An enticing slate of games awaits fans this weekend as teams prepare for Round 3 of the 2024 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season.
It follows a terrific group of matches from Round 2 which left three teams atop the table with a 2-0 record.
Old Paradians head the ladder after a tussle against Ivanhoe which went right down to the wire in a low-scoring affair. The Raiders had lost the lead at the last change but kicked the only major of the final term to prevail by four points.
Sam Gilmore was a clear standout with his ruck work and ability to cover the ground, while teammate and captain Marcus Nolan booted three majors, including the winning goal late in the game. Ash Close slotted three for the Hoers in his first match of the season.
The Fitzroy Stars also made it two from two with a 67-point triumph over Lalor at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, drawing away after an even first term. Patrick Farrant impressed mightily with nine goals, while Heath Patton was best for the Bloods.
With the unbeaten teams in the Raiders and Stars currently boasting percentages in excess of 200, the other side to remain without a loss is Old Eltham Collegians, with a percentage of 107.
Despite the percentage gap between the Turtles and the top two, you could argue they have had the toughest start of the three sides, having come from behind in both matches against premiership fancied teams in Mernda and Epping to prevail by small margins. They go into the Round 3 bye well placed as a result.
Kilmore opened their 2024 account by hosting Reservoir at J.J. Clancy Reserve. The Blues started well, with a seven goal to one first half, and then controlled the match thereafter to win to the tune of 64-points. Ethan Derrick slotted home six for the victors, while Bailey Taylor-Egan returned to the line-up after missing most of 2023. Kieran Robertson was best for the Mustangs.
Heidelberg West started positively against Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve to lead narrowly at quarter time. But the Demons got on top from the second term onwards and finished the afternoon as 46-point victors.
Mernda coach Robert Fletcher accepted the Les Butterworth Cup after the game, with Josh Mazzarella given the best on ground award after another strong performance.
“It was an ugly win, but good to get one on the board,” Fletcher said.
He liked the work of Mazzarella as well as Jesse Guelfo and Travis Keating, the latter kicking five majors alongside Bryce Kimuliatis.
The Hawks are winless but looked to have produced a better performance in the second week of action.
“The future is bright, we just have to hang in for four quarters and stick the journey,” Heidelberg West coach Dale Mayne said.
Mayne praised the leadership of recruit Michael Italia, who featured in the Coaches MVP Award votes for a second straight week.
Kinglake comes off the Round 2 bye and will look to gain their first win of the season when travelling to Epping Recreation Reserve to take on Epping. It will be the first meeting between these sides in the NFNL.
The Blues went within a whisker of being undefeated but were overrun late last week at the same venue to narrowly lose to the Turtles. Their fans would be hoping that they can quickly return to the winners list.
Meanwhile, the Lakers face a challenging month of football after their opening round defeat, as they have three road trips and a home game against the currently unbeaten Old Eltham Collegians coming up. An away victory against the highly rated Blues would be a great way to start this tricky part of their fixture.
Star recruit Shane Harvey will surely help boost the crowd numbers and, if he can hit the scoreboard, it would help Kinglake’s chances of pulling off what would be a minor upset.
Kilmore will aim for back-to-back triumphs when they battle with Lalor at Lalor Reserve. The Blues will be favoured to keep their perfect record intact and had two triple-figure wins over the Bloods in 2023.
A strong showing would bring Paul Derrick’s men plenty of confidence ahead of some tough upcoming matches against Old Paradians, Fitzroy Stars and Epping.
The Bloods looks to have improved under new coach Lance Whitnall, with recruits Sam Rexhepi, Heath Patton, Nathan Parkes and Exavier Whitnall all impressing, so a better showing compared to 2023 efforts against Kilmore is expected.
Reservoir welcomes Mernda to Crispe Park. The Mustangs were no match for the Demons last season but, like Lalor, they look to have emerged as a better outfit in 2024.
Rohan Davies’ men have finished matches off well so far but will aim to produce the same energy at the beginning of games, having conceded 10 goals to two in first quarters so far this year.
Mernda would see this as a must-win game as they look to establish themselves in the top three.
Heidelberg West host Ivanhoe at Heidelberg Park with a 6.45pm start time. It will be back-to-back games under lights for the Hoers who went within a kick of knocking off Old Paradians last week and based on exposed form so far, Ivanhoe is likely to be the tip.
However, the Hawks have a great record at their home ground night matches. Last season, they easily accounted for the Fitzroy Stars under lights and also had a 77-point victory over Old Eltham Collegians in early 2021.
Match of the round status belongs to the clash between Old Paradians and Fitzroy Stars at Garvey Oval. The prize up for grabs is top spot on the ladder, with the winner to become the only side to have three victories to their name after the opening three rounds.
The Stars look much improved this year, with Jai Burns getting support from ex-Melbourne star Neville Jetta as well as Kain and Jordan Proctor, and as long as Collingwood VFL listed forward Patrick Farrant continues to find the big sticks, things are looking up for Lionel Proctor’s side.
The Raiders haven’t put a foot wrong since joining the NFNL and would go into the match full of confidence after overcoming Ivanhoe in a thriller. With players of the calibre of Sam Gilmore and Marcus Nolan in the line-up, this match should be viewed by a large crowd.
