A look at the Round 10 matches in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Despite being an underdog, Epping won an absolute thriller against Banyule by eight points at Epping Recreation Reserve in Round 9.
The game was tight throughout, but the Blues were just too good on the day in their best performance for 2017.
“Our intensity had been down but it was way back up again,” a happy Epping coach Greg Whitcroft said. “For the first time in a while we won the midfield battle and that got us going.”
Leigh Judd played his best game for the year for the Blues. With the Bears missing competition leading goal kicker James Kroussoratis, Sean Downes was their only multiple goal kicker with two.
Heidelberg West made the perfect start against Mernda at Waterview Recreation Reserve – leading 8.0 to nil at quarter-time.
The Hawks controlled the game thereafter to win by 67 points and atoned for their loss to the Demons at Heidelberg Park in the season opener.
The game duration was cut to three quarters, with the final quarter not played after a lengthy delay following an injury to Hawk forward Zac Tranter late in the third term.
Ruckman Jarryd Coulson continues his fine season for Heidelberg West, while under-17 player Shannon Mills shone for Mernda.
South Morang’s Tye Hall excelled as his team produced a seven-goal second term to put a space between themselves and St Mary’s at Whatmough Park.
An even second half saw the Lions win by 38 points with the victory propelling the side to the top of the table.
The Burra were on five-game winning run and shooting for second place but now find themselves two games back, but still in third place.
Reservoir was within striking distance against Laurimar at half-time in its maiden voyage to Laurimar Reserve.
But a dominant second half gave the Power a big 64-point victory. Laurimar now sits two games and percentage ahead of the Mustangs, who are in last place.
Each team has now had one bye and the ladder is beginning to take shape. South Morang leads Banyule on percentage only – with both teams on seven wins. Two games back is St Mary’s and Heidelberg West on five wins.
The fourth-placed Hawks are a game ahead of Epping and Kilmore – both of whom have four wins.
Mernda and Laurimar are two games away with two wins, while Reservoir remains winless, but, with good player numbers, the Mustangs’ reserves team has three wins.
The competition for top-four spots appears to have been reduced to six main chances – with Banyule and South Morang looking very safe for now and four teams going for the other two spots.
The byes and weeks off were coming thick and fast in the first part of the season, but now teams face a hard slog in the run to the finals.
Round 10 action sees Banyule looking to get straight back on the winners’ list when it hosts Mernda at R.J. Brockwell Oval.
The Demons face a huge task as they attempt to snap a six-game losing streak.
The most recent clash between these teams, back in 2016, resulted in a one-kick result in favour of the Demons, but the Bears will be hot favourites to record their first-ever win over Mernda.
In a game that will help determine finals chances, Kilmore comes off the bye and plays its first game since June 3 in travelling to Heidelberg Park to tangle with Heidelberg West.
The Hawks notched a massive 70-point win in the Round 2 encounter at J.J. Clancy Reserve and would be favoured to repeat the dose.
If so, they will pull two games plus percentage ahead of Kilmore. But the Blues would draw level on five wins if they can pull off the upset.
St Mary’s plays Laurimar for the second time – but this is the first meeting between these teams at Laurimar Reserve.
The Power have won their past two home matches, but they face much a stiffer task this week in hosting the Burra.
Their Round 5 meeting ended up in a 149-point win to St Mary’s. However, Laurimar’s form has improved since then.
Epping heads to Crispe Park with restored confidence to face Reservoir after knocking Banyule from the top of the ladder.
While the four points are important, the Blues also need a percentage boost as they try to climb into the top-four.
South Morang has the bye.
