Only percentage separates teams in fourth, fifth and sixth places ahead of Round 11 action in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Epping is now in fourth place on the ladder with a percentage of 124.31 – leapfrogging Heidelberg West on 118.59. Kilmore’s percentage is well behind at 90.82.
The squeeze in the middle of the ladder came as sixth-placed Kilmore scored a come-from-behind upset win by eight points over Heidelberg West at Heidelberg Park.
The Hawks looked to be in control until Kilmore booted the final four goals of the match to pull off a famous victory.
Epping journeyed to Crispe Park to take on Reservoir and many expected a 100-point plus result. But the Mustangs were highly competitive except for a 6.6 to 0.1 second term.
The Blues came away with a 71-point victory, but Reservoir fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The boys worked hard today and there is belief in the game plan,” Reservoir coach Aaron Collins said.
Among the best for the Mustangs were midfielders Tom Crellin and Tom Goodwin. Reservoir now goes to its last bye before facing South Morang at Crispe Park.
Banyule atoned for its Round 9 loss to Epping and immediately returned to the top of the ladder – with South Morang having the bye – following a massive 142-point win over an undermanned Mernda at R.J. Brockwell Oval.
A nine-goal to two second term put the game beyond doubt and the Bears went right on with the job in the second half, kicking the final 21 goals of the match.
“Fitness helped us in the end,” Banyule coach Pete Davey said. “We were able to finish off and find a way to hit up our forwards amongst extra Mernda defenders.”
Kieran Malone played his best game for the year for Banyule, while Marcellin player Riley Loton contributed well.
With a score similar to the Reservoir vs Epping clash, St Mary’s came away from its first trip to Laurimar Reserve with a 66-point win over the Power.
The Burra had 13 goal kickers in the win, which keeps them at arm’s length from the three sides below it on the ladder. They now lead the fifth-placed Hawks by a game and close to 50 percent in the tight race for a finals place.
Lance Whitnall scored his best haul for the year with four majors and the Power fans would note the team’s improvement since the blow-out against St Mary’s at Whatmough Park earlier in the season.
Round 11 action will help to shape the finals picture.
South Morang comes off the bye to combat Heidelberg West at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. The Hawks have often played teams coming off the bye this season.
The Lions will be favourites to win as they look to secure the double chance. Heidelberg West will need to cause an upset in order to jump back into the top-four at the end of the round. If the Hawks lose, they will slip one win behind the victor of Kilmore vs Epping.
Epping will be going for three on the trot since the Queen’s Birthday weekend when it heads north to play Kilmore at J.J. Clancy Reserve. Epping may be slightly favoured to win, but Kilmore has improved immensely since last season.
Kilmore has also won its past two matches and will go into the game with some momentum. The rivals’ current ladder positions is in stark contrast to the 2016 results between these teams – with Epping winning both contests by over 20 goals.
In the run home, Epping plays only one match against teams currently placed in the top-three. This compares favourably to Kilmore, who plays three games against the current top-three and four such games for Heidelberg West.
Banyule will be highly fancied to beat Laurimar and retain top spot. The Power makes its first trip to R.J. Brockwell Oval for the encounter.
Mernda will be looking to snap a seven-game losing streak with a trip to Whatmough Park to take on St Mary’s.
The last time these teams met was in Round 4 at Waterview Recreation Reserve. The Burra were down in the final term and risked beginning the season at 0-3, but managed a narrow win over the Demons.
Since then, St Mary’s has risen from near the bottom to third place, while Mernda went from fourth place after Round 3 to plummet to seventh spot and three games outside the top-four.
