Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 Preview – Round 5


Published on Thursday, May 6, 2021

One side remains undefeated and three are still looking to open their account entering Round 5 of the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 campaign.

North Heidelberg heads into the second month of the season with a one-game and percentage buffer atop the ladder, while Macleod, Northcote Park and Whittlesea remain winless and locked in a three-way battle at the foot of the ladder.

The results from Round 4 created breathing space between the top-five and those outside the finals places, with a game and healthy percentage separating fifth-placed Greensborough and Montmorency in sixth.

Round 5 is headlined by a clash between Heidelberg and West Preston-Lakeside at Warringal Park, with the sides both taking 3-1 records into the encounter.

It shapes as an intriguing match-up, not only for the fact the sides currently sit fourth and second on the ladder respectively, but also because of the recent head-to-head battles between the two sides.

West Preston-Lakeside was victorious in the most recent meeting – the 2019 first semi final, which was the most important clash between the sides since the 2011 preliminary final – however Heidelberg has had the wood on the Roosters in home and away outings.

Despite the Roosters claiming the past two premierships, it is Heidelberg who has have given them more grief than any other side during the Rob Maiorana era – with the Tigers victorious in the past five regular-season matches – which includes several come-from-behind triumphs.

The Warringal Park factor should also provide Heidelberg with additional confidence going into the game, with the Tigers winning the past seven matches between the two sides at their home venue, dating back to 2013.

It must be noted, recent history may have less bearing in season 2021 given the cancelled 2020 campaign and the high number of changes to most lists after a year off the field. But at the very least, the recent head-to-head form provides an interesting sub-plot.

Unfortunately, both sides will be missing star power this weekend. Lachlan Wilson was a late exclusion for Heidelberg last week, while Matthew Smith, Will Goss and Nick Richards failed to get through the opening half of the defeat to Bundoora due to hamstring injuries.

West Preston-Lakeside will be without suspended co-captain and star forward Ahmed Saad for the next two matches, while Luke Lirosi and Aidan Tilley were notable absentees from last week’s win over Whittlesea.

The loss of Saad at any time is significant, but particularly so in his current vein of form. The two-time Division 1 leading goal kicker has made a fast start to 2021 – booting 19 goals in the opening four rounds, which includes three bags of five goals or more.

First-placed North Heidelberg makes the trip to the Whittlesea Showgrounds to take on bottom-placed Whittlesea.

Ladder positions would indicate a straight-forward win for the Bulldogs, however Whittlesea’s performance against West Preston-Lakeside in Round 4 demonstrated that it is no pushover in 2021 – despite failing to yet record a win in its return to the top-flight.

Undermanned and fresh off a 75-point defeat against Bundoora, few would have given the Eagles much hope of competing with the reigning premier. However, they managed to stick within two goals of the Roosters at three-quarter time, before going down by 17 points.

While no club competing in a Division 1 competition would accept defeat, the Eagles would have left J.E. Moore Park with a level of confidence that they can match it with the best sides. Particularly when key players return to the side.

Blake Watson played in the Eagles’ 2019 premiership when still eligible to for the under-19s, and his rapid emergence as a future star has continued throughout the opening four rounds of 2021. The 21-year-old would likely be leading the club’s best and fairest count to this point.

North Heidelberg continues to meet each challenge head on, and will this week look to extend its winning streak to five, ahead of a tough month which pits it against each of its top-five counterparts in successive weeks.

The Bulldogs were not quite at their best in last week’s win against Montmorency at Shelley Reserve but in the manner of a true premiership contender, they rose to the occasion when challenged.

Behind by two goals early in the final term, North slammed through the final five goals of the match to run away with a 22-point win. The highest scoring side this year – the Bulldogs were contained to six majors in the opening three quarters but doubled that tally in the last.

Brent Harvey was the clear standout in his best performance of 2021, however the inclusion of key forward Jackson Starcevich for his first game with the club may have been the most pleasing aspect of the match for Bulldog supporters.

Starcevich booted two second-quarter goals and will provide an entirely new dimension to the club’s attacking set-up – one which has lacked height, although certainly not scoring prowess, since returning to Division 1 in 2018.

Bundoora is on the search for a fourth-successive victory when it travels to Bill Lawry Oval to take on Northcote Pak.

The Bulls will be raging favourites based on the form of each side to this point of the year, but will be wary of a letdown following last week’s come-from-behind victory over Heidelberg.

At 3-1 and having beaten two finalists from 2019, Bundoora has built a solid platform in which to build upon this season as it hunts an immediate return to finals action after sitting out for the first time in two decades.

Michael Ryan and his coaching staff would be thrilled with the level the team’s young players are performing at, with last week’s win featuring exciting showings from Jackson Davies, John Jorgensen and Jackson Bowne.

Meanwhile, the likes of Bailey Thompson and Kyle Green, both young in age but already well advanced at senior level, are helping to drive the midfield with great support from the likes of Nathan Thomas and Kain Proctor.

It is worth noting, the Bulls are still yet to see captain Brent Marshall this year, while former best and fairest winners Brendan Carlyon and Scott Dowell have barely featured and will only strengthen the side when they return.

Northcote Park will have need to cause an upset to end its winless run this week and will be looking to atone after last week suffering arguably its most disappointing defeat of the season in a 43-point result against Hurstbridge.

Having shown promising signs in the previous week’s loss to West Preston-Lakeside, the Cougars would have fancied their chances of breaking through for their maiden win of the season.

Trailing by less than a kick at both quarter time and half time, the Cougars were blown off the park in the second half – conceding nine of the opening ten goals after the main break to fall to their fourth-consecutive loss of the year.

Ben McNiece and Paul Dirago made welcome returns to the side, with McNiece producing his best game since returning to the club, while skipper Dirago booted two goals in the second term to give his side a winning chance at half time.

Dirago is certainly capable of playing in any position but may be required forward to provide an additional avenue to goal, given the troubles the Cougars have had scoring. Across the opening four rounds they have booted just 29 goals, at an average of seven a game.

Greensborough and Hurstbridge meet at Greensborough War Memorial Park in a game that pits fifth against seventh.

The Boro returned to winning ways with a 24-point victory over Macleod last week and will now look to reassert their home dominance after losing to Montmorency in Round 3 – their first defeat at Greensborough War Memorial Park since 2018.

In Thomas Brindley, the Boro possess the most improved player in the competition in 2021. Brindley managed just eight senior appearances in 2019 but is arguably the form player of the competition entering Round 5.

The 22-year-old has been the Boro’s best player in each of the past three matches and now sits atop the Coaches MVP leaderboard – having been awarded 24 of a possible 30 votes since Round 2.

Just as it was in 2019, the Boro’s spread of goal kickers continues to be one of its greatest weapons. Eight players shared the 13 majors in last week’s win at De Winton Park, which included four multiple goal kickers.

Given the likes of Nathan Hrovat, Nick Riddle and John Desmond have played two games or fewer, while VFL-aligned pair Tynan Smith and Billy Murphy are yet to be sighted, the Boro would be thrilled if they could get the points this week and start the year with a 4-1 record.

The match serves as a great test for Hurstbridge, who takes to the road for the first time since its Round 1 defeat at Heidelberg.

At 2-2 the Bridges have made their best start to a campaign since returning to first division in 2017, but the challenge now is to take a big scalp, having been soundly beaten by the two top-five sides they have faced to this point.

Last week’s victory was a testament to the faith the club has put into its emerging crop of players. Ethan Taylor, William Cookson, Samuel House, Angus Butterfield and Zac Reichert all featured in the best players – with all five aged 20 years or younger.

Another pleasing aspect of the triumph over Northcote Park was the healthier spread of goal kickers. Despite Bailey Jordan being held goalless after booting seven goals in Round 3, the Bridges still booted 13 goals and registered their highest score of the year.

Montmorency hosts Macleod in a twilight game, with the first bounce at Montmorency Park North Oval to take place at 4:10pm.

Garry Ramsay will be looking to extend his so far perfect record against his former club, after the Magpies won both encounters against the Roos in 2019.

Montmorency will be licking its wounds after fading out in last week’s defeat to North Heidelberg. The Magpies had looked set to score their second-successive scalp on the road when they led by two goals in the final term but were unable to hold out the Bulldogs in the final 20 minutes.

As disappointing as the final scoreline was for Montmorency, the performance – which came directly after the rousing win at Greensborough – demonstrated once again that the club is not too far away from the competition’s best.

With Ben Kennedy set to return to a line-up boasting in-form stars such as Jesse Donaldson, Patrick Fitzgerald, Jai Robinson and Sam Binion,- the expectation of the Magpies both internally and externally should now be as high as it has been since 2014.

At 0-4 for the second-consecutive campaign, time is fast running out for Macleod to make something of the 2021 season. The Roos simply must win this week to give themselves a chance of pushing their way into the top-five by season’s end.

They have certainly been far from terrible over the opening month but, as they would be well aware, there are no points given for competitive losses and the Roos must now convert every close result to keep their season alive.

Lucas Hobbs was back to his best in last week’s defeat to Greensborough in just his second game of the season. If the 2018 Frank Rosbrook medallist can stay fit and firing, it will go a long way to turning around Macleod’s fortunes.

However, Hobbs will need more support around him, particularly if skipper Hamish Paynter, Brad Leggett and Anthony Doherty continue to be sidelined.

One youngster who looks poised to be an asset is Joel Trudgeon. The Northern Knights skipper was impressive in his senior debut. Given the Knights do not play again until May 22, he may well be relied upon over the next fortnight to help the Roos up the ladder.

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