DIVISION 2 returns to normality this weekend with three games being played on a super Saturday of Northern Football League action.
Panton Hill will return to action after a week off when it hosts ladder leader Hurstbridge at Cracknell Reserve.
Prior to the bye the Redbacks had shown signs of improved form. Over a four-week period, the Redbacks won two games and climbed off the bottom of the ladder. Their two losses in the period were by an average of 17 points, much better than the 51-point margin averaged in their first three defeats.
The Redbacks improved form has coincided with the playing return of coach Joffa Byron. In the three games he has played Byron has kicked 10 goals and has become a focal point in the Redbacks’ attack.
Byron and the Redbacks will have to continue their good form if they are going to be the first team this season to beat Hurstbridge.
Hurstbridge’s winning streak extended to seven on the back of last week’s 30-point win over the Fitzroy Stars at Ben Frilay Oval. The win was aided by eight goals from marquee forward Brendan Fevola.
Fevola put on a show that wowed the crowd and teammates alike, with undeniable skill and charisma. Thousands flocked to see Fevola, proving even at the age of 35, he is still electrifying.
Tom Grimes was also impressive for the Bridges and was voted best on field by the coaches, while Chris Burton chipped in with four majors.
Diamond Creek will be looking to return to winning ways when it lines up against Lalor at Coventry Oval. A win to Lalor this week would reduce the gap between the sixth-placed Bloods and the fourth-placed Demons to a single win.
The Demons slipped to fourth place on ladder after a disappointing 40-point loss to North Heidelberg last Saturday. The Demons were outclassed by the Bulldogs and were never in the game, disappointing coach Craig Hayes, who implored his players to use their heads to break through the Bulldogs pressure.
Wade Lowrie and Jai Norman both kicked multiple goals in the defeat, while Chris Moloney, Tim Chapman and Danyon Kambouris rounded out the Demons’ best performers.
Diamond Creek comes up against a Lalor side still looking to recapture its winning form, with last week’s bye giving the Bloods a chance to re-energise for the second half of the season.
This time last year, the Bloods sat in second position after recording seven wins in the opening 10 rounds of the season. This year they sit second last and appear to have their finals hopes diminishing by the week.
Conceding six final-term goals to Hurstbridge ended the club’s hopes of an upset win in the previous outing in Round 8. The Bloods led for a majority of the match but over handballing in slippery conditions meant they could not break through the Bridges’ press.
Jackson Freebairn and Jarrod King were the best performers for the Bloods, while Todd Hughes increased his goal tally to 32 goals for the season, with four in the match.
The final game of the round sees bottom-placed Thomastown travel to Shelley Reserve to take on North Heidelberg.
The Bulldogs are one of the division’s in-form teams, winning their past four matches and climbing to second on the ladder. A convincing win over Diamond Creek last week did little to hinder their hopes of returning to Division 1 after a sole season in second division.
Shane Harvey was once again the dominant man up forward, kicking four goals to increase his goal tally to 27 majors for the season. Brody Tardio and Daniel Bramich chipped in with two apiece, while Leigh Taggart, Michael Florance and Kyle McDonald had fine games.
Thomastown has been disappointing this season after a positive 2-0 start, with injuries plaguing the Bears this campaign.
Since their last win in Round 3 the Bears have only averaged eight goals a match, a total that wins very few games. The Bears have been hampered by injuries to key forwards Carl Peterson and Jacob Osei-Duro – the latter who started the campaign with two consecutive five-goal hauls.
A win this week seems vital if Thomastown is any chance to keep its finals hopes alive and stay in touch with the top four.
