There are ladder-shaping matches everywhere you look in Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 this weekend.
A huge clash awaits at Ben Frilay Memorial Oval as third versus second between Hurstbridge and Bundoora as the NFNL Match of the Day for Round 5.
Both teams have only lost once this season, with those defeats coming against Diamond Creek, and both sides will see this as a major statement game.
Joel Naylor heads into the contest in outstanding form after kicking eight goals last weekend, while Blake Fitzgerald has dominated through the midfield averaging over 30 disposals and nine clearances per game and Cameron Wild was excellent last week against Banyule.
Bundoora have also been driven by a strong midfield group, led by Isaac McMillan averaging 27 disposals and 7.5 clearances. Ben McCarthy and O’Neill Moncrieff have also been major contributors for the Bulls.
This matchup has all the signs of being one of the best contests of the season so far. Could this game be a precursor to these two meeting in the finals at some stage?
We’ll find out what both teams are made of as the action is broadcast on Sportscast Australia and Plenty Valley FM from 2pm.
Montmorency and Banyule meet at an early season crossroad for both sides as they sit with one win apiece through the first month of the season.
Montmorency will take confidence into the game after a dominant victory over West Preston Lakeside last week, while Banyule are already facing an important early-season test. A loss would leave the Bears at 1-4 and potentially slipping behind the finals pack.
The Magpies midfield has been one of the competition’s strongest so far, led by Marcus Lentini who is averaging 27.8 disposals per game. Kamdyn McIntosh (26.7), Nash Holmes (25.8) and Jordan Steele (25.5) have also been instrumental in Montmorency’s strong ball movement.
For Banyule, Jack Langford and Jean-Luc Velissaris have started the season strongly, but the Bears have been well held by Heidelberg and Hurstbridge in the last fortnight and sit at 1-3. Their best footy suggests they can take it up to the Magpies like they did in the first half against Hurstbridge last week, but it will be no easy task on the road.
The two sides wedged in the middle of the ladder meet in a classic ‘eight-point game’ scenario when Eltham hosts North Heidelberg, with both teams very much in the mix for the top five.
North Heidelberg currently sits fifth, while Eltham are right behind them and could jump into the five with a win.
David Evans has been a standout with eleven goals from four games, along with Colm Culligan, Jason McCormick and Declan Ayres who have all been regular features in the best players.
Angus McLennan and Curtis Brown led the charge last week, as did Kayan Carman who is pushing to make the jump to a full-time spot in the lineup after four goals last week against the Creekers. Jordan Hamilton has also been consistently strong through the midfield.
With both teams in good form, this contest looks like it’ll be an arm-wrestle all day.
One side that faces a must-win game this week is Greensborough. After a promising first half against Heidelberg last week, the Borough were swept aside in the third quarter and couldn’t recover the deficit against the Tigers. At 1-3 and eighth on the ladder, a win over Diamond Creek is almost a non-negotiable this Saturday.
Diamond Creek have been one of the surprise packets of Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1, with their first loss of the year coming against North Heidelberg. Greensborough, meanwhile, are still searching for consistency after a slower start than expected.
Brody Glenn and Jack Johnston have made the most of their opportunities inside 50, but finding a forward line combination which can kick a winning score has proved a challenge for Matthew Hyde and his assistants to date. At the defensive end, Jackson Davies has been crucial with his intercept work.
The Creekers have enjoyed strong midfield production throughout the opening month of the season, led by Dale Marshall averaging 24.5 disposals. Nathan Searl, Jacob Booth and Taj Logan have also been important contributors during Diamond Creek’s impressive start and will have a significant say in proceedings.
Heidelberg will look to consolidate its spot on top of the ladder as it hosts West Preston Lakeside which is looking for its first win of the campaign.
The Tigers have looked dominant throughout the opening month and remain the benchmark of the competition. With stars across every line, Heidelberg will once again enter as heavy favourites.
West Preston-Lakeside have shown promising signs at times this season but would be smarting after a heavy defeat to Montmorency last weekend. A quick response is needed and what better opportunity to do just that than against the reigning premier. It won’t be easy however and the Roosters will need their on-field leaders to have big days – Giacomo Thomas, Kristian Lawson and Arben Dani all players to watch.
The challenge for the Roosters is enormous, but they will be hoping to produce their best performance of the season against the competition’s top side.
