FOLLOWING a season of unpredictable results, the final Saturday of the regular season will provide both ecstasy and agony, as a number of sides look to confirm their place in this year’s finals series.
West Preston-Lakeside plays an early elimination final when it makes its second consecutive venture to Montmorency Park, this time to take on third-placed Montmorency.
The Roosters last week pushed their way back inside the top five, courtesy of a dramatic seven-point win over Lower Plenty. Peter Shepherd overcame swine flu to boot five goals, while Glenn Robertson left the field in the second term to be with his partner who went into labor. The result leaves the club’s finals destiny in its own hands, knowing a win over the Magpies will give it a finals berth.
The match is equally important for Montmorency who must win to clinch third place and a double chance in September. The Magpies last week continued their superb late-season form, claiming a fifth-straight win in a 51-point result over Whittlesea. Tall forwards Pat Fitzgerald and Ryan Willits combined for 20 scoring shots, although wayward kicking contained the duo to 10 goals.
New ladder-leader Heidelberg makes the short trek to De Winton Park, knowing it must defeat Macleod to clinch the minor premiership and earn a deserved break in the opening week of the finals.
The Bergers last week held out Greensborough in a gripping eight-point win at Warringal Park. Jordan Treloar was the standout at centre half forward, while Paul Bower and Jarrod Hodgkin were solid contributors. The Tigers face a similarly difficult task this week against the competition’s fourth-placed side, who they beat by six points in Round 1.
Errant kicking made Macleod’s job difficult against Eltham last week, winning by 24 points despite recording 14 more scoring shots. Jack Langford proved the match winner with six goals, including three in the last term after the Panthers had reduced their deficit to six points.
A win this week could potentially propel the Kangaroos into the top three. However, a loss and wins to West Preston-Lakeside and Bundoora would see Garry Ramsay’s men miss out on the finals altogether.
Bundoora travels to Panther Place to play Eltham at a ground where it has a poor recent record. The Bulls currently sit sixth on the ladder, but superior percentage means they will play finals should they win this week and either of Macleod or West Preston-Lakeside lose.
Last week they surrendered a 39-point half time lead to Northcote Park, before steadying late to win by 12 points. Cameron Cloke and Gary Moorcroft combined for 10 goals, while Brendan Carlyon and Matthew Dennis were both instrumental.
Eltham’s place in Division 1 is confirmed in 2015 and will this week have many other clubs hoping it can defy the odds to defeat Bundoora. The Panthers were gallant in defeat at De Winton Park last week, with Chase Caulfield and James Reid amongst their best against Macleod.
Consecutive losses have left Lower Plenty’s finals hopes looking very slim, ahead of a trip to Bill Lawry Oval to play Northcote Park. Given their poor percentage, the Bears sit in seventh place and will need to win, as well as have both West Preston-Lakeside and Bundoora lose, to play finals.
Poor kicking proved costly last week, with Vin Dattoli’s side losing to his former club despite recording eight more scoring shots. Tom Keys and Matthew Duckworth were the Bears’ best, while Bill Barden booted five goals.
Northcote Park will be looking to give 2012 premiership coach Jason Heatley a fitting send-off in his final game at the helm. 2014 has been somewhat of a disappointing campaign for the Cougars, recording just six wins and a draw following third and first-place finishes over the past two seasons.
Whittlesea will play its final top flight game before returning to Division 2 when it meets second-placed Greensborough at War Memorial Park. Despite their competiveness for the majority of the season, the Eagles have managed just one win in their second stint in Division 1 and will be looking to double that tally this weekend.
A second loss to Heidelberg for the season saw Greensborough slip to second place and the Boro will now be relying on a win this week, along with a Macleod victory over the Tigers to take back first place at season’s end. The best efforts of Michael Hopper and Brent Ryan weren’t enough to get the Boro over the line last week.
