A DRAW, a surprise thrashing and proof that a competition powerhouse remains a genuine force were the headlines to come out of an amazing opening round of Division 1.
It’s only Round 2 but the split-round already shapes as season-defining for a number of sides ahead of the Easter weekend. At one end of the spectrum, 2013 finalists Montmorency and Eltham are starring down the barrel of 0-2 starts, while the Boro, Lower Plenty and West Preston-Lakeside can head undefeated into the early break.
The headline game of the opening week of the split-round is at Montmorency Park, where Montmorency plays host to Bundoora in a replay of the 2013 Grand Final. Last year’s agonising Grand Final loss should be motivation enough for the Magpies ahead of the encounter, however last week’s shock loss at Greensborough may also play a motivating factor.
After booting the opening three goals of the game, the Magpies looked lifeless as they conceded 19 of the next 23 goals. An injury to defender Daniel Coghill in the first quarter and the sending off of midfielder Luke Jackson in the second half didn’t help their cause, however it didn’t nothing to excuse a forgettable performance to kick off their 2014 campaign.
In stark contrast, Bundoora got its premiership defence off to a flying start with a 99-point win over Whittlesea. It was the second year in succession that the Bulls handed out an opening-round hiding to a recently-promoted side, after beating Epping by 102 points in Round 1 last year. Gary Moorcroft was the star of the show with eight goals in a side that featured eight players who didn’t play in last year’s Grand Final win.
After kicking itself to defeat at Warringal Park, Macleod will be looking to rebound when it hosts Northcote Park at De Winton Park – a side it has beaten once in each of the past four years. The Kangaroos will be rueing an inaccurate start at Heidelberg – booting 2.11 in the first half before succumbing by just six points.
Northcote Park stole two points in its draw against West Preston-Lakeside, managing just one goal in the opening half before rallying from 27 points down to secure a draw in a low-scoring match. Julian Violato was a standout for the Cougars, holding the defence together under a West Preston-Lakeside opening-half barrage.
West Preston-Lakeside now welcomes former coach Vin Dattoli to J.E. Moore Park as the Roosters square off with a Lower Plenty outfit which thrashed Eltham last week.
The Roosters looked slick and clean for three quarters in Round 1 before seemingly running out of gas in the final term. Luke Lirosi was a standout in his first game since crossing from Epping, while tall Sam Gilmore proved a handful for Northcote Park’s defenders.
The Bears will look to continue last week’s impressive form, racing to an eight-goal lead at half time before winning by 45 – their greatest winning margin since returning to Division 1 in 2012. New recruit Oliver Parks and Bill Barden combined for eight goals.
Heidelberg makes a road trip down Plenty Road to meet a Whittlesea side which will unfurl its 2013 Division 2 premiership flag. Ben Cosgriff marked his return to the Tigers side with a best on ground performance last week, while new faces Jake McNamara, Paul Bower and Charles Gaylard all featured in the best in their first game in yellow and black.
The Eagles matched Bundoora early in last week’s encounter, before injury reduced the side to just 19 fit players in the second half. Luke Deards was his side’s best and managed to negate the influence of 2013 Frank Rosbrook Medallist Cameron Cloke, with the big forward contained to just three of Bundoora’s 25 goals.
And in a first for the league, Eltham meets Greensborough in a Good Friday blockbuster at Eltham Central Reserve. The Panthers side will again feature former Essendon forward Jay Neagle, along with Collingwood 2010 premiership defender Ben Johnson. Both will have to impress if the Panthers are to reverse last week’s loss and overcome a highly-confident Greensborough outfit.
The Boro’s forward trio of Tim Bongetti, Rhys Boyden and Andrew Stellas ran amok against Montmorency, booting 12 goals after some excellent service from a midfield led by Lachlan McQuilken, Jason Rogers and ruckman Michael Hooper. Despite last week’s big win, the Boro will need to be wary of the rebounding Panthers – a side they have lost to in each of their past four outings.
