The Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 premiership race is down to St Mary’s, Panton Hill, South Morang and Laurimar – making for a fascinating finals series.
Laurimar jumped into the top-four in the final round of the season – ensuring itself a place in the finals in just its second season of senior football.
The Power needed a convincing win when hosting Reservoir at Laurimar Reserve to rise to fourth spot. They began well, led by Josh Williamson who finished with ten goals for the day. Dallas King chipped in with seven.
The Mustangs were better in the third term – kicking five goals to six – with the eventual margin being 144 points – sealing fourth spot on the ladder for the Power. The score of 30.20 (200) was the highest by Laurimar in its short history.
“So stoked for the club,” Laurimar coach Justin Sherman said. “To play finals footy exceeded our expectations. To make it on wins and not just percentage was fantastic.”
Reservoir finished the year without a win, but its reserves made the finals.
Mernda faced off against Panton Hill at Waterview Recreation Reserve – needing a Round 18 win to have any hope of playing finals.
The Demons led for much of the game, but Panton Hill finished well to win by 14 points and clinched second spot. It has been a strong season from the Redbacks after a disappointing 2017. Rhys Boyden topped the goal kicking ladder with 58 goals.
It was devastation for Mernda, who dropped to fifth when it mattered most. It was a repeat of 2016 for the Demons, being in the top-four all year until the last round. A positive is that the club’s under-19s play in the finals this Saturday at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
St Mary’s hosted South Morang at Whatmough Park. The Lions – with second spot on the line had Panton Hill lost – were terrific early to lead by 30 points.
But the Burra’s response was strong – pegging back the lead before drawing away like a premiership favourite for a good win.
Heidelberg West finished the year strongly against Lalor at Heidelberg Park. The Hawks kicked 17.12 to 6.3 after half time to record a 99-point win. Seven players scored multiple goals for the victors.
The Hawks rose to sixth place on the ladder and registered eight wins for the year. In retrospect, their slow start to the year with key players missing was costly.
Lalor would have been disappointed with its final game but managed two wins for the year as well as two single-digit losses. The Bloods can look forward to 2019 with some optimism.
With the regular season coming to a close, it is now finals time!
First up is the second semi final between St Mary’s and Panton Hill on Saturday at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. The winner takes the short route to the grand final, with a week’s rest.
The Redbacks will feel some confidence in tackling the league-leaders, who take in an 11-game winning streak. Steve Layt’s side inflicted the only loss this season on the Burra in Round 5, with a 23-point win at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
The return match in Round 14 at Whatmough Park was a thriller – with St Mary’s prevailing by two points after trailing by 17 at the last break. Based on this, fans should be in for a cracker of a contest.
Rhys Boyden and Matthew Byron booted a combined nine goals in the Redbacks’ win and only four in the loss. It will be interesting to see how well the Burra can contain the forward targets in the first final, although Byron is under an injury cloud after missing Round 18.
St Mary’s bats very deep in the midfield and would hope this would help it get over the line, with midfield general Dillan Ronalds in great form heading into the finals series.
The Sunday game at the Whittlesea Showgrounds sees South Morang play Laurimar in the first semi final. Likewise here, the ledger is one apiece in 2018.
The Power defeated the Lions by 16 points in Round 9 at Laurimar Reserve after trailing at three quarter time. South Morang hosted the return bout in Round 15 and dominated a high-scoring encounter – winning by 65 points.
Dallas King booted five for the Power, while Alex Colaidis and Samuel Indian both slotted four for the victors. Indian played in a junior final on the weekend.
With Josh Williamson and King being dangerous up forward for Laurimar and South Morang having plenty of fire power, both defences will have their work cut out.
Tye Hall – missing for the middle part of the year – looms as a key player for the Lions.
The season ends for the loser, so expect both teams to bring their very best.
