A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 Preview – Round 9

20 Jun 2019 by Northern Football Netball League

The first half of the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 regular season concludes this weekend, with six sides still looking very much in finals contention.

Just four points separate second-placed Eltham from sixth-placed Diamond Creek, although last week’s results indicated that the top-two sides – Banyule and Eltham – may have opened up a class gap on the rest with comprehensive wins over fellow finals hopefuls.

On paper, three of this weekend’s match-ups will see one side start as warm favourite, however could an upset result throw a spanner in the works?

In what shapes up as the match of the round, Thomastown hosts Whittlesea at Main Street Recreation Reserve, where both sides will be desperate to return to the winners’ list.

The sides sit in third and fourth place respectively, although the loser could find themselves outside the top-four at the halfway point of the season if other results don’t go their way this weekend.

Thomastown couldn’t replicate its Round 7 efforts at Banyule last week and went down to Eltham by 44 points. It was just the Bears third loss of the season but their second in a row. It was also their second loss to the Panthers in 2019 after going down by 47 points in Round 1.

Trailing by 26 points at quarter time, the Bears were never able to bring the margin much closer, with the only positive being they won the final term.

The ever-reliable Matthew Vasilevski was his side’s best for the game, while Shannon Ball continued his goal kicking form with three majors on a day when the club’s forwards were well contained by Eltham’s strong defence.

Whittlesea suffered a similar fate, with its record falling to 4-3 with a 44-point to ladder-leader Banyule at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.

The Eagles played their worst first half of the season, kicking just one goal and trailed by 62 points at half time. They were able to win the second half, but it was too little too late and they now sit just percentage above fifth-placed Fitzroy Stars.

The two sides haven’t met since 2015, however it was Thomastown who won both matches between the sides during that season. The Bears claimed four and nine-point triumphs in the two regular season games, despite Whittlesea going on to win the Division 2 premiership.

Eltham hosts St Mary’s at Eltham Central Park in the first head-to-head meeting between the two clubs.

The Panthers will enter as the favourite as they hunt a fourth-straight win ahead of successive away games, although St Mary’s form over the past two weeks indicates that this could be a danger game.

Eltham produced its best performance of the season last weekend to snatch second spot off Thomastown. The Panthers got a head start on the Bears and stayed ahead all day in their 44-point win.

The Panthers produced their best first quarter of the season, piling on six goals to two, and didn’t let up throughout the day in what was a big statement to the rest of the league.

The club’s versatility was evident on the day with star defender Tim Currie pushing forward in Michael Still’s absence and booting a game-high five goals. Teenage young gun Jesse King continued his goal kicking form with his three goals.

Eltham’s on-ball division is hitting its straps entering the long run towards September. Brent Macaffer and Anton Woods have been in red-hot touch over the past three matches, helping to offset the absence of Lewis Glasgow.

St Mary’s sits in eighth spot with a 1-7 record, although the reigning Division 3 premier has made massive inroads over the past month and is beginning to look much more comfortable in the higher grade.

A week after pushing Diamond Creek all the way in a tight loss at Coventry Oval, the Burra were again gallant in defeat in a nine-point loss to the Fitzroy Stars at Whatmough Park.

The Burra led by 14 points at the first change before falling away to a 29-point deficit at three-quarter-time. However, they rallied in the final term and closed within three points late in the last quarter, only to be sunk by a goal of the year contender by John Hayes.

In just his second game in the seniors, Tane Cotter was the Burra’s best and finished with three goals to his name, while Dillan Ronalds and Chris Petroro played their best games of the year.

The bottom-placed team meets the undefeated ladder-leader when Epping and Banyule clash at Epping Recreation Reserve.

The Blues enter off a two-week break after having a bye last week following the Queen’s Birthday weekend.

Prior to the long break, the Blues produced their best performance of the season when they suffered a tight 13-point loss to the Fitzroy Stars.

Leading by three-points at half-time, the Blues fell away to a 20-point deficit in the third quarter after only kicking one goal, but fought the game out until the end and nearly pinched their first win of the year.

Jaedyn Kearney and Corey Middleton were the Blues’ best in that loss and their side will be hoping they continue their form in the hopes of turning around their side’s fortune in the second half of the year.

After having their unbeaten record threatened in Round 7, Banyule responded in style against Whittlesea and reaffirmed their status as the side to beat in 2019 with a 44-point win away at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.

The Bears kept the Eagles to just one goal in the first half and were then able to cruise to victory, despite the absence of Brent Stanton and Ricky Dyson.

Mitchell Lovell played his best game since joining the club – taking several towering marks and finishing with six goals, while Ben Embleton and Scott Gumbleton were also pivotal to their side notching a seventh-straight win.

The Bears will be a red-hot favourite to go 8-0 but will be wary of an Epping side which has a knack of lifting when these two sides meet.

Fitzroy Stars plays host to Watsonia in a crucial match-up at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.

The Stars overcame a strong challenge from a lower-ranked side for the second-consecutive match when they downed St Mary’s by nine points at Whatmough Park.

The Stars were slow out of the gates and trailed by 14 points at the first break, before kicking a blistering eight goals in the second term which ultimately set up the win and ensured they stayed in touch with the top-four.

John Hayes played his best game of the season and slotted four goals – including the miraculous match-winner – while Aaron Lynn, Allan Norris and Ethan Penrith were named in the best players.

A win this weekend could move Fitzroy inside the top-four for the first time this season ahead of five consecutive games against sides placed first through to sixth.

Watsonia missed the opportunity to end its losing streak and suffered a fifth-consecutive loss in a 11-point defeat to Diamond Creek at A.K. Lines Reserve.

The Saints started the season in red-hot form with two wins and looked to be headed back on the winners list when they led the Creekers at half time.

But a four-goal to one third term was costly, and the Saints couldn’t make enough inroads in the final term, despite the Creekers keeping them in the game with inaccurate kicking at goal.

Ben McKenzie excelled despite the final result, while Xavier Kelly continued his rich vein of form. Allan Young was again amongst the Saints’ major goal kickers and booted three of his side’s nine goals.

The Saints have beaten the Stars in each of the past two seasons and will hope to extend that record into 2019 as they search for their third win of the campaign.