A look ahead to Round 2 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Upset results and big margins featured in the opening round of the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season.
Lalor wasted no time clinching its first win in third division – registering a 27-point win over Reservoir at Crispe Park.
The Bloods requested a move down from A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 in the off-season and had to work hard to get a minimum number of players required just to stay afloat.
New coach Dean Grainger – who played for the club and whose father was a past president – would have been delighted to start off with a win. The recruits played a major part in the triumph with Daniel Moore and Isaac Edgar being named among the best.
The Mustangs will rue their missed opportunity to commence 2018 on the right side of the ledger. Recruit Ashley Cluney did well in his debut game for the club, while David McGregor booted four of his side’s seven majors.
Panton Hill, like Lalor, also moved down to Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 this year and would have been favourite to defeat Mernda at A E. Cracknell Reserve in the opening round.
But the Demons put behind a poor 2017 season behind them with a massive 83-point win over a disappointing Redbacks outfit. It was the clubs’ first meeting in this division since the 2012 Grand Final, in which the Demons recorded a 93-point victory.
A seven-goal to two first term set the tone for Mernda and it went right on with the job – winning every quarter. Daniel Bryant went to the top of the goal-kicking table with seven majors, while Matthew Campbell excelled for the Demons.
Recruit Nicholas Parks was among the best for Panton Hill, while Rhys Boyden opened his account with three goals after crossing from Greensborough in the off season.
St Mary’s lost the first semi-final in 2017 but played like a genuine premiership threat in Fabian Carelli’s first game in charge, downing Heidelberg West by 74 points at Whatmough Park.
A ten-goal to three second half sent the Burra to the top of the ladder. Ben Mossuto stood out in his first game for the club after crossing from Greensborough, while youngsters Mitchell Hocking and James Todd also impressed.
Without midfield duo Masaki Miki and Justin Bentley, one bright spot for the Hawks was the good form of former Montmorency player Stuart Guthrie.
A match that looked tantalising on paper was the clash which saw South Morang travel to J. J. Clancy Reserve to take on Kilmore.
The Lions would have been expected to be 2018 flag favourite after the siren blew in last year’s Grand Final. But the exodus of a large number of key players had many lowering their expectations.
The Blues finished just outside the finals last season and the game would provide a good test for both teams. Kilmore led at every change and hung on in a thriller to win by three points.
Bradley Kite rucked well for the Blues, while youngster Bailey Brown was among the best for the Lions.
Laurimar had the bye in the opening round and now hosts Panton Hill at Laurimar Reserve to begin its season. New Power coach Justin Sherman would love to start his season with a victory.
But his side will face a Redbacks team desperate to avoid a zero and two start. Panton Hill will also be more match-hardened than the Power and, as such, is likely to start favourite despite last week’s big loss.
Lalor hosts St Mary’s at Lalor Reserve in what is expected to be a much tougher test for the Bloods.
Both teams should go in with some confidence on the back of out-performing expectations last week, but the tipsters are all likely to go for the Burra in this one.
South Morang will be looking to open its account when hosting Mernda at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. Based on the first round’s results, Mernda is going to be extremely hard to beat if it can maintain last week’s form.
The Lions have had strong juniors for many years and will be relying on young players to help them climb the ladder once more in 2017.
Kilmore can achieve two wins to begin the year without leaving home when Reservoir travels to J. J. Clancy Reserve.
The Blues start favourites to notch another win in front of the faithful local fans, although the Mustangs will be looking to respond from the Round 1 loss.
Heidelberg West has the Round 2 bye.
