THE best seven weeks of the football season finally arrived on the weekend. Michael Thompson takes you Around the Grounds for the best of the NFNL as August opened up.
FIRST WEEK OF FINALS
We’re back!
The NFNL women’s finals started with a festival of footy at La Trobe University on Sunday, with six games for everyone to feast their eyes on.
Although the results were straightforward – all the higher-ranked teams won – there was some excellent quality footy on display.
The most electric game was the division one elimination final between Banyule and Heidelberg. Heidelberg looked home and hosed in the third quarter, kicking four goals to nil to open up a 15-point lead, but kicking with the breeze in the final term, the Bears found something to kick the two goals they needed to overrun the Tigers, taking a two-point win.
There were also two good wins to both Eltham teams, Fitzroy Stars, St Mary’s and Darebin as well.
CREEK BOOK ITS SPOT
Written off by many at the start of the season as a relegation threat, Diamond Creek have flipped the script so spectacularly, that it has locked in a finals spot by round 15 in its first division one season since 2008.
The Creekers gave West Preston a football lesson on Saturday. Nine goals in the first quarter, 13 in the first half, and 20 overall leading to a 107-point win means the Demons cannot miss out and have their eyes on Heidelberg’s crown.
DRAMATIC DRAW
CLOSE COMBAT: Nothing could separate Hurstbridge and North Heidelberg in just about every facet on Saturday, including the scoreboard.
The third draw of the season, and second in division one, played out at Ben Frilay Oval on Saturday, as North Heidelberg fought back with five late goals to steal two points.
The result does leave Hurstbridge in the five, but it would have made it a little bit tougher for Greensborough to make it – as seen below…
GREENSBOROUGH BLOW BIG CHANCE
Leading 42-2 early in the second quarter, you would have felt that Greensborough were well and truly back in town.
Instead, Montmorency calmly fought its way back on Saturday, kicking three goals to trail by 24 points at the main break, then adding six goals to nil in the third term to lead a topsy-turvy game by 11 points at the final change, before winning by 18 points.
Kamdyn McIntosh has returned at the perfect time of the season for Monty as they plot a premiership push, and results like this certainly will not hurt the confidence of those at Montmorency Park.
For Greensborough, it’s a result which could sap its confidence, sitting half a game out of the five with just three games remaining. It, put simply, needs to beat North Heidelberg this weekend.
DIVISION TWO SHOCK
Not many expected Old Paradians to beat Northcote Park, much less by 73 points, but that’s exactly what happened.
The Raiders are now in the box seat to claim a first division two finals berth at their second attempt, and a win over Macleod would seal the deal on Saturday at De Winton Park.
Northcote Park’s grip on top spot suddenly doesn’t look so secure, and with Whittlesea fighting for its season on the weekend, the Cougars need to win to keep sitting in the spot everyone wants to be in.
MACLEOD IN THE FIVE!
ON THE HOP: Macleod have roared into the division two top five at the right time of the year.
For Macleod, however, it suddenly looms as a dangerous proposition. Off the canvas and into the five, the Roos are playing good footy at the right time of the year.
Their win against Panton Hill was built off the back of five goals from Darcy Barden, but more importantly, they are also finding other avenues to goal. It’s been a slow build, but here come the Roos in Nick Lynch’s last season as coach.
RELEGATION ALMOST CONFIRMED
Both division one and division two relegation spots almost look certain now.
West Preston is confirmed in division two for the first time since 1996 following its loss to Diamond Creek on Saturday, while Panton Hill looks likely to be relegated after a 63-point loss to Macleod.
Panton Hill needs to beat South Morang and Lower Plenty away from home, and hope Thomastown loses both its matches. Tough ask.
TOP SPOT FOR IVANHOE
You would think Ivanhoe have completed an undefeated season, thanks to its 20-point win over Laurimar on Saturday.
The Hoers take on Epping in the last round, and a week off awaits in the first week of finals.
They certainly were made to earn their win on Saturday, however, and Laurimar will take some confidence knowing it fell just 20 points short, albeit down a few troops.
Missing Kaiden Arthur hurts, as does missing exciting young forward Hayden Trim, and Jesse Donaldson appears to be out too.
A date with the Dees awaits. Two epic finals in 2023. In my opinion (maybe it’s the Mernda and Laurimar bias I hold as good friends with many at both teams) it’s one of the best rivalries in the league.
HEIDELBERG WEST STAY ALIVE
The Hawks’ chances of making their first finals since 1994 are still on and will need Old Eltham to play the likeliest part on Saturday to make the final five, thanks to a one-point win over Reservoir.
Reservoir loaded up for this game, with many of its stars playing, so this would probably go down as the Hawks’ finest win for many a year.
If Old Eltham can repeat the earlier dose of beating Reservoir, and the Hawks – as expected – beat Lalor, it will be a finals berth to savour.
Less likely is the chances of Kinglake defeating Watsonia, but stranger things have happened in football, and it appears Watsonia are also through to the finals – a terrific effort after losing so many key players over the off-season. Young group, exciting footballers.
