A look ahead to Round 11 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
The top three teams have broken away from the rest after 10 rounds and it appears that three teams are fighting for the double chance and another three for fourth spot.
Unbeaten Laurimar came off the bye to play South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve last week. The Power trailed at each break but finished well enough to claim a seven-point win.
Mitch Thompson continued to shine in the midfield as he has done all year and now sits 11 votes clear atop the Coaches MVP leaderboard.
Thompson was ably assisted by Luke Wilson in his first game back from injury, while Jacob Lawson gave plenty of run and regularly delivered the ball inside 50, as well as booting two himself.
“A slow start but we finished well in the second half,” Laurimar coach Justin Sherman said. “We will work on our four-quarter efforts.”
The Lions were on top early but lost a couple to injury and failed to find an avenue to goal after the main break. Youngster Rohan Buzzini impressed, as did Nathan Bell.
“You play four quarters – you win,” South Morang coach Gary Hall said. The positive is that they retain fourth spot on the ladder but are now effectively two games away from a double chance.
Panton Hill amassed 28.23 (191) to record a 133-point win over Lalor at A. E. Cracknell Reserve. The Bloods kept with their higher ranked opponent early but were not able to stop the Redbacks forwards from feasting on midfield dominance thereafter.
Rhys Boyden kicked a career-high 12 goals and jumped to the top of the goal- kicking ladder as a result, moving 11 clear of teammate Matthew Byron and Laurimar’s Josh Williamson.
Byron booted six majors and had a hand in several others. Small forward Cam Jordan chimed in with four. Scott Conte was the best of the midfielders and went forward to boot three goals.
“We are getting closer to where we want to be,” Panton Hill coach Steve Layt said.
Mitchell Hill was best for Lalor. Up forward, Sam Rexhepi managed three goals from limited opportunities. Rexhepi has done extremely well to sit fourth on the goal kicking ladder in a team that has notched only one win.
It was a similar story at Crispe Park. The lower placed Reservoir was highly competitive early, but visitor Kilmore broke away in the second term to lead by six goals at half time. The Blues then went on to win by 87 points.
Marcus Webb had a day out – booting eight goals. Further afield, Chris Ryall and Jeremy Topham continued their outstanding seasons with solid contributions.
“We continue to do the right things and get rewarded with wins. We are looking to continue this against Heidelberg West,” Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips said after his team completed four victories on the trot.
Heidelberg West ventured to Waterview Recreation Reserve to play Mernda. It was a tight and tough contest all day, but the Demons found that little extra when it counted late in the contest and came away with a nine-point win.
Anthony Bradford was lively, while Nicolas Aleksovski booted three for the victors and has been dangerous in front of goal this season. The youngster now has 18 majors in seven appearances this season.
Jarryd Coulson rucked well for the Hawks and got plenty of footy around the ground. Alex Purtell and Jake Grimshaw were also valuable contributors.
The Demons have now won a hat-trick of games and are in the running for a finals place – sitting just six points outside the top-four. Conversely, the Hawks have lost four in a row and remain in fifth place.
Laurimar remains two games clear on top of the ladder from Panton Hill and Kilmore. South Morang rounds out the top-four and sits a game and a half further back.
Snapping at their heels is Heidelberg West, just half a game behind, while Mernda sits a further game back. Old Eltham Collegians are in seventh, followed by Lalor and Reservoir.
Heidelberg West will be looking to get back on the winners’ list when hosting Kilmore at Heidelberg Park to kick off Round 11.
The teams have not yet met in 2019, but the Hawks narrowly won both encounters last year. Based on current form, the Blues would be favoured. There is a lot riding on the result for both teams.
With Panton Hill having the bye, Kilmore would rise to outright second with a win. Meanwhile, Heidelberg West could regain a spot in the top-four if it can break its current losing streak.
The Hawks have had injury trouble recently and their reserves lost for the first time this season last weekend as a result – with Mernda’s reserves team being good enough to take advantage.
Heidelberg West fans will be hoping to have injured players returning to the team to meet the challenge.
Old Eltham Collegians comes off the bye to host Reservoir at Eltham College. The Turtles have played every team now except the Mustangs.
The Turtles will be keen to record their second win in the NFNL and will be favoured to do so. But the Mustangs have started well in recent weeks and would love to notch up their maiden win for the season.
Laurimar hosts Lalor at Laurimar Reserve in a top versus second-bottom contest.
The Power will be looking to keep a buffer between themselves and the chasing pack and should do so. But they didn’t look like they returned from the bye in premiership form.
Lalor has been okay early in games of late and would be looking for another good start in the hope of pulling off a huge upset.
Another important game to complete the round sees fourth-placed South Morang playing host to Mernda.
The Demons are playing well at present and will give themselves a chance of pulling off a minor upset to get within half a game of the Lions. South Morang will be equally desperate to put some breathing space between themselves and the Demons.
Their most recent clash saw the Lions win by 22 points in Round 5 at Waterview Recreation Reserve. This local derby is sure to be full of interest as the teams seek to make the finals.
