Macleod’s late push for finals continued last Saturday, with the Roos emulating Northcote Park’s second-half feats of 2012 as they begin to topple all before them.
Having knocked off both Northcote Park and Montmorency in the weeks prior, Garry Ramsay’s side claimed another massive scalp in Round 15 when it accounted for Heidelberg at Warringal Park.
Remarkably, the 18-point win didn’t move the Roos up the table given fellow finals contenders West Preston-Lakeside and Eltham also claimed victories. However, with matches to come against the Panthers, Lower Plenty and Greensborough, the Roos look fancied to jump inside the top five by season’s end.
Macleod’s win over Heidelberg wasn’t the only boilover last week, with West Preston-Lakeside holding on to fifth place courtesy of a truly gutsy four-point win over Bundoora, its fourth win in six weeks.
It all sets up a show-stopping final three rounds, with three sides fighting for two remaining places in the top three and a further three sides fighting it out for fifth place.
The NFL Match of the Day takes place at Yulong Reserve where Bundoora hosts Montmorency in a top of the table clash.
The Bulls succumbed to their fourth loss of the season last week when they fell to the Roosters and have all but handed Montmorency this year’s minor premiership. Sitting pretty in second spot last week, they are now at risk of slipping to third if they lose today – where only a healthy percentage would keep them inside the top three.
Montmorency recovered from its first loss of the season with a thumping 91-point win against Epping. The Magpies recorded 37 scoring shots to 11 as midfielders Rowan Nayna and Ryan Jackson and rebounding defender Harley Ryan did as they pleased. Ben Walton profited with five goals, while Pat Fitzgerald booted four.
Macleod hosts Eltham at De Winton Park in a match that will put paid to the loser’s finals chances. The Roos are in red-hot form and have additional reason to be at their best with captain Kane Shaw set to become only the club’s second player to reach 200 A-Grade games.
Eltham returned to the winners list when it accounted for Greensborough by 39 points last Saturday to remain in sixth place, with Brad Perry, James Kroussoratis and Paul Currie all finishing with four goals. De Winton Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Panthers who have lost their past four encounters at the venue by less than a goal.
Northcote Park can move to second spot if it beats Greensborough as expected for the Neale “Cowboy” Carroll Cup. The Cougars led at every change in a hard-fought win over Lower Plenty last week, with Julian Violato and midfielders Will Debruin, Doug Morris and Matt Deledio all amongst the best in the 20-point win. This week’s is a must-win game for the Cougars who face a tough final fortnight with matches against Montmorency and Bundoora.
Greensborough’s horrid end to the season continued when it lost for the eighth-straight week against Eltham. Struggling with an extensive injury list, the Boro looked in the game early before fading after quarter time despite Lachlan McQuilken and Josh Grubb’s best efforts.
Heidelberg slipped a game outside the top three when it lost to Macleod last week, its second successive home defeat. The Bergers will be desperate to get amongst the winners when they travel to Epping for the first time in years. Mark Lynch was their best off half back against the Roos, however they managed just five goals with three coming from Jordan Treloar’s boot.
Epping’s fight to avoid relegation took a hit when it was trounced by Montmorency, with the Blues percentage slipping to 55.37 – well behind Lower Plenty’s 62.16. The Blues were never in the hunt although exciting tall Sean Bolger was again his side’s best.
Vin Dattoli meets former side West Preston-Lakeside for the second time this season when Lower Plenty hosts the Roosters at Montmorency Park.
The Bears stuck with the reigning premiers right throughout last week’s loss at Bill Lawry Oval in a low-scoring affair and were within two goals during the last term. Darcy Barden booted four of his side’s eight goals, while Will Morley and Clint Monger gave their all in defeat.
West Preston-Lakeside’s win over Bundoora showed it can match it with the best. The Roosters led by 33 points at half time, but went scoreless in the third term to trail by three at the last change. A two-goal to one last stanza got them over the line in a thriller with Xavier Clarke best afield.
