Saturday presents another important slate of games in the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 competition, as some sides look to maintain strong starts to the year while others are aiming to arrest a poor opening fortnight.
Banyule faces their biggest challenge yet in keeping their unbeaten run intact when they welcome Heidelberg to Beverley Road Oval.
The Bears have been impressive in their second season in the top flight, having picked up wins against Macleod and Hurstbridge over the previous two weeks.
Arguably one of the most noticeable differences between the side’s inaugural Division 1 season to now has been their ability to post big scores, albeit we have seen a sample size of two matches.
They averaged just over 72 points a game last year, however their two matcges in 2024 have seen them produce final scores of 94 and 110, and of the sides that have played two games so far, they have kicked the most amount of points.
Helping the cause is recruit Daniel Owen, who put in an impressive six-goal effort in Banyule’s 30-point win over the Bridges last week. His has also seen eight other teammates already hit the scoreboard this year.
But they will need to fire on all cylinders inside 50 this weekend if they are to upset the reigning premiers.
The Tigers have had the toughest opening two weeks of any side so far in 2024 and have prevailed on both occasions, defeating North Heidelberg in Round 1, and then producing a heart stopping one-point victory over Montmorency last week.
What’s been highlighted in the first fortnight of matches for Heidelberg has been their impressive midfield depth as despite no Lachlan Wilson (as well as losing Sam Gilmore & Matthew Smith in the off-season), 2023 Team of the Year members Brayden Sier and Brody Tardio have stepped up their games to play key roles in the club’s unbeaten start to the season.
Vin Dattoli’s men had little problem in taking care of the Banyule in their two battles last year, claiming 52 and 90-point triumphs, but they face a different Bears side this weekend, so expect a much closer contest.
Eltham will be looking to build on their first win of season 2024 when they host neighbours Montmorency at Eltham Central Park.
Last weekend saw the Panthers produce their first win in Division 1 since Round 18, 2017, defeating Macleod in an arm wrestle at De Winton Park.
Star players Jesse Donaldson and Jason McCormick were brought back into the side and had an immediate impact.
McCormick finished with two majors while Jesse Donaldson earnt nine Coaches MVP award votes for an outstanding display which included a magical final quarter goal.
This weekend will mark the first time that Donaldson has met Montmorency since crossing to Eltham in 2023. The former Magpies captain will be sure to emulate his performance last week against his former side.
Nick Rutley’s men however will be just as determined to return to the winners list, after they were on the wrong end of another nail-biting encounter with Heidelberg last Saturday.
Montmorency’s leaders still excelled despite the defeat, with Sam Binion and Marcus Lentini continuing to have an impact in the middle, while Patrick Fitzgerald slotted home three majors.
Lachy Batchelor also earnt a mention in his side’s best on senior debut and looks to be a talented player for the club’s future.
Round 11, 2017 was the last time these two sides faced off at this Saturday’s venue, with Montmorency powering home to score a 46-point victory.
A similar result might help the Magpies forget their tough loss last week, but the Panthers will be just as eager to remind their neighbours that they’re not just back in the top flight to make up the numbers.
North Heidelberg will be looking to build on their first win of the season when they play an in-form Greensborough outfit at Shelley Street Reserve.
Jason Heatley’s men produced the perfect response to their 35-point opening round defeat with a resounding 50-point triumph over West Preston-Lakeside in Round 2.
It was Jason’s son Parker who starred for the Bulldogs inside 50 with a six-goal effort, while another mercurial performance in midfield from Jesse Tardio saw him pick up the perfect 10 Coaches MVP award votes to move into equal first on the Division 1 leaderboard.
After being kept to six goals in Round 1, North Heidelberg fired 14 majors past the Roosters on Saturday, their first sign of getting back to being the powerful attacking threat that saw them finish last year’s regular season as the number one scoring team.
But to win their upcoming battle with the Boro, they will need to match that performance against a resolute defensive unit.
Greensborough produced their most impressive performance of the season at Yulong Reserve last week when they kept Bundoora to just five goals on their way to a 72-point triumph to sit on top of the ladder with a 3-0 start.
Defenders Benjamin Fisher (nine), Angue Seivers (four) and Zac Hart (one) all received Coaches MVP award votes for their terrific efforts, while at the other end, four majors from Brody Glenn has seen him kick seven majors in his three games in 2024.
The Boro and Bulldogs split their two meetings last season, with Greensborough winning the most recent fixture at Shelley Street by 12 points.
Another victory for Matthew Hyde certainly puts them in premiership contender conversations, but North Heidelberg will be their biggest test yet and are an opponent full of confidence after getting off the mark in 2024.
J.E. Moore Park is set to host two sides who will be eager to get their first win on the board in West Preston-Lakeside and Macleod.
Following a competitive Round 1 performance against Greensborough, the Roosters were much less so at home to North Heidelberg last weekend, conceding nine goals to four in the second half.
Despite the 50-point defeat, Ian Aitken was able to unearth some new talent in the side. Players to feature in the best on the weekend included Dante Colosimo, Liam Hagen, Regan Uwandu and Lennox Williams who all look to play a role in the future of the club’s senior side.
Continuing to get games into that quartet plus many other young players will be key for the Roosters as they continue their rebuild.
Macleod have been closer than their Saturday opponents to tasting success in 2024 as despite trailing by just a point at three quarter time, they were unable to prevent Eltham’s surge in their Round 2 battle, going down by 11 points.
Darcy and Mackenzie Hogg have had pleasing starts to the year for their new club, with the former picking up eight Coaches MVP award votes last week and the latter being named in his side’s best in both matches so far.
Zac Hudson has also earnt mentions in the best in each of the last two games and looks set on matching it with the premier rucks of the competition this year.
It was an even split between these two sides in their 2023 meetings, with Macleod winning the most recent fixture at De Winton Park by 23 points.
It’s an imperative fixture between two teams who will be desperate to avoid an 0-3 start to the season and fall further behind the pack.
Two sides looking to bounce back from losses in Bundoora and Hurstbridge will lock horns at Yulong Reserve.
Both teams have had slightly different starts to season 2024, with Bundoora 0-2 after going down to Montmorency and Greensborough in the first fortnight of matches.
While their performance against the Magpies was admirable, their efforts at home against the in-form Boro were disappointing, being held to just two majors after the main break and to their lowest score since Round 14, 2023.
Their upcoming match with the Bridges begins a brutal three-week period for Bundoora, which includes games against 2023 preliminary finalist North Heidelberg and reigning premiers Heidelberg.
But they face a Hurstbridge side who are coming off a defeat at home against a strong Banyule outfit.
The Bridges were without many of their stars despite their best efforts to claim the four points in front of their faithful, but Joel Cordwell would still have been pleased to see multiple players stand up in their absence.
That includes Harry O’Brien who arguably played his best game for the club, having an impact in midfield while also producing three brilliant goals to keep his side within touching distance all afternoon.
The Bridges track record at Yulong Reserve in recent times has been strong, winning two of their last three games at the venue. However, Hurstbridge’s last match at the ground saw Bundoora produce a comfortable 37-point win.
Regardless of recent history, Saturday presents a good opportunity for both sides to get back to their best.
