Fresh from claiming the No.1 spot on the AFL Victoria Community Championships rankings, the NFNL’s top flight returns to competition this week.
Prior to the representative weekend, the Round 5 results created separation on the ladder and this week’s matches could again stretch the field with only one match featuring two top-five sides.
That match takes place at War Memorial Park where undefeated ladder-leader Greensborough hosts fifth-placed Bundoora.
The Boro have made a perfect start to the 2019 season and managed to bolster their credentials even further over the representative break, with star defender Nick Riddle best afield in the NFNL’s 24-point win over the GFNL.
Before the the week off, the Boro put in another dominant showing when they thrashed reigning premier West Preston-Lakeside by 73 points in the historic first twilight game at War Memorial Park. The Boro won each quarter connivingly to ensure the occasion was marked in style.
The Boro have an average winning margin of 65 points across the opening five rounds of the 2019 season, with the averaging winning margin in their two home games a whopping 84 points.
Damon Marcon has been made to bide his time since joining from Epping and finally made his senior debut in the Round 5 match against the Roosters, after a strong run of form in the reserves. He took the opportunity with both hands – finishing with two goals and looking lively throughout.
His value inside 50m could be even more instrumental in coming weeks, following Tynan Smith’s call-up to Essendon’s VFL side last week.
Bundoora is on the rebound and must respond after letting a massive opportunity to cement its place inside the top-five slip against Macleod in Round 5. A win would have put the Bulls two games and percentage clear of sixth-placed Montmorency.
The Bulls face the toughest assignment in Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 this week, however they will take in some confidence having claimed victories in each of their past two trips to War Memorial Park. They’ve also won four of their past five against the Boro.
There is absolutely no doubt the Bulls possess the tools to be able to trouble the ladder-leader, with star quartet Daniel Venditti, Matty Dennis, Nathan Thomas and Gary Moorcroft all in good form.
North Heidelberg will be looking to keep it momentum flowing when it makes the trip to Ben Frilay Oval to take on Hurstbridge. The Bridges are also in winning form after opening their account prior to the week off.
Greensborough may be the competition’s ladder-leading side, but North Heidelberg’s form has been equally dominant in the early part of the season – as demonstrated by crushing wins over Heidelberg and Northcote Park over the past two rounds.
The Bulldogs were ruthless in taking down both previously undefeated sides, with the win over the Cougars at Bill Lawry Oval particularly noteworthy after keeping their host to just three goals in an 82-point demolition.
It’s near impossible to find a weakness in the Bulldogs line-up in their current form.
Billy Hogan, Jesse Tardio and Kyle McDonald are all in great touch and offering strong support to Brent Harvey in the midfield. The forwards continue to kick big scores – with Shane Harvey, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly and Shane Biggs combining for 41 goals; while Nick Matthews, Ryan McGhie and Daniel Harris and co continue to get the job done down back.
Hurstbridge will no doubt have its work cut out containing the Bulldogs this week, although the Bridges are on the improve and will be buoyant after scoring their first win of the season last up.
Veteran midfielders Daniel Keenan and Ryan Jackson were instrumental in the away triumph at Lower Plenty, in what was one of the club’s most important games since returning to the top flight in 2017.
Keenan has enjoyed a strong fortnight and has polled 18 of a possible 20 votes in the Coaches MVP award, while Jackson capped his performance with three majors. Cooper Perrin played one of his best games at senior level and finished with four goals.
The good news also continued this week, with Cameron Cloke linking up with the club. Cloke’s return it sure to bolster the Bridges’ attacking end – which has scored more points than only bottom-placed West Preston-Lakeside after five rounds.
Montmorency and Northcote Park will both be desperate to atone for heavy defeats when they meet at Montmorency Park North Oval.
Round 5 was one to forget for both clubs, with the Magpies trounced by 125 points by old rival Heidelberg, while the Cougars suffered their first loss of the season in an 82-point thrashing at the hands of North Heidelberg.
Montmorency is no doubt feeling the effects of an extensive injury run through its defence, however performances like that at Warringal Park can’t be excused and the Magpies will need to show more if they are to contend for a finals place this year, or at least challenge the better sides.
The week off may have come at the perfect time as the club looks to take stock and the impending return of Ben Walton will help the club no end.
The impressive form of Patrick Fitzgerald, Jai Robinson and Jesse Donaldson in the representative match would also have pleased Magpies’ fans – with all three among the best in the win in Geelong.
Northcote Park will hope to get Ash Close, Kyle Galloway and Charles Le Fanu back for this week’s match, after all three missed the loss to North Heidelberg – a defeat which was further soured by an injury to star forward Jackson Starcevich prior to half time.
After a terrific opening month, it would be unfair to judge the Cougars off one bad performance, however the one major concern would be their depth if injuries start to cut through the senior team.
One thing that is for certain is this week’s match will see more goals than the clubs managed in Round 5 – with the Magpies managing just two majors in their loss at Heidelberg, while the Cougars fared only marginally better with three.
After finally opening its account in Round 5, Macleod hosts Lower Plenty at De Winton Park where the home side could potentially move within a game of the top-five if results go their way.
The Roos produced a gutsy backs-to-the-wall win at Bundoora to give their campaign life and suddenly there seems light at the end of the tunnel ahead of consecutive games against the Bears and Hurstbridge – both of whom sit below the Roos on the ladder.
Brad Leggett was a standout in the win over Bundoora and he would likely be the clubhouse leader if the Roos were to run their best and fairest count after five rounds – ahead of perhaps Anthony Doherty, who kicked three goals in the win at Yulong Reserve.
The Roos have struggled for firepower in the opening rounds, however that may be about to change with Patrick Martin returning to form with three goals last up, while Reid Brandt also returned to the side and kicked two majors.
Lower Plenty has now lost four matches in a row and while the Bears have suffered defeats by heavier margins this year, they have had not had a more disappointing result than the Round 5 home loss to Hurstbridge.
A win would have kept the Bears clear of the relegation scrap, however they now find themselves precariously placed – with Hurstbridge and Macleod both joining them on four points last week.
Injuries have certainly been cruel this year, with key duo Tom Keys and Patrick Flynn barely sighted, while two-time premiership star Darcy Barden has stepped aside due to work commitments. It is near impossible to replace on of those three – let alone all of them.
Dale Nolan returned from a short-live retirement to kick three goals in the loss to Hurstbridge, although it is unclear whether he will continue regularly.
Josh Turner, Ben Paterson and Tom Blake gave their all – although they will have to carry a large load until Flynn and Keys return.
The final match of Round 5 pits Heidelberg against West Preston-Lakeside. It is the pair’s second meeting in 2019, with the Tigers victorious by 34 points in the Round 1 encounter.
It’s hard to believe the only side without a win this season is the reigning premier, but that is exactly the situation West Preston-Lakeside finds itself in ahead of this week’s clash at Warringal Park.
The Roosters now sit bottom of the ladder by a game and percentage and have their work cut out against a Heidelberg outfit which has won its three home games this season by an average of 79 points.
The reigning premier is certainly battling with injuries and player availability following several VFL call-ups, but its form slump cannot be denied. A dozen premiership players featured in the 73-point loss to Greensborough – outlining the fall from grace the club is currently experiencing.
Scoring remains one of the key issues, with the Roosters averaging a competition-low 64 points a game, despite Ahmed Saad sitting second on the goal kicking table with 19 majors.
One positive is the fact the club led Heidelberg at three-quarter time of their Round 1 encounter, with that defeat the closest the club has come to victory – despite losing by fewer points to Bundoora in Round 4.
Heidelberg could not have been more emphatic in its win over Montmorency – with the result the perfect response to suffering its first defeat of the season to North Heidelberg one week prior.
Jordan Sutterby played his best game for the club, while the goals were shared around, with Fletcher McIvor, Sam Grimley, Anthony Bonaddio and Josh Minogue combining for 14 majors.
The forward line will this week be bolstered by the return of Chaz Sargeant. The star forward made his return from suspension in last week’s representative game – where he was one of three Tigers to feature for the NFNL, along with Ryan Stone and young gun Matthew Cecchin.
Heidelberg goes in as warm favourite due to the form lines in 2019, but they also boast a great record against the Roosters in recent times – winning all three matches between the sides since Frank Raso took over as coach.
That includes a stunning 23-point win in the last meeting at Warringal Park – where the Tigers booted eight goals to one in the final term to reverse an 18-point three quarter time deficit against the would-be premiers.
