Clark kicking three goals. Gordon Bamblett, Keith Morgan and Coree Thorpe were the Stars’ best players.
When David Hutchinson goaled approaching time on of the second quarter, North Heidelberg found itself five goals down against a Mernda outfit playing arguably its best football of the season.
However, a run of nine straight goals thereafter gave North a 22-point win, giving Jason Dean the best reward in his 300th game. Shane Harvey kicked five goals for the Dogs, taking his season tally to 83, while Lachie Dowling kicked four goals but was also stretchered off with a shoulder injury. Jeff Ryan and Louis Hill were also solid contributors.
Hutchinson kicked five for the Demons, who did close to within 11 points in the last quarter, before North Heidelberg steadied. Luke Thorneycroft was amongst the best along with Daniel Bryant.
The Demons will farewell Mernda Recreational Reserve today against Panton Hill before moving into Waterview Community Reserve in 2015.
