Following some big results in Round 10, this week’s Northern Football Netball League’s Division 3 action is set to have a big say in the competition’s finals race.
All results went according to ladder position, but the lower teams all exceeded expectations despite not being able to secure the four points.
Mernda made it two from two against Old Eltham Collegians when taking them on at Waterview Recreation Reserve, but, unlike their Round 1 encounter, in which the Demons controlled the game throughout, this one went down to the wire, with the home team prevailing by seven-points.
Billy Morrison was a key player for the victors, while Timothy Ellis continued his outstanding season for the Turtles.
The result sees Mernda consolidate its spot in the top two, while Old Eltham Collegians are now three games off the double chance.
Laurimar made it back-to-back wins since their extended bye when playing Kilmore at J.J. Clancy Reserve.
The Power led by 17 points at quarter time with the use of the breeze and while the Blues had their chances in the second term, they finished with a wasteful 0.5, which left them playing catch-up football throughout, falling short by 21 points.
“I’m proud of our contested game in the trying conditions. I thought we adjusted well to the way the game was being played,” Laurimar coach Jimmy Atkins said.
Kaiden Arthur excelled for the Power, while Michael McCulloch booted two for Kilmore.
The most surprising results of the weekend came from the games involving the bottom two sides on the ladder.
Lalor and Reservoir had lost by triple digits in each of their games against the other teams in the first half of the season.
So fans of the Fitzroy Stars went to Lalor Reserve with hopes of a big win over the Bloods, however, it was the hosts who looked likely to win for much of the contest.
They showed a lot of grit and led by 25 points at the long interval before the Stars clawed their way back thereafter and eventually got the job done in a thriller by three points.
It’s rare that a team that kicks two fewer majors goes on to win, but that’s exactly what occurred in the 7.18 to 9.3 result. Wayward kicking almost cost the visitors the victory, but they live to fight another day and keep their slim finals hopes alive.
Steele Timms impressed in only his second game for the season for Lionel Proctor’s men.
Thomas Burn has hit a rich vein of form for Lalor, while Christian Pisano extended his lead as the Bloods’ top goal-scorer with a bag of four.
Kinglake came off the double bye to battle with Reservoir at Crispe Park. Lakers fans were expecting a huge result based on the 151-point result over the Mustangs in Round 1, but a resolute Reservoir led at quarter time. Kinglake gradually pulled away to win by 37 points, with the impressive Josh Nixon slotting five goals for the victors.
“We played a stellar defensive game but were unable to take our chances with the wind in the third quarter,” Reservoir coach Justin George said.
“We missed three set shots which would’ve put us in the game at three-quarter time.”
Kieran Robertson had another brilliant effort for the Mustangs.
Fans of Lalor and Reservoir should be proud of the improvement in their teams this season, while other teams may now be wary of being too confident when facing the Bloods and Mustangs.
Round 11 action sees Lalor head to Eltham College to take on Old Eltham Collegians. The Bloods should go into the game with the belief of being competitive based on pushing the Stars all the way last week.
The Turtles need to tick off the victory because they sit just one win ahead of the Hawks and Stars and with clashes against those two teams following this game, a trio of wins will virtually seal a finals berth for Matthew Sleeman’s men.
In a battle of the rural teams, Kilmore journeys to Kinglake Memorial Oval to tackle the ladder leaders. The Lakers won their Round 2 clash at J.J. Clancy Reserve and would feel confident in repeating the dose this time.
The Blues are now virtually out of finals contention but would love to take a scalp in the run home and be the first team this year to travel to Kinglake and win.
This is a game the Lakers need to win if they want to firm up the double chance. As such, expect them to be primed by Andrew Fairchild to perform at a high level and to take momentum into a crucial clash with Mernda the following week.
Finals chances are on the line as the Fitzroy Stars host Heidelberg West at RMIT Sports Oval. The Stars and Hawks are both on four wins and just one victory behind the fourth-placed Turtles.
The winner will keep in touch with the top four, with the loser up against it and need to take some big scalps in the run home in order to qualify for the post-season.
Helping out the chances of the Hawks is the fact that they’re the only team to have had the second bye.
Their previous encounter at Heidelberg Park in Round 2 saw the Hawks win by 25 points, with another competitive performance between both clubs expected to be on show this Saturday afternoon.
Laurimar Reserve is the venue for a huge clash between Laurimar and Mernda with the second spot on the line. The Power, on seven wins and a superior percentage, will overtake the Demons if they can secure the four points.
While Laurimar has the home-ground advantage, Mernda comes into the match on a six-game winning streak and chock full of confidence.
The previous encounter between these combatants was a wonderful spectacle in Round 2 at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The Demons went in as underdogs based on their 2022 form, despite having defeated the Turtles by 30 points at Eltham College the week prior.
In a seesawing game, the Power trailed by 36 points at halftime before momentarily hitting the lead in the final term. But Mernda rallied to record an eight-point triumph in front of an adoring home crowd.
If that game is anything to go by, a thriller is a distinct possibility, and this time Laurimar won’t be considered a hot favourite. Most pundits would consider the match to be a 50/50 game and a huge crowd is expected for this crucial clash.
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