The Division 1 ladder continues to shake out as the pecking order becomes clearer after four rounds of the season.
Reigning premier Heidelberg has shown it will be the competition benchmark again in 2026, recording a runaway 58-point win over Greensborough at Warringal Park on the club’s 150th year celebration day.
The Tigers certainly didn’t have it all their own way in the first half, as Greensborough’s pressure around the ball resulted in several uncharacteristic turnovers from the home side and gave the Borough opportunities to score with captain Jack Johnston looking threatening. Greensborough trailed by just one point at quarter time and three points at the main break, threatening to play party poopers on Heidelberg’s big day. Zane Barzen was the focal point for Heidelberg, kicking four goals in the first half to give the Tigers a slight edge.
Half time was the perfect reset for Heidelberg, which took another gear as they piled on the first five goals to open up a decisive 38-point lead midway through the term – effectively the gap in the contest between the two sides.
The game was very much on the Tigers terms from that point as they started to run in waves from half back and produced several chains of possession through the middle of the ground to result in scores, overrunning their traditional rivals.
Barzen had a day out with a bag of seven goals and the Tigers’ midfield leaders Luke Bunker (26 disposals), Dylan Clarke (27 disposals) and Lachlan Wilson (30 disposals) were able to wrestle control of the contest as the day went on. Jack McKenna ran the wings all day and finished with 18 disposals and two goals.
William McFawn (34 hitouts, six clearances) was among Greensborough’s best in the ruck along with Jackson Davies (27 disposals) who was typically solid down back and Brandon Compt provided plenty of run and carry on the wings. Brody Glenn booted three goals for the visitors with limited opportunities in the second half.
It leaves Greensborough in a tricky spot at 1-3 facing a must-win clash against Diamond Creek this week.
Montmorency chalked up its first win of the 2026 campaign with a 109-point demolition of West Preston Lakeside.
The Magpies’ fast start laid the foundation for the win with six goals to none in the opening term opening up a 36-point lead.
West Preston was able to get a foothold in the contest in the second term, but another withering burst of nine goals to none in the third term from Montmorency pushed the margin beyond three figures and the result was a foregone conclusion at three-quarter time.
Matthew Clarke and Corey Sleep both kicked bags of five for the Magpies and Nash Holmes was a ball magnet, racking up 37 disposals and seven clearances in a midfield masterclass.
Felix Dreher was a standout for the Roosters with 28 disposals and a goal, but the loss leaves West Preston Lakeside as the only side without a win in Division 1 after four rounds.
Bundoora has moved into second spot as they put Eltham away decisively by 63 points at Yulong Reserve.
The final score perhaps didn’t reflect the evenness of the contest of the first three quarters, with the Bulls leading by just 17 points at the final change. It was a seven-goal charge in the final term from the home side which blew the margin out, Jesse King finishing with four majors, Liam Mallia with three and four other Bulls with two apiece.
O’Neill Moncrieff and Isaac McMillan’s ball winning prowess continues to be the key for Bundoora, with 31 and 28 disposals respectively.
Colm Culligan kicked three goals for Eltham and Jason McCormick collected 22 touches, but the Panthers struggled to convert their centre clearances into scores as Bundoora were cleaner with ball in hand across the afternoon.
North Heidelberg’s season is back on track after handing Diamond Creek its first loss since being promoted to Division 1, winning by 25 points at Coventry Oval.
Curtis Brown (44 disposals, 14 rebound 50s) and Angus McLennan (24 disposals, ten clearances) were prolific and Kyan Carman’s four goals provided the Dogs with a focal point inside 50 across the day.
Taj Logan’s 28 disposal game earned him best afield honours for Diamond Creek and Dale Marshall collected 26 touches, but missed opportunities in front of goal prevented the Creekers from really making a mark on proceedings – finishing with 6.15 for the afternoon.
Hurstbridge made it two wins on the bounce with a 53-point win over Banyule to round out the weekend’s fixtures. The Bridges extended their lead at every break to run away handsome winners in front of their home crowd.
Hurstbridge’s top end talent continues to be their strength – Joel Naylor extended his lead at the top of the Division 1 goal kicking table with a bag of eight majors, while Blake Fitzgerald (36 disposals, 12 clearances and one goal) and Cameron Wild (27 disposals and a goal) were among the best for the home side.
Max Jones (28 disposals and a goal) and Jean Luc-Vellisaris (26 disposals) found plenty of footy for the Bears, but they’ve got some work ahead of them to try and improve a win-loss record which sits at 1-3 and a tricky away fixture against a reinvigorated Montmorency coming up this week.
