It’s moving week in Division 3 as the top five look to consolidate their positions.
Reservoir comes off the bye to host Laurimar at Crispe Park. It’s a tough task for the Mustangs against the undefeated ladder leaders who have won every game this season by ten goals or more, barring one occasion. The Power will approach this game full of confidence after drawing away from Heidelberg West for a strong win last week. In saying that, the omission of Division 3’s leading goal kicker Patrick Fitzgerald from Laurimar’s team sheet is significant and will be a huge void to fill.
Reservoir snapped a two-game losing streak with a good win over Kinglake prior to the bye. They go into the game with some momentum despite being clear underdogs. The Mustangs will need a win to remain in the top five.
Of interest will be Aaron Edwards up forward for the Mustangs, who can potentially claim second spot on the goal kicking table as he is just one goal adrift of second placed Epping’s Daniel Rakhlin and close the gap on the absent Fitzgerald.
Kinglake has back-to-back road games when travelling to Binnak Park to take on Watsonia. The Lakers will face a tough task as they seek their maiden win for the season, but this Division has seen numerous big upsets in recent seasons.
The Saints come into this match with strong form, having won three of their past four matches and regain the services of Cameron Cloke who returns to the lineup. Their only loss was a narrow six-point defeat at the hands of Mernda. A win here will see them go to the Round 7 bye entrenched in the top five.
Mernda takes on Lalor at Waterview Reserve and will be strong favourites to maintain their grip on third spot on the table. It looks a tough spot for the Bloods who face top three teams this week and next. But they can use these games to prepare for easier matches to come after that and Shannon Smith’s return adds some experience to their lineup.
It is a must-win contest for the Demons who can use this game to go into consecutive winnable but challenging away games to come.
Ivanhoe takes on Old Eltham Collegians at Ivanhoe Park and will be favoured to extend their unbeaten run in this one. With one eye on the Round 8 clash with Laurimar, the Hoers’ aim will be to be 6-0 going into that game and then top spot should be on the line. Regaining Horsfield, Federico, Schultz and Doyle this week is a luxury few other teams possess.
The Turtles won at this venue in 2024 by six points, but the Hoers were too powerful last season at this ground with a 93-point triumph.
This will be a challenging task for Old Eltham Collegians who have a difficult set of matches leading into their round 9 bye. While an unlikely upset win would be great for their supporters, there is also the challenge of ending the run of triple digit wins by Ivanhoe.
Epping hosts Kilmore at Epping Recreational Reserve in the match of the day. Kilmore sits seventh on the ladder and Epping in eighth. But remarkably, the winner has a great chance of climbing into the top 5 with a win. These teams trail fifth place Reservoir and Old Eltham Collegians in sixth place only on percentage. If the other games go according to ladder position, then one of the Blues teams will be in the five by the end of the round.
Epping suffered a big loss against Ivanhoe last weekend but their effort the week prior in overrunning Heidelberg West was full of merit and they would be given a good chance based on that form.
Kilmore has the challenge of back-to-back away games, but they did finish the game strongly last weekend to overcome the Turtles.
It shapes as an intriguing contest. With big implications on ladder positions at stake, both teams will be giving their all in an effort to take the four points.
