The final fortnight of the 2013 home and away season is upon us and despite only two matches being played last week, the drama reached fever-point to make for a massive final two rounds of the year.
Watsonia came from 32 points behind Thomastown at three-quarter time to win by 12 points at Main Street Reserve – its third win over the Bears from three outings this season.
The Saints piled on 7.2 in the final term and kept their host scoreless to move back into second place on the ladder with a four-point and a 2.51 percentage advantage over the Bears – the percentage differential equivalent to four goals.
The loss consigned Thomastown to fourth place on the table, however it still has an extra game to play over both third-placed Reservoir and Watsonia who have the bye in rounds 18 and 19 respectively.
Despite winning last week and moving one spot up the ladder, Reservoir’s hopes of securing a double chance appear all but shot after failing to gain a significant percentage boost. For the third time this year the Mustangs were genuinely challenged against Heidelberg West and needed to come from 12 points down at three-quarter time before prevailing by 22.
Like Watsonia, Reservoir kept its opponent scoreless in the final term and booted an errant 4.10 to ensure it claimed its fourth win in succession heading into its final bye of the season. A trip to Hurstbridge to take on minor premier Panton Hill awaits next Saturday.
To earn a double chance, the Mustangs would have to beat the Redbacks next week and hope that Watsonia losses to Parkside this week, while Thomastown would also have to lose one of its final two matches to St Mary’s or Heidelberg West.
A full complement of games resumes this week, with all three matches set to start with a short-priced favourite.
Thomastown’s loss last week officially handed Panton Hill its second successive minor premiership and it will now go in search of its ninth consecutive win when it travels to Heidelberg Park to take on wooden spooner Heidelberg West.
The Hawks were gallant in defeat last week, having led Reservoir heading into the final term for the second time this year, with Ross Pownell, Aidan Young and Daniel Bailey leading the charge. Despite the improved effort, Derek Shaw’s men are sure to be sick of honourable losses as they chase their second victory of the season.
Watsonia hosts Parkside at A.K. Lines Reserve knowing it must win by a healthy margin to give it the best possible chance to secure the double chance in the finals series.
The Saints have accounted for the Devils by 36 and 26 points respectively in two earlier meetings this season. By 5pm Saturday it may be known just how costly Fraser Elliott’s late miss in the two-point loss to Reservoir a fortnight ago will prove to be.
With nothing else but pride to play for, Parkside will at least hope to dent their opponent’s finals chances.
Finally, St Mary’s returns from the bye to host Thomastown at Whatmough Park, a venue where the Bears triumphed in a four-point thriller in Round 10.
Six goals from Tristain Harrower weren’t enough for Thomastown to edge out Watsonia last week, with wasteful kicking at goal one of the major catalysts for the loss.
The Bears kicked a staggering 4.13 with the breeze in the first quarter, taking only a 31-point lead into quarter time despite registering 17 scoring shots to one. They managed to kick 10.5 thereafter, but the damage was already done as they succumbed to a two-goal loss despite recording eight more shots on goal than the Saints.
With two matches remaining St Mary’s will hope for two wins to equal the amount of victories it managed in 2012.
