Arguably the most season-defining round of the 2024 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 competition is set to take place this weekend, with three games featuring the current top six sides.
Some top teams registered good wins in Round 10 action, but one result shook things up in the top half of the ladder.
The biggest upset last weekend saw Kilmore lead for the majority of the game and outlast Old Eltham Collegians at Eltham College to the tune of 10 points.
“We played how we wanted to play for four quarters against a quality opposition on their home deck,” Kilmore coach Paul Derrick said after his team salvaged its season.
A key to the Blues’ victory was Mitch Portoglou holding key forward Matthew Williamson to a solitary goal as well as Max Lacorcia doing the job on Nick Milne and keeping him goalless. Milne had famously booted six majors in the 2022 first semi-final victory over Kilmore.
Nathan Gavillucci franked his recent promotion from the reserves to boot two majors for the Turtles and finish as his side’s best.
Brendan Fevola was a big crowd-puller after putting on the boots for Heidelberg West, who hosted the Fitzroy Stars at Heidelberg Park.
The 43-year-old delighted the fans with six goals, but it wasn’t enough as the Stars defeated the Hawks by 46 points in one of their better efforts coming off a break.
“As we aim for the top three, we just need to tick the boxes along the way and we did that,” Fitzroy Stars coach Lionel Proctor said.
Kyle Thomas and Michael Brown both impressed on the defensive end, and Jordan Proctor gave the Stars drive off half back, while Rivva Karpany was terrific in his first game for several weeks.
“Great to see so many West people in the big crowd, A good learning day against a slick outfit and Fev was sensational,” Heidelberg West coach Dale Mayne said.
Reservoir played Old Paradians at Crispe Park, with the Raiders coming away with a 97-point win.
“I thought we played a pretty good brand of footy today. Great to consolidate our spot in the top half of the ladder,” Old Paradians coach Ben Turner said.
Mitch Merkel followed up his match-saving mark in the game prior to the bye with a six-goal haul for the Raiders.
A triple figure margin looked inevitable, but the Mustangs dug deep and narrowly won the last term to lose. James El Moussalli slotted another four goals as his side now becomes the last team to go to their first bye.
Mernda hosted Lalor at Waterview Recreation Reserve and scored the biggest win of the day with a 108-point triumph. A seven to one goal second term put the game away for the Demons, with twelve players hitting the scoreboard.
The Bloods were no match for Robert Fletcher’s men but did gradually improve throughout the afternoon, highlighted by Sam Rexhepi who booted three of his team’s four goals.
Ivanhoe made the long journey north to take on Kinglake Memorial Park in what shaped as a danger game. But the Hoers controlled the contest, for the most part, securing a 36-point triumph that was enough to keep them in the top five.
All the top spots are up for grabs in Round 11 action, with first playing second, third hosting fourth and fifth doing battle with sixth.
Kilmore welcomes Kinglake to J.J. Clancy Reserve in a clash of the two northernmost teams. The Blues could be just a game outside the top five with a win, depending on other results.
Paul Derrick’s men would be favoured based on 2024 results, but the Lakers have won the only two meetings between these teams in the NFNL so far, including by 25 points at Saturday’s venue in Round 2, 2023.
Heidelberg West travels to Lalor Reserve to play Lalor in the other game that doesn’t have immediate finals implications.
The Hawks would be the tip for most pundits and Dale Mayne’s men would be heading into the game expecting to win.
But the Bloods have been much better this season and their win at the same venue over Kilmore earlier in the season will give local fans a measure of hope.
This is the first of a trio of matches for Lalor against teams outside the top five, so victories are possible in all three games if they can hit their straps.
A crucial clash sees Epping and Ivanhoe facing off at Epping Recreational Reserve. The Hoers are a game ahead of the Blues with also a small buffer in percentage.
For Brad Hollow’s men to climb into the top five, they will need a win by about 10 points or more to go above Ivanhoe on percentage.
The four losses by the Blues have come against the current four top sides and they need to prevail against a few teams above them if they are to play finals this year.
Their fans would see this game as the ideal opportunity to stake their claim on a finals berth. Conversely, they will find themselves a game or maybe even two games outside fifth spot if they lose.
The Blues will be looking to move the ball quickly on the wide expanses of their ground. With the Hoers looking to play disciplined and accountable football, it makes for an intriguing tussle, especially with so much at stake.
Two teams that could potentially play off on Grand Final day meet when the Fitzroy Stars host Old Eltham Collegians at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
The Turtles set themselves up for a good season by winning seven straight games to begin their campaign. But they have now lost three in a row either side of the bye, albeit all by small margins.
They have been extremely good defensively, having conceded the least number of points in the competition. Their problem of late, however, is their inability to hit the scoreboard, as their last three total scores have failed to hit 60 or more points.
But with Matthew Williamson, Kieran Malone, Thomas Burns, Nick Milne and Bradyn Taglieri all booting ten goals or more so far this season, scoring won’t be an issue if they can get sufficient supply.
The Stars have been a potent scoring team with an average of close to 100-points per game in 2024. It will be interesting to see Stars forwards Tyson Pickett and Alex Williamson battle a solid Old Eltham Collegians defence led by Tim Ellis and Daniel Hallett.
While the Turtles will be desperate to snap their losing streak, the Stars will be looking to go to next week’s bye with an 8-2 record. If the Stars prevail, they will have virtually locked up a finals spot and will be well placed for the double chance.
Anticipation is high ahead of a huge clash between Old Paradians and Mernda at Garvey Oval.
The Demons sit in second place a game behind the Raiders, but currently with a superior percentage, Robert Fletcher’s men will go ahead of Old Paradians if they can prevail.
With a talented line-up and captain Gus Mills returning from a long injury layoff last week, Mernda looks to be peaking at the right time as finals approach. The Demons were considered by many to be the favourites for the flag before the season began and a victory this weekend will strengthen their premiership credentials.
Ben Turner’s men have surprised most pundits, and perhaps themselves as well, with few expecting them to be heading the table in mid-season.
They also come into this clash still without a loss at Garvey Oval, with earlier wins over the Fitzroy Stars and Old Eltham Collegians coming on their home deck.
Given that both of those victories came without Sam Gilmore, his expected presence this weekend will give the local fans plenty of cause for optimism.
