WHITTLESEA v FITZROY STARS – Saturday @ Lalor Reserve
The two class sides of the 2013 Division 2 competition face off at Lalor Reserve on Saturday to determine the first spot in the Grand Final to be played on September 14.
Both Whittlesea and Fitzroy Stars have produced excellent football this season and are thoroughly deserving of their double chance status. With both sides playing two cracking games earlier in the season this game promises to go down to the wire.
Following their relegation from Division 1 last season, the Eagles hit the ground running in their attempt to bounce straight back up to the Northern Football League’s top echelon – securing secured the minor premiership with victory over Mernda in Round 17 at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
They have been led superbly by co-captains Garrett Heenan and Roy Dyson this season, and have had contributors all over the park. Jeremy Page and Riley Dyson have been standouts, while the Eagles’ forward threats of Andrew Fairchild, Lucas Hobbs and Paul Harrison have combined for 188 goals this season.
Fitzroy Stars’ are the club most capable of matching it with the Eagles’ this season, as their Round 14 victory over Whittlesea at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval showed.
2012 Division 2 best and fairest Lionel Proctor has once again led by example for the Stars as they continue to build from their preliminary final appearance last season – securing their best ever finish in the NFL since their inception in 2008.
Malcolm Dow, Alex Isailovic and Jai Burns have been amongst the Stars’ best performers for the season, while their forward line has been as equally ominous to that of Whittlesea’s. Patrick Davis (70 goals in 2013), John Hayes (53 goals), Corey Wanganeen (25 goals) and David Welsh (24 goals) are all averaging over a goal a game this season.
The two sides have played out two classic encounters this season. In Round 7, Whittlesea recovered from a staggering 54-point three-quarter time deficit to record a famous eight-point victory at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
Jeremy Page was best on ground, kicking four of the Eagles’ 13 final-quarter goals, and was ably supported by Roy Dyson and Lucas Hobbs. Malcolm Dow, Lionel Proctor and Les Bamblett were best for the Stars that day – their only loss since Round 3.
The return meeting saw the Stars produce a comeback of their own in Round 14, as they came back from 31 points down to win 17.11 (113) to 13.13 (91) at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
With an electric performance from Basil Sibosado, feeding Patrick Davis and John Hayes who kicked four goals each, the Stars took an important win which helped it secure the double chance. Hobbs kicked five goals for the injury-hit Eagles, while Nathan Stefanile was their best.
The first spot in the Division 2 Grand Final is up for grabs, and this promises to be anyone’s game.
NORTH HEIDELBERG v DIAMOND CREEK – Sunday @ Lalor Reserve
North Heidelberg and Diamond Creek face off in a sudden death semi-final where the winner advances to a preliminary final, while it’s curtains for the vanquished on Sunday afternoon at Lalor.
The ledger between the sides in 2013 stands at 2-1 in Diamond Creek’s favour, but nothing is taken for granted come finals’ time. With both sides fighting for their lives, a hard-fought battle is expected on Sunday afternoon.
A long injury list has meant North Heidelberg has not quite met the standards of its 2012 season, in which they were heartbreakingly close to returning straight back to Division 1. However, the Dogs’ potent list means that nobody can afford to take them lightly during the finals series.
Shane Harvey backed up his 100 goal haul last season by becoming the first Division 2 player since Christian Brandt in 2007 to kick 100 goals during the home and away season – his 100th coming in a disappointing loss to the Eagles in Round 15.
With a support cast of Leigh Gilbert (52 goals in 2013), Leigh Taggart, Blake Holmes and Daniel Bramich, the Dogs’ will be confident of once again getting an opportunity to play Division 1 football in 2014.
The Creekers have been reasonably disappointing against fellow top four sides in 2013, winning only two of eight games. Importantly, the two wins have both come against the Dogs and a similar result on Sunday will see them improve from their first semi-final exit last season, when they fell to the Fitzroy Stars.
Diamond Creek have had even contributors across the park this season, with Luke Simpson, Rikki Stephens and Brent Gutterson combining for 111 goals this season, whilst Travis Knight has arguably been their best player in 2013.
Its first victory over North Heidelberg was a hard fought 10-point victory in the opening round of the season, as the Creekers’ overcame injury to outlast the Dogs. Eight goalkickers shared the load for Diamond Creek, who had Tyron Loader and Chris Moloney play excellent football. Harvey opened his account for 2013 with four goals for the Dogs, whilst Will Connell and Jake Brown played well.
The second victory would be even more convincing as Diamond Creek inflicted a second straight loss for the Dogs’ with a 37-point victory. Stephens and Simpson combined for 10 goals in the victory, and Ryan Burrell was the best man on the ground. The Dogs, in the middle of a three-game slide, were disappointing in the first three quarters, but Justin Bentley played good football.
The Dogs’ were able to secure revenge in their Round 13 meeting, with a 62-point first half lead was enough to secure a 19.8 (122) to 12.12 (84) victory. Harvey kicked nine goals, whilst Pasquale Saccuzzo was instrumental in the victory. Simon Buchanan was best for the Creekers.
