The top-five sides have confirmed their place in the finals with two rounds remaining in the 2017 Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 home and away season.
Greensborough’s runaway win at Eltham locked in this year’s finalists, with the last fortnight set to sort out the order of the top-five moving into the post-season.
Remarkably, the Boro remain a mathematical chance to pinch a finals double chance, despite starting the year 0-5. Given the closeness within the top-half of the ladder, there is still plenty to play for in the final fortnight of the regular season.
There are also plenty of scenarios that can play out at the bottom of the ladder after each of the bottom-four lost in Round 16. All four will be desperate to get among the winners this weekend to alleviate pressure heading into next week’s final round.
Heidelberg is the side with least to play for in the final fortnight. The reigning premier looks inked in for a sixth-place finish – unable to play finals, while also sitting comfortably clear of the four sides below.
While every game from here has plenty riding on it, the top-billed game in Round 17 takes place at J.E. Moore Park where fourth-placed West Preston-Lakeside hosts ladder-leader Macleod.
Sitting four points outside the top-three, West Preston-Lakeside will likely have to win each of its final two home and away games to head into the finals series with a double chance.
The Roosters fell agonisingly short of victory at Bundoora last Saturday, losing by two points in a match dominated by defence. Ultimately the Roosters were left to lament wasted chances in the first quarter – where they kicked 1.6 and left the door ajar for the Bulls.
The cause wasn’t helped by a hamstring injury sustained by Ahmed Saad, which sidelined the competition leading goal kicker after half time. The Roosters will sweat on his availability heading into the finals, along with Patrick Karnezis who hasn’t played since Round 12.
Nathan Valladares again displayed his ability at both ends of the field at Yulong Reserve. He kept Gary Moorcroft goalless for three quarters, before being thrust into attack in the final term and kicking two goals.
Macleod need only win one of its final two matches to claim the minor premiership and earn a deserved rest in the opening week of the finals.
The undermanned ladder-leader made it five wins on the trot last week when it overcame a slow start to beat a plucky Montmorency by 52 points. The Magpies kicked 3.7 in the first term to lead by 10 points, before the Roos rallied with 15 goals to five after quarter time.
Hamish Paynter led the charge through the middle of the ground, while Brad Leggett was rock-solid in defence. The representative defender has been among his side’s best in five of his past seven outings and is in great touch at the right time of the year.
Nick Lynch made a welcome return and kicked three goals in his first senior game since Round 10. Having played just seven games this year, an in-form Lynch would be an added bonus for the Roos in September.
Whittlesea will be hoping to continue its recent good record against Bundoora when it hosts the Bulls at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. The Eagles have won the past two outings between the sides.
Whittlesea will be on the rebound after last week missing a golden opportunity to edge clear of the relegation scrap. The Eagles led for the majority of the day against Heidelberg, only to fall behind late in the piece in the one-point home defeat.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Jim Atkins side, who had many chances to win the game in the last quarter. Unfortunately the Eagles were wayward when their opportunities arose and booted a pain-staking 1.10 in the final term.
The positive was the Eagles once again demonstrated their best football is more than competitive in Division 1 and a similar effort in the final fortnight, with a better conversion rate, will likely see them maintain their place in the top flight for 2018.
Bundoora scored a vital win over West Preston-Lakeside to move closer to its first top-three finish since 2013. The two-point win was achieved without Nathan Thomas, Danny Younan, Andrew Carmusciano and Isaac Muller, while Brent Marshall was sidelined in the second half.
Two-time Frank Rosbrook medallist Matthew Dennis did it all in the win. His ruckwork was outstanding, often finding Liam Byrne to surge the Bulls clear at the stoppages. He also pushed forward for a number of strong marks and finished with three goals.
On a day where goals were hard to come by, Josh and Nick Grabowski showed flashes of brilliance to combine for three majors, while Brendan Carlyon and David Mitchell also performed well as the Bulls scored their second win over West Preston-Lakeside in 2017.
Northcote Park will play its final home game of the year when it hosts Montmorency at Bill Lawry Oval. The Cougars go into the match with a 6-2 home record this season.
Matt McLennan’s side got back on the winners’ list last Saturday when it outlasted Hurstbridge in a shootout at Ben Frilay Oval. The visitors trailed at quarter and half time, before running out 15-point winners.
The Cougars could have won more comfortably, but for wastefulness in front of goal, kicking 8.12 to 6.3 after half time. They booted 3.7 in the final quarter – a tally which was made to look better after Brock McLennan converted a goal after the final siren.
With Jackson Starcevich sidelined by a serious knee injury and Ash Close still on Collingwood VFL duties, the Cougars’ makeshift forward line was lively with McLennan and Joel Donaldson combining for six goals as their side reached triple figures for the first time since Round 11.
Montmorency made a strong, albeit frustrating start, against Macleod. The Magpies controlled the opening stanza but should have been more than 10 points ahead at the first break after recording five more scoring shots.
After being outscored 11 goals to two in the second and third quarters, the Magpies did well to fight out the contest in the fourth quarter to prevent the final margin from blowing out – maintaining a one game and 14 percent advantage over bottom-placed Eltham.
The unavailability of key players has certainly hurt Montmorency throughout the season, but the silver lining has been the ability to blood youngsters. 17-year-old Stefan Uzelac was among the side’s best players last week and finished with a team-high three goals.
Greensborough will be looking for its sixth-consecutive home win when it hosts Hurstbridge at War Memorial Park.
The Boro scored a hard-fought 32-point triumph over Eltham last week, holding off a massive challenge from the Panthers before stretching away with five goals to one in the final quarter.
Once again the Boro’s best players came from the defensive half, with Nick Riddle, Dan McLinden and Jack Johnston pivotal in the win. Only Macleod has conceded fewer points than Greensborough this year, with the Boro conceding a miserly average of 61 points in their past 11 matches.
Hurstbridge was again able to challenge a top-four side last week and will fancy its chances of causing a boilover this week after pushing Greensborough all the way in their Round 7 clash at Ben Frilay Oval.
The Bridges’ 5-11 record doesn’t provide a true reflection of the club’s performance in its return to the top flight, although their average losing margin of 28 points shows the young team has been able to remain competitive in its defeats.
Trent and Troy Barbero were both excellent against Northcote Park, while 19-year-old Cooper Perrin continue his strong first season with the club, featuring in the best players for the sixth time and improving his goal tally to 17.
Eltham will be desperate to end a long run of outs at Warringal Park when it takes on Heidelberg.
The Panthers would have breathed a sigh of relief following Heidelberg’s come-from-behind win over Whittlesea last week. However, they themselves had their chances against Greensborough – recording more scoring shots in the 7.15 (57) to 14.5 (89) loss.
Even with a win this weekend, the Panthers will likely head into Round 18 needing to win to avoid relegation. Their percentage stands at 64.35, still comfortably below Whittlesea’s 71.27.
Paul Currie, Lewis Glasgow and Anton Woods were among the best in last week’s defeat, while Michael Still kicked a season-best three goals.
While its own position won’t change, Heidelberg can still have a big say in shaping the final ladder – as demonstrated in last week’s come-from-behind win over Whittlesea, which has kept the relegation battle wide open.
The Tigers showed grit to fight back at the Whittlesea Showgrounds to score their seventh win of the year. Tom Sullivan, Ryan Stone and Michael Brunelli led the fightback, while Sam Gilmore’s three goals was his best haul as a Tiger.
Despite becoming the first Division 1 premier to miss the following year’s finals since 2003 flag winner West Preston-Lakeside, Heidelberg has salvaged something from the year by blooding youngsters, with Nathan Honey and Alex Bakos the latest to make their debut.
