A look ahead to Round 16 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Mernda breathed some life into the competition in Round 15 just when the final four looked all settled. The Demons ventured to J.J. Clancy Reserve to take on Kilmore and came away with a dogged eight-point win.
With Matthew Campbell presenting well up forward and booting four goals, Mernda was able to withstand a late challenge from the Blues to record a crucial victory. Defeat would have been the end of the road for the Demons, but their slim finals chances remain alive.
Kilmore slumped to fourth with the loss. Jaxson Kinnear’s two late goals for a tally of three were not enough to make up for trailing 26-0 late in the first term.
South Morang is building nicely as the season unfolds and grabbed third place on the ladder with an 80-point win over Reservoir at Crispe Park. Their lead was only 15 points at the main break but a 7:5 to 3:1 third term put the game away.
Tye Hall booted four goals for the Lions and James Hewson continued his good recent form and slotted three. With Matthew Trim returning from injury and playing reserves on the weekend, things are looking up.
“We have nearly a full list to choose from, which is exciting heading into the business end of the season,” South Morang coach Gary Hall said.
Despite the final score, Hall noted the Mustangs were a lot more competitive than when they played them in Round 8 at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
Reservoir coach Peter Bartles liked the work Lachlan Walmsley across the midfield and half forward.
Sam McDowell continued his good work in the midfield. They were joined by Zane Pugliese-Thompson, who usually plays in defence but relished his new midfield role and snuck forward to kick a goal. Ben Mowlam kicked four majors.
“I’m proud of the way the guys have rallied in the past three weeks. Can’t fault them and they are fantastic guys,” Bartles said.
Reservoir has the Round 16 bye before hosting Old Eltham Collegians at Crispe Park.
Old Eltham Collegians travelled to A.E. Cracknell Reserve in Round 14 and were 44 points behind Panton Hill at the first break. Last week, they got off to a flyer and led 6.1 to nil at quarter time against Lalor at Lalor Reserve on their way to a 42-point win. What a difference a week makes!
Kieran Malone was dominant up forward, along with two 17-year-olds Bailey Sabol and Jayco Keepa – who both kicked a goal in the opening term.
“It was a real focus to start the game well,” Old Eltham Collegians coach John Garrard said. “Our tackling and pressure were well up and the scoreboard reflected it.”
Garrard was pleased with the work of Tim Woods in the ruck, while Nick Snowdon led the midfield.
Lalor was unable to take the momentum from the win over Reservoir but was highly competitive after quarter time. Hirsi Twomey was named best along with Jake Langborne, while Adrian Cirianni kicked three goals.
Heidelberg West was in the hunt at half time against Panton Hill at Heidelberg Park, but a 5.2 to nil third term sealed the deal for the Redbacks.
Captain and star ruckman Jarryd Coulson was a late withdrawal for the Hawks, along with Jack Marris. Stu Guthrie led the side in Coulson’s absence, while Matthew Reinke kicked three for the home team.
“We played hard footy all day and just got beaten by a better team on the day,” Heidelberg West coach Cam van Florestein said. “Stuart Guthrie was super all day, as was Kane Moore.”
Rhys Boyden kicked four for Panton Hill, while Matthew Fowler, Scott Conte, Nathan Hendry and Daniel Freeman controlled the midfield. Brent Ryan was best down back.
“A grinding first half – credit for Heidelberg West for their work rate,” Panton Hill coach Steve Layt said. “Once we addressed a few issues at the main break, we took control in the third quarter to close the game out.”
The top-two sides – Laurimar and Panton Hill – can already prepare for the second semi final after Kilmore lost what little hope it had for the double chance on the weekend.
South Morang has moved half a game ahead of Kilmore in third place, although the Blues have a game in hand on the Lions. Mernda is a game and a big chunk of percentage behind Kilmore in fifth and remains a finals hopeful.
Heidelberg West is a further game back in sixth and out of the finals race. Old Eltham Collegians is in seventh, ten points clear of Lalor who is eighth, with Reservoir on the bottom.
Round 16 gives Kilmore a chance to nail down its first finals appearance when hosting Heidelberg West at J.J. Clancy Reserve.
A win this week would probably be enough on its own – depending on other results to end the year. But a loss may see them level on wins with Mernda.
The Blues and Hawks met as recently as Round 11 at Heidelberg Park. Kilmore won that vital clash impressively by 47 points. As such, they would be expected to win the return bout on their home deck.
But Heidelberg West can now play with less pressure and would like to gain a top-four scalp for the first time since a come-from-behind win over South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in Round 3.
South Morang makes its first journey to Eltham College to play Old Eltham Collegians.
A close contest is expected given their only other meeting resulted in a draw at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in Round 4. On that day, Nathan Tassell kicked a behind after the siren to level the scores.
Both teams look to have improved since then. The Lions are 99 percent assured of a sixth-consecutive finals berth but would like a win to remove all doubt.
The Turtles aren’t playing for finals but are seeking a strong finish to the year as preparation for the 2020 season. They have won four of their past seven games and have been largely competitive in their defeats.
Mernda hosts Lalor at Waterview Recreation Reserve and cannot afford any slip-ups as it aims for its first finals appearance since 2014.
On the back of a 49-point win in Round 9 between these teams at Lalor Reserve – when Nicolas Aleksovski booted four majors – the Demons will go into this clash with a lot of confidence.
But it can often be a tricky assignment for teams struggling to make the finals when they come up against an opponent lower on the ladder. The Bloods would love to add to their two victories over Reservoir before the season is finished and will be aiming for a significant upset in this contest.
Match of the round status clearly belongs to the clash between top of the table Laurimar and second-placed Panton Hill at Laurimar Reserve.
Can Laurimar become the first team to go through a Division 3 home and away season undefeated? Four teams lost only one game for the season – Panton Hill in 2012, Thomastown in 2014, South Morang in 2017 and St Mary’s in 2018.
It would be a mighty effort if the Power can pull it off – with two more games to go after this match of course.
Laurimar has a percentage of 169.77 and is two games ahead of Panton Hill, but the Redbacks’ percentage is a whopping 233.33 – so a case can be made for them being the superior team.
Panton Hill fans will think they should have won the Round 4 match at A.E. Cracknell Reserve, when their team led by 31 points at quarter time and eventually lost by a point after having nine more scoring shots. So, revenge from that viewpoint would be sweet.
Power fans will think that if they could overrun Panton Hill last time, they should win on their home ground this time. And they have a happy knack of lifting when challenged.
The strong second half by Panton Hill last week sets them up nicely for the game. Meanwhile, Laurimar is well rested up after the bye and their players will be fresh.
With these teams set to play off in the second semi final regardless of the result of this game, the motivation may have more to do with one team gaining the edge over the other.
The winner will be regarded as the flag favourites with the finals just a few weeks away. It should be a great spectacle.
