A look ahead to Round 10 in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3, where the competition enters the second half of the home and away season.

Each team has played eight games at the halfway point of the season. The ladder is taking shape with South Morang emerging as the big winner from Round 9 action as they moved into the top four for the first time since the opening round.

The Lions ventured to Heidelberg Park to take on Heidelberg West with fourth spot on the line. It was all the visitors early as they had five goals on the board before the Hawks even troubled the scorer.

Slowly but surely, Heidelberg West settled into the game and eventually hit the front halfway through the last term. It was a similar pattern to the previous meeting of these teams at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in Round 2, when the Hawks rallied from two points down to win.

But this time South Morang found something extra – helped by a good goal after an absolute hanger from Tye Hall. The Lions eventually ran out 11-point winners with Hall and Bailey Brown contributing well.

Ben Kennan down back and Jarryd Coulson in the ruck were best for Heidelberg West, who slipped to fifth spot – their lowest ladder position of the year, following three-consecutive defeats.

Mernda came off the bye and the long weekend break to play Lalor at Lalor Reserve. The game was all tied up at half time – with Lalor kicking a wasteful 3.10 to 4.4.

A five-goal to nil third term won the game for the Demons and they went on to record a 49-point win. Nicolas Aleksovski booted four for Mernda for the second match running. Christian Cawsey was named best.

Lachlan Evans played his best game this year for the Bloods, while Demetrios Constantinou once again stood out.

Panton Hill travelled to Crispe Park to take on Reservoir. The Mustangs were in the game at the first break, but the Redbacks booted 14 goals to two in the middle quarters to put the game away.

Reservoir limited the damage in the final term, with Panton Hill adding only two more majors but the final margin did finish in triple-digits, with the visitors victorious by 101 points.

Matthew Byron booted five goals for the Redbacks and moved within one of Laurimar’s Josh Williamson at the top of the goal kicking table. Cam Jordan also excelled with three majors, while Dan Freeman, Scott Conte and Nathan Hendry controlled the midfield.

“We worked on some deficiencies from the Kilmore game, which was pleasing,” Panton Hill coach Steve Layt said. “Our ball transition was pretty good and a strong performance overall.”

Emrys Black returned for Reservoir and gave good service to skipper Reece Miller, along with Mitch Hawkins out of the middle. Sam McDowell got plenty of the ball as well.

“Our structures and systems are holding up really well early in games,” Reservoir coach David Nelson said. “If we were able to bring that for four quarters, we are definitely competitive enough to sneak a game or two.”

On the back of its first win, Old Eltham Collegians headed north to J. J. Clancy Reserve to tussle with an in-form Kilmore outfit.

The Turtles were well in the game at the last change – facing just a 15-point deficit. But the Blues pulled away late to win by 40 points.

Jaxson Kinnear has relished his move to attack this year and booted four majors for Kilmore. Chris Ryall continued his outstanding run of form – dominating in the midfield and drifting forward to boot three goals.

“The Turtles dominated at times, but we played the way we wanted to play in patches. In the end we did what we had to do to win,” Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips said.

One of three multiple goal-kickers, Eden Simpson was best for Old Eltham Collegians. Matt Quinton’s return helped, while Corey Ray and Luke Booth impressed in the midfield. The Turtles head to the bye before hosting Reservoir at Eltham College in Round 11.

“Lots of positives overall, but two five-minute lapses cost us multiple goals,” Old Eltham Collegians coach John Garrard said.

Laurimar, who had the bye, remains on top and undefeated. Panton Hill and Kilmore are two games back, with South Morang half a win back in fourth.

Heidelberg West slipped out of the top-four for the first time this year and are half a win behind the Lions. Mernda is next on three wins and a healthy percentage, followed by Old Eltham Collegians, Lalor and Reservoir.

Round 10 games will help shape the top-four and one vital game is the clash between South Morang and Laurimar at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.

Clinging on to fourth spot narrowly from Heidelberg West, the Lions would like to inflict the first loss on the Power to strengthen their grip on a finals berth.

Laurimar has had the Queen’s Birthday weekend off – followed by the bye. It remains to be seen if the long break is helpful, although many of the club’s young stars played in the under-19s last week. The Power will be keen to maintain a two-game break on the chasing pack.

Their last encounter was at this venue in Round 15 last year when the Lions won 164-99 in a scoring feast. Laurimar has shown the competition that it has improved since then and a great contest looks likely.

Panton Hill heads home to A.E. Cracknell Reserve for the first time in four weeks to play Lalor.

The Redbacks need to win to work towards securing the double chance and are red-hot favourites to do so.

The Bloods lost the previous encounter at Lalor Reserve by 126 points and will be expecting to be more competitive this time. With some talented players coming back into the team, they would be aiming to push the Redbacks, but a win would be a huge upset.

Reservoir has back-to-back home games and this week hosts Kilmore at Crispe Park.

The Mustangs have shown good form in patches in recent weeks and their competitive effort against Laurimar at this venue in Round 7 will give them some hope.

Nonetheless, the Blues will be hot favourites and cannot afford to drop this one as they aim for their first finals appearance in the NFNL.

Heidelberg West will be desperate to snap a three-game losing streak when it heads to Waterview Recreation Reserve to play Mernda.

The Demons have hit a good patch of form in the middle of the season and will give themselves a good chance of toppling the Hawks – atoning for their 34-point defeat at Heidelberg Park in Round 1.

If Heidelberg West can win, it could make its stay outside the top four a short one – depending on other results.

It would likely also make the race for the finals a five-team event. In that instance, Mernda would be a minimum 10 premiership points away from fourth spot.

With so much at stake, it will be a clash worth going to see as the teams battle it out for a place in this year’s finals.