It is the business end of the home and away season as Round 13 of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 approaches.
Injuries have been a major story of 2021 and Round 12 was no exception.
Heidelberg West’s team changes on Friday included Coaches MVP leader Masaki Miki, Jack Marris, Harley Mozdzierz, Ayman O’Dowd and Zach Tranter all among the outs.
Tackling the undefeated Lions at Mill Park Lakes Reserve with key players missing proved too difficult for the Hawks, as South Morang ran away in the last term to record a 68-point victory.
“I think it was a really good team effort in tricky conditions, with a good spread of goal kickers,” South Morang coach Gary Hall said.
The Lions had a list of ten goal kickers, while young tall Michael Burns played his best game for the club at senior level.
“The boys who came in today stepped up and showed they want to be at the level, but unfortunately we were outclassed at certain times of the game,” Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen said.
Sam McDowell put in his best performance for the Hawks since crossing over from Reservoir.
The win maintains a firm grip on top spot for the Lions, while the Hawks find themselves a game and percentage outside the top-four.
Kilmore hosted Mernda at J.J. Clancy Reserve. The Blues made it seven wins on the trot, but it was far from the easy victory many would have expected.
With scores level at the last change, the Blues were able to grind out a nine-point win. It was the type of contest they may have lost two or three years ago.
”We were strongly challenged by Mernda, but we found a way to win,” Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips said.
Michael Marrett was a standout for the Blues, with Michael McCulloch and Chris Barton also impressing.
Matthew Golledge provided great leadership for Mernda and Jacob Austin impressed, while Kai Turner put his body on the line.
Old Eltham Collegians strengthened its grip on fourth place with a convincing win over Lalor at Lalor Reserve to make it three wins on the trot.
The win was set up in the second term when the Turtles kicked 3:1 to 1:0 against a strong breeze on the way to an 89-point win.
“Taking nothing away from Old Eltham Collegians, but we were poor” Lalor coach Gary Cutler said.
Cutler handed out praise to ruckman Lachie Evans and also Dominic Saccuzzo for his work at ground level. The Bloods have played 50 players at senior level so far this season.
“We’ve got the job done winning the last three games and now look forward to taking on finals contenders in the next two weeks,” Old Eltham Collegians coach Matthew Sleeman said.
Tim Ellis was exceptional across half back for the Turtles, while the goals were shared by a dozen players.
Laurimar travelled to Crispe Park to play an undermanned Reservoir and came away with a 128-point win. It was enough to propel the Power into second spot on the ladder.
“We played some good footy today, but we have better to come” Laurimar coach Jimmy Atkins said.
Atkins was pleased with the work of Jarod Coco and also Matthew Gersh in the middle. Meanwhile, the multi-pronged forward line of Josh Williamson, Daniel Francis and Jacson Cecil combined for 15 goals.
Williamson has booted eight majors in both matches against the Mustangs this season and now has 36 goals for the season. He leads the goal kicking table, 13 ahead of South Morang’s Jake Potter.
Reservoir has now used 53 players in the senior team and lost Emrys Black, Robert Holland and Jonah Taylor during the game. Although, with a 175-2 scoreline when these teams met in Round 2, the result was a significant improvement from their earlier clash.
“We were very undermanned, but I was pleased with our four-quarter effort,” Reservoir coach Jason Hamilton said.
Nick Gregson continued his good form, while Hamilton noted that Zane Pugliese-Thompson was hard at it, and he was also pleased by Tom Holloway.
Touted as a possible grand final preview, Laurimar hosts South Morang at Laurimar Reserve to headline Round 13 action in what should be warmer conditions than the previous week.
The Power goes from playing the winless Mustangs one week to a match-up against the undefeated Lions the next.
Although South Morang would seem almost certain to hold top spot entering the finals, Laurimar has the chance to draw within a win of the Lions should it prevail.
The Power led at the last break when these teams played in Round 6 at Mill Park Lakes Reserve, but South Morang finished strongly to claim a 19-point win.
Prior to that, they last met in the 2019 preliminary final, which resulted in a 10-point win to South Morang. If that result is anything to go by, fans will be in for a thriller this week.
Based on ladder positions, the match between Heidelberg West and Lalor at Heidelberg Park should see the Hawks enter with great confidence.
However, Heidelberg West is currently on a four game losing streak – albeit against the top three teams – and has been missing key personnel in recent times.
The Bloods would love to be able to defeat a finals contender and they would see this as, perhaps, their best chance.
If the Hawks can snap their current losing streak and other result go their way, then their following match against Old Eltham Collegians will be for fourth spot on the table.
At worst-case scenario, a loss to the Bloods could see the Hawks fall two games plus percentage adrift of the Turtles.
Mernda hosts Reservoir at Waterview Recreation Reserve in a sixth versus eighth battle.
The Demons have lost all three games post the mid-season break, but last weekend showed that a win is not far away when pushing Kilmore all the way at J.J. Clancy Reserve.
Mernda’s most recent win was against the Mustangs at Crispe Park, when the Demons kicked seven goals to three after the main break to run away with a 42-point win.
It was Reservoir’s smallest losing margin for the season, so Mustangs fans would be looking for their team to take some energy into the contest.
There is a lot at stake when Kilmore travels to Eltham College to play Old Eltham Collegians.
The Turtles began the year with only one win from their first four games – just like eventual premiers Reservoir in 2015 – and were seventh on the table. But after three-consecutive wins following the bye, they have climbed into fourth place – just two wins behind Kilmore.
If the Turtles can secure their first win against a top-three team, they will be well entrenched in the top echelon of the table.
The Blues will be looking for the double chance and, if other results go their way, they will climb above Laurimar to second with a win.
The most recent clash between Kilmore and Old Eltham Collegians at J.J. Clancy Reserve just before the mid-season break saw the Blues come from behind at half time to triumph by nine points.
A close encounter is anticipated in this vital match-up.
