THE Division 2 season enters finals mode this weekend with two intriguing semi finals to be played out.
Division 2 scribe Michael Thompson previews both games to be played this weekend.
Second Semi Final: North Heidelberg v Fitzroy Stars @ Whittlesea Showgrounds
The first spot in the 2014 Division 2 Grand Final awaits the winner of the second semi final as North Heidelberg and Fitzroy Stars face off for the second consecutive week.
One would have assumed pre-game last week that both sides would have held off on showing their very best football as they prepared for a clash of even greater significance this week.
However, that did not deter North Heidelberg as they mauled the Stars in the first half, leading by 54 at the half time before winning by 35 points. Crucially, this was the first time the Stars had been beaten at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval since returning to the ground midway through 2013.
The Stars can boast to be the only side to have knocked over the Bulldogs at both senior and reserve level, with a sensational three-point win in a standalone Round 13 game. However, the Dogs have monstered the Stars in the two other meetings this season, making a statement in Round 1 with a 84 point demolition, before their six-goal victory last Saturday.
Shane Harvey dominating the competition is as likely as death and taxes and the star forward has once again taken out the leading goal kicker award with a haul of 91 goals, including eight last week. He is an outside chance to score his 100th goal at the same venue he did last year.
This time around he has had much more support, turning North into a lethal side up forward, with Lachie Dowling kicking 55 goals, and Leigh Gilbert 42. Jeff Ryan has been a dominant force in the midfield and must surely be a chance for the competition best and fairest alongside Harvey, whilst Blake Holmes has recently returned to the senior side and looms as a finals X-factor.
As it did in 2013, Fitzroy began its season slowly, struggling to get over Panton Hill and Diamond Creek, as well as losing to the Dogs and Mernda in the first five weeks before kicking into gear over the second half of the season.
Malcolm Dow has clearly been the Stars best player this season, being named in the best 14 times, while John Hayes has kicked 50 goals for the season.
Inspirational captain Lionel Proctor has spent a bit more time forward and has averaged over a goal a game and, importantly, prized recruit Allan Murray returned from a brief injury layoff last week.
The club has given younger players more frequent opportunities, with the likes of Kain Proctor and Patrick Kelly-Briggs coming into the side for frequent periods, while mid-season acquisition Djaran Whyman looms as Fitzroy’s point of difference heading into the finals, having kicked 12 goals in five games.
With a Grand Final spot for grabs, expect a superb contests as the two best sides in Division 2 fight it out for the week’s rest ahead of the premiership decider.
First Semi Final: Mernda v Lalor @ Epping Recreational Reserve
It’s last chance saloon for both Mernda and Lalor at Epping Recreational Reserve this Sunday, with both sides back playing Division 2 finals after a number of years in the wilderness.
For the Demons, their third-place finish sees them play their first Division 2 final since 2008, where they lost a thrilling elimination final to eventual grand finalists Macleod by a solitary point. The Bloods make their first finals appearance since 2011 and have rebounded superbly from a seventh-place finish in 2013.
The sides have met three times this season, with Lalor leading the count 2-1. With the exception of Lalor’s 57-point win in Round 15, the sides have shared a close rivalry since the Demons promotion from Division 3 in 2012 – with an average margin of just 18 points in meetings over the past two years.
The ledger is squared at 3-3 in that time, with Mernda winning each encounter played at Lalor Reserve, and Lalor winning each encounter at Schotters Road. What home ground advantage?
The revitalisation of Lalor in 2014 is a credit to the coaching of Steven Marshall. Marshall has rejuvenated this side with youthful enthusiasm with many players such as Ross Tsiripas, Dean Angelkoski and Kaine Digney finding their way into regular senior football.
Up forward, Todd Hughes has been the dominant force for Lalor in 2014. He dominated in the last encounter between these sides, kicking seven goals.
Scott Dowell has had another productive season and kicked six majors against Mernda in Round 10. Add the crumbing exploits of Spencer Christopher and you have a forward line that can be devastating.
Jarrod King has acquitted himself well at his new home and has produced a number of good performances, particularly in the Round 15 win over the Demons, while Shannon Smith has also been consistent for the Bloods.
For Mernda, its rebirth as a force under Brett Wilson has continued. However, the Demons second half of the season has spluttered somewhat after a 7-1 start, including four consecutive losses coming in to this game.
Fadeout losses to Lalor and Diamond Creek have not helped their cause, while injuries to players such as Dale Piggott, Brent Gallichio, Saul Caddy and Andrew Douglas have also affected their structure, as well as the suspension to skipper Andrew Smith.
Returning recruits Les Adams and Luke Shelton has arguably been the pick of the players this season, along with half back Matthew Duggan, while the likes of Jack Bianchin and Daniel Bryant have given the side an added balance of line breaking and midfield grunt.
Like the Bloods, Mernda has blooded many under-19s into its senior line-up, with Adrian Stefanile in particular playing a key role. Liam Gray, Riley Black and Matthew Golledge have also frequented the senior line-up this season.
The Demons must now reverse their previous two losses in order to keep their season alive.
