The path to September is suddenly becoming clearer, with the top-five breaking two games clear of the pack with only a third of the home and away season remaining.
Despite the divide between the top and bottom half of the ladder widening, the results from Round 12 have ensured a gripping final six weeks of the regular season, with just four points separating the top-four sides, and one win splitting the bottom-three.
First spot is up for grabs this weekend when Northcote Park hosts Macleod at Bill Lawry Oval.
Both sides enter the much-anticipated clash with a 9-3 record, with the winner to assume a one-game buffer at the top of the ladder. It looms as a critical clash in the fight for the minor premiership, with both sides facing a difficult draw to end the home and away season.
Northcote Park suffered just its third loss of the season last weekend when it was overrun by Bundoora at Yulong Reserve. After leading for the opening three quarters, the Cougars were held goalless in the final quarter as the home side piled on five unanswered goals to win by 20 points.
The ladder-leaders weren’t without excuses, with injuries certainly playing a part. Nick Carter failed a fitness test before the game, beginning a run of wretched run of luck for the Cougars who were left without a fit player on the interchange bench in the final quarter.
Brock McLennan, Bryn Barnes-Webb and Bronik Davies all toiled hard for the visitors, while key forward Jackson Starcevich booted four goals by the midway point of the third quarter.
Macleod ended a two-game losing streak and moved equal on points with Northcote Park at the top of the table by beating a determined Eltham by 26 points at De Winton Park.
The Roos had to overcome a 16-point deficit at the first break and kicked nine goals to three after quarter time.
Shane Doherty played a superb game on the wing and continues to be one of his side’s most improved players this year, while Jack Bianchin was equally impressive roaming out of defence.
The Roos, who look set to welcome back co-captain Justin White this week, will be looking to tidy up their conversion rate in the top-of-the-table clash, having kicked 15.35 over the past two weeks.
The round’s second blockbuster takes place at J.E. Moore Park where West Preston-Lakeside hosts Greensborough.
The Roosters were convincing 78-point winners in the pair’s Round 5 encounter, however the Boro have since turned their fortunes around.
Eight goals to Ahmed Saad fired West Preston-Lakeside to a dominant 82-point win over Montmorency, with the performance showcasing the Roosters’ premiership credentials in a rare triumph at Montmorency Park.
In what was predicted to be a close match, the Roosters produced one of their best all-round performances of the season. Their first half in particular was outstanding, piling on 11 goals to two to lead by 57 points at half time.
A win over Greensborough this weekend would go close to cementing the club’s first finals berth since 2012 and would keep them right in the hunt for a top-three finish – with only 0.29 percentage points currently keeping them behind third-placed Bundoora.
Greensborough’s finals hopes received a massive boost with last week’s home win over Heidelberg. The seventh-straight triumph gave the Boro the longest winning-streak of any team in the top-flight this year, surpassing Northcote Park’s six-straight between rounds 2-7.
The Boro won all four quarters in the 22-point victory, setting up the win with the opening five goals and never looking like surrendering the lead thereafter. The result ensured coach Robert Hyde left a winner before heading on an overseas trip.
Again it was the Boro’s defence which stood strong, not conceding a goal until midway through the second quarter and restricting the Tigers to just 14 scoring shots. The defence was led by Nick Riddle, who received top votes in the Coaches Player of the Year award.
With a two-game advantage on its two closest rivals, the Boro may only need to win three of their final six games to secure a finals place for the fourth-consecutive season.
Bundoora will be looking to keep its momentum building when it hosts Eltham at Yulong Reserve.
The Bulls piled on 15 unanswered goals in the fourth quarter when the sides met in Round 5.
Ricky Dyson’s side recorded one of its most important wins of the season last weekend, coming from close to five goals down in the third quarter to beat ladder-leader Northcote Park. The result improved the side’s record against its top-five counterparts to 2-3.
David Mitchell was instrumental in the win, Matty Dennis gradually got on top in the ruck as the game wore on, while Jack Furlong made a strong return from injury in his first game since Round 7.
At risk of slipping outside the top-five earlier in this month, three-consecutive wins have placed the Bulls firmly back on track as they hunt a double-chance in the finals for the first time since their 2013 premiership campaign.
A fourth-straight loss last weekend saw Eltham slip to last place on the ladder, despite putting up a competitive showing against Macleod. Equal on points with Whittlesea, it is currently 4.72 percentage points which has Eltham at the bottom of the table.
The Panthers kicked four of the opening five goals as a second upset win over the Roos looked on the cards. However a spate of injuries put paid to their winning chances, with star on-baller Anton Woods among those hurt in the defeat.
Tom Rogers and Bradyn Taglieri found plenty of football, Rohan King offered lots of grunt, while Darcy Vallance marked his return to the senior line-up with two goals in his first game of the season.
Heidelberg will hope to continue its strong home form when it hosts Hurstbridge at Warringal Park.
The Tigers have won their past three home games and need that streak to continue if they are to keep their finals chances alive. With just five matches remaining in the home and away season, the Tigers may have to go undefeated from here to play finals this season.
Last week they were unable to get through a defensively-sound Greensborough outfit. The result means the reigning premiers have a 2-7 record against sides currently placed inside the top five.
Lachlan Wilson and Tom Sullivan again gave their all for four quarters, meanwhile 17-year-old Northern Knights product Oliver Stapleton was a positive in his first game of senior football and was named among his side’s best players.
Hurstbridge’s slim chances of playing finals football in its first season following promotion look dashed following last week’s loss to Whittlesea and the Bridges will now focus their attention on extracting themselves from the relegation battle.
The Bridges started well at the Whittlesea Showgrounds but poor efficiency in front of goal denied them the chance to open up a decent advantage, leading by just four points at half time.
The inaccuracy in front of goal only got worse in the second half – with the Bridges kicking 1.13 after the main break. Whittlesea took full advantage of the wastefulness to push ahead for a 35-point win, despite the best efforts of Aidan Clarke and Tom Simpson (three goals).
Hurstbridge will now look to regroup quickly following two-straight losses and will be out to make it two wins against Heidelberg this year after causing a boilover in their Round 4 encounter, which they claimed by 27 points.
Similar to Heidelberg, Montmorency must now make every post a winner to stay in finals contention and this week welcomes Whittlesea to Montmorency Park.
The Magpies were completely outplayed by West Preston-Lakeside last Saturday and were never in the hunt in a rare heavy defeat on home soil – managing just 15 scoring shots to 32 for the day.
Patrick Fitzgerald was the one shining light in the loss, managing to kick five of his side’s seven goals to take his tally to 20 goals in his past four games. The key forward is in rare form and has featured in his side’s best two players in each of the past three weeks.
Despite last week’s poor showing, the Montmorency should take confidence into this week’s game, having won all four of its encounters against Whittlesea at Montmorency Park since 2011, by an average margin of 67 points.
Sparked by a four-goal best on ground showing from playing-assistant Justin Sherman, Whittlesea ended a seven-game losing streak last week to salute for its first home win of the season.
The Eagles overcame a 13-point deficit at quarter time to kick 12 of the final 15 goals. Jordan Ormerod and Jai Robinson were key figures in the turnaround, while Andrew Fairchild slotted three majors in his first game since Round 8.
Jim Atkins’ side will now look to carry the momentum from the win into this week’s clash as it looks to overcome a poor record at Montmorency Park. It will also be out to atone for a close Round 1 defeat to the Magpies.
Whittlesea had looked set for a win midway through the last quarter when it led an under-strength Magpies outfit by more than two goals at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. However, the home side conceded the final three goals to slump to a disappointing defeat.
