A top of the ladder Anzac Day blockbuster headlines another big weekend of Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 football.
Warringal Park will host its first ANZAC Day game in four years as next-door neighbours Heidelberg and Banyule look to build on their impressive starts to season 2025.
There’s been no stopping the reigning premiers in the opening two rounds of the season, winning by a combined margin of 190 points against North Heidelberg and West Preston-Lakeside.
Its win against the Roosters at J.E. Moore Park saw them kick 12 goals to three in the second half having only led by seven points at half time.
A total of 12 players hit the scoreboard for the Tigers, with Zane Barzen kicking six to claim the eight Coaches MVP Award votes.
Marcus Herbert also had a strong debut in the yellow and black, combining well with star duo Luke Bunker and Dylan Clarke.
This week will see them face a much-improved Banyule outfit that has adjusted well to life under new coach Damian Truslove.
Both of their wins have come against 2024 finalists in Montmorency and Greensborough, the latter a 15-point victory away from home.
In only his second senior game with the Bears, midfielder Noah Wheeler had a profound impact, taking home the full 10 Coaches MVP Award votes.
James Kayrooz added another four goals to push his goal tally to 12 in two games, whilst Max Jones and Kye Yodgee were once again strong in midfield.
Since jumping up into the top flight, Banyule are yet to defeat the reigning premiers with Heidelberg winning four times by an average margin of 66.5 points.
With the Bears knocking off two strong opponents in the two weeks prior though it could be a much smaller margin than previous ones.
Two 2024 finalists in Hurstbridge and North Heidelberg will lock horns at Ben Frilay Oval this Saturday as both look to avoid 1-2 starts to the season.
Both sides’ losses so far this season came in Round 1 at the hands of fellow 2024 finalists, with both getting back on track before the Easter break.
Hurstbridge’s win was of a bigger magnitude against Eltham on the road, with a six goal to one third quarter setting up their 46-point triumph over the Panthers.
Liam Middleton continued his great start to the season, claiming nine Coaches MVP Award votes alongside star midfielder Blake Fitzgerald.
Harry O’Brien was also serviceable in attack and through midfield while Joel Naylor kicked three majors to build on his four-goal outing in round one against Greensborough.
Nine players hit the scoreboard for the Bridges, which is something they’ll need to have again this weekend against a potent Bulldogs attack.
The same number of players kicked goals for the Bulldogs in their 13-point victory over a resilient Bundoora outfit at Shelley Street Reserve.
Trailing at all three quarter breaks, the Bulldogs kicked four goals to two in the last to help get them over the line for the first time this year.
Thomas Rivis had another sound performance on the weekend, finishing with eight Coaches MVP Award votes alongside star midfielder Jesse Tardio, who also kicked a goal.
The results of the meetings between the two were split in 2024, with Hurstbridge winning their most recent encounter by 46 points at Saturday’s venue.
The hosts have in fact won the last two games between the two at Ben Frilay Oval, averaging a total of 96 points in those wins.
Montmorency will welcome neighbours Eltham to Montmorency Park North Oval this weekend as the Panthers look to build on a stellar Good Friday victory.
In front of a packed Eltham Central Park, Tim Bongetti’s men brought the heat all day to get on top of Greensborough in their 27-point victory last Friday.
Mitch Robinson was the star up forward in his second game in Panthers colours, kicking four goals including three in the first quarter.
Jesse Donaldson was also one of the stars in midfield and in the attacking half alongside ruck James Marchbank, however the entire Eltham team contributed to the upset win.
It’ll be an equally big task to claim the four points against last year’s grand finalists in Montmorency who found their groove in Round 2 on their home deck.
Despite conceding 100 points, the Magpies kicked 24 majors themselves to claim the four points against a competitive South Morang side.
Six players kicked two or more goals between them, with VFL-listed tall Will Bella and forward-mid Ben Paterson kicking four goals each.
Jarred Seiter caught the eyes of the coaches though, finishing with nine Coaches MVP Award votes, four ahead of the next best in Marcus Lentini.
The Magpies have won their last five meetings against the Panthers, dating all the way back to Round 3 of the 2016 season.
Both meetings between the two last year saw the Magpies win by 28 and 23 points respectively, but there will be a spring in the step of Eltham players after their confidence-boosting triumph last week.
Bundoora will be looking to harness the heartbreak of two tight losses to start the season when they welcome West Preston-Lakeside to Yulong Reserve.
Heath Scotland’s men have so far lost by a combined 14 points to Eltham and North Heidelberg respectively.
Zane Barker was a shining light in the Bulls gallant loss to the Bulldogs last weekend, finishing with eight Coaches MVP Award votes and taking home best on ground honours.
John Jorgensen kicked three goals in his return to the Bulls alongside Jesse King who has led the way up forward for Bundoora to start the season with five majors in two matches.
They’re set to face a West Preston-Lakeside outfit who were competitive for a half against the reigning premiers before being unable to run out the match.
Dante Colosimo kicked two goals in the loss whilst Matthew Belbasis and Jack Evans were also solid, the latter the only player from the Roosters to collect Coaches MVP Award votes.
Bundoora claimed its first victory under Heath Scotland against the Roosters at J.E. Moore Park by 37 points in Round 6 last year.
However, the Roosters returned the favour with a two-point victory over the Bulls at Saturday’s venue. The result this weekend could go either way.
Greensborough will look to claim the points for the second time this year when they meet newcomers South Morang at Greensborough War Memorial Park.
The Boro were unable to get over the line against a hungrier Eltham outfit on Good Friday in their clash at Panther Place.
Despite the loss, Jack Johnston was still stellar in defence and even attack when moved inside 50 in the third term, while Jackson Davies performed admirably in defence to continue his impressive start to life at Greensborough.
Last weekend was their second straight loss this season, with their only win coming against Hurstbridge at Ben Frilay Oval.
South Morang are yet to register a win in their return to the top flight, going down to West Preston-Lakeside and Montmorency respectively across the opening two weeks.
Jesse John Christidis continued his great start to the season with three goals and another three Coaches MVP Award votes.
Coburg-listed star Josh D’Intinosante and Kain Hall also chipped in with three goals each as the Lions surpassed the 100-point barrier despite the heavy defeat.
The Lions will look to post a similar score against a Greensborough side whose defence hasn’t been as disciplined as it has in recent years, conceding 93 points against per game on average so far this season.
However, Gary Hall will likely be without D’Intinosnate and Deacon Kalpakis who both played VFL last weekend with Coburg, and will hope that star recruit Noah Cumberland may have overcome his injury concerns to make his club debut.
