Virtually every spot on the ladder is up for grabs as round 6 of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 football approaches.
There were some impressive performances in Round 5 action.
Ivanhoe was quick to bounce back to the winners list with a 93–point win over Old Eltham Collegians at Ivanhoe Park.
The Hoers dominated after half time with high levels of intensity and pressure to claim their first win against Matt Sleeman’s team.
“We changed a few things at half time and I was really pleased that the group to adjust well and kick nine goals in the third quarter”, said Ivanhoe coach Wayne Schultz.
Schultz, who kicked five majors, gave a big tick to Michael Doyle for his role at centre half back. Nick Milne was best for the Old Eltham Collegians.
Heidelberg West, like Ivanhoe, bounced back from a loss and won by 93 points against Lalor at Heidelberg Park.
“Happy to begin solidly because the starts have hurt us in recent games; it was pleasing that, despite several changes, the players responded and played their roles,” said Heidelberg West coach Dale Mayne.
Mayne noted that debutantes Jai Jeffrey and Jaidyn Johns did well, with the latter scoring a goal.
Heath Patton excelled for Lalor and hit the scoreboard, while Jarod Coco booted two. The Bloods now go to the bye.
Reservoir made it three on the trot with a 23-point win over Kilmore at Crispe Park. The Mustangs controlled the game throughout the day and were able to comfortably hold off a late surge by the Blues.
The Fitzroy Stars came off the bye to record a 59-point win over Epping at Epping Recreational Reserve. The Stars again got off to a flyer in the first term and always had the game in control.
“A strong start off the back of our pressure to slow up Epping’s ball movement was pleasing; we were able to turn the ball over and give out forwards a good look,” said Fitzroy Stars coach Neville Jetta.
Jetta noted the development of young players such as Raman Winmar, Ralph Bamblett, Conor Trajkovski who all had their best games for the year. Patrick Farrant and Elijah Taylor each chipped in with four.
While it was a disappointing day for Blues fans, Epping coach Brad Hollow praised the work of Brent Macaffer, Daniel Rakhlin and Emerson Olivo.
Laurimar made its first ever trip to play Kinglake at Kinglake Memorial Oval.
“Kinglake won the contested ball battle for most of the day, but our forward 50 entries were a highlight for us and Patrick Fitgerald was exceptional,” said Laurimar coach Jimmy Atkins, who previously played for Kinglake before they joined the NFNL.
Atkins liked the work of Ethan Bateman in defence and noted that Luke Wilson’s last quarter was a stand-out. Fitzgerald’s ten took him to 26 goals for the season, leading Aaron Edwards of Reservoir by one.
For the second week running the Lakers were let down by a bad final term.
“We were in it for long parts of the game but at the end of the day sometimes you just have to tip your hat and say that they were too good,” said Kinglake coach Dave Florance.
Bailey Robinson and Rohan King impressed for Kinglake, while sharp-shooter Damian Pywell slotted four.
The results leave the Fitzroy Stars as the only undefeated team. Three teams have lost just once, with Laurimar edging out Ivanhoe and Kilmore on match ratio.
Reservoir climbed into the top five, with Kinglake slipping to sixth on two wins from four games. Epping and Heidelberg West are next with two wins from five.
Round 6 action will see team jostle for spots as many of them try to get injured or unavailable players back on the field.
Kilmore hosts the Fitzroy Stars at J.J. Clancy Reserve and will be keen to respond after their loss to Reservoir last weekend. The Blues have the home ground advantage, but the Stars have been in scintillating form and will be hard to hold out.
Paul Derrick’s men have conceded 50-points per game so far, making them the top ranked defence. Holding Neville Jetta’s men to a losing score will take another great defensive effort. If that can be achieved, then the upset is a possibility.
Stars fans will head up the highway brim full of confidence based on their winning run so far. It shapes as a great contest for the adoring fans.
Mernda is aiming for back-to-back wins either side of the bye when travelling to Eltham College to play Old Eltham Collegians. These 2024 finalists are sitting in ninth and tenth spots respectively at present, so both teams will be desperate for a win.
The firm lines would favour the Demons, given that they defeated Ivanhoe prior to the bye and the Hoers easily accounted for the Turtles last weekend.
But local fans will recall their last meeting at this venue in round 1 last season. That day, Matt Sleeman’s men came from 41-points down to win by eight points in an amazing comeback.
The victor will sense that the top five is not that far away, so a great contest is likely.
Epping has back-to-back home games when playing Heidelberg West at Epping Recreational Reserve. The Hawks broke a three-game losing streak in defeating Lalor last week. That win may serve as a pressure relief valve for Dale Mayne’s men who can attack this game with freedom.
The Blues would like their chances based on their last meeting at this venue in 2024 when the home side romped to a 61-point victory. Brad Hollow’s men will be looking for a similar outcome and to win their first home game this season.
Epping looks good when moving the ball in slick fashion. If they can get swift movement of the ball to in-form forwards Matthew Williamson and Daniel Rakhlin, then a victory is likely. The Hawks would hope to control the centre courtesy of three time best-and-fairest winner Jarryd Coulson.
The winner will be close to grabbing a spot in the top five, so an intense battle is expected.
Laurimar and Ivanhoe face off at Laurimar Reserve in a two versus three battle, with the winner strengthening their grip on a double chance.
It will be the first visit to the ground for Wayne Schultz’s men, who quickly rebounded from the first loss to return to the winners list last week. The Hoers appear to have improved from 2024 and this match-up would be a great test to see how far they have come.
Jimmy Atkins’ men have now won four straight after a round one loss to the Stars, so they should have momentum coming into this clash. They are the only side to have scored over 500 points this year, with Patrick Fitzgerald leading the way up forward. As well as that they have talent all over the ground.
Ivanhoe would give themselves a good chance based on their ability to restrict opponents so far in 2025.
Kinglake hosts Reservoir at Kinglake Memorial Oval in an intriguing match-up. Last season when they met at this venue in round 8, both teams were winless. The Lakers romped away that day to win by 111 points.
Everything is different this year, with the Mustangs fifth, just in front of the Lakers who are sixth. Both teams look like possible finalists and are arguably the two most improved sides in the competition.
Both teams have clever forward targets. Aaron Edwards has been terrific for the Mustangs, while Damian Pywell has been a pleasure to watch for Lakers fans.
With a spot in the top five at stake, these teams have earned the right to claim match of the day status and it should be a great spectacle
