WHILE it’s not quite panic stations yet for Whittlesea, a 22-point loss to Lower Plenty at home means the Eagles have some work to do to ensure it stays in the race for finals.
As it is, the Eagles are only percentage out of the top five, albeit some 56 per cent behind fifth-placed Macleod, but with a young team and injuries mounting up, the next few weeks will be telling.
Whittlesea fought hard for three quarters in its loss to the Bears on Saturday at home but ultimately ran out of legs when push came to shove in the last quarter.
The Eagles got the perfect start in the opening minute, when Caden Allen kicked a goal to get Whittlesea on its way. Indeed, the Eagles played some good footy to open proceedings, with Angus Smith adding another, while Harley Fraumano and Jay Allen also scored to ensure Whittlesea led 24-16 at the first break.
The second quarter was a tale of two halves. Lower Plenty kicked two goals to open the term, but it was Whittlesea who finished the stronger, with Jack Taylor and Jett Fraumano kicking goals to lead 40-33 at the main break.
Lower Plenty started to ask serious questions of the young Eagles lineup, and it paid off with four goals for the term, while Smith kept the Eagles alive with two more goals, as Lower hit the front to lead 59-55 at the final change.
The Bears finished full of running, kicking four straight goals to end the contest, while Smith added his fourth in a good performance. Lower Plenty won 12.14 (86) to 9.10 (64).
Smith, Bailey Robinson, Liam Tyrrell, Kane Johnson, Cruz Young and Deakin Tennant all played well for the Eagles.
South Morang’s late fightback wasn’t enough to pinch the four points off Fitzroy Stars at Mill Park Lakes Reserve, missing a potential opportunity to keep up with ladder-leaders Northcote Park.
The Lions were quite simply overwhelmed in the first three quarters – trailing by 23 points at the opening change, 29 at the main break, and 46 points at the final change.
However, while an undermanned Fitzroy Stars stopped to a walk, South Morang charged home.
The Lions forwards, namely Jesse John Christidis, Ben Peterson and Josh Lansfield, all got into the game, with Christidis in particular putting in a noteworthy performance with four goals.
However, the Stars hung on to score an 11.8 (74) to 10.6 (66) triumph.
Christidis, Nathan Stefanile, Demetrios Constantinou, Teague Van Zwienen, Christian Mardini and Carter McCall were all in the best for the Lions.
In division three, Laurimar eased to a 42-point win over Reservoir at Crispe Park.
With leading goalkicker Patrick Fitzgerald out, Matt Keys took over the Power’s forward line and delivered a best-on-ground performance to kick three goals, while Zac McMahon also added three.
The Power led by 21 at the first change, 30 at half time and 46 at three-quarter-time, before winning 14.15 (99) to 9.3 (57).
Keys, Jesse Donaldson, Cooper Cusinato, Bailey Macleod, McMahon and James Apted were all named in the best.
Eight goals from Kyle Green ensured Mernda took a comfortable 66-point win over Lalor at Waterview Reserve.
Despite the discrepancy between the two teams, Mernda needed to work to eventually get over the top of the Bloods, with inaccuracy again haunting the Dees.
Mernda led by 23 points at the first change, before Lalor closed the gap to 18 by the main break. The Dees released the shackles in the third term, kicking six goals to nil, before adding seven goals to five in the last term to win 19.17 (131) to 9.11 (65).
Josh Mazzarella put in a supreme performance, while Green’s eight goals also earned a mention in the best. Lincoln Coffey, Jayden Bell, James Sekulovski and Christian Evans completed the best players for the Demons.
On Friday night, Laurimar had the best night out of the three teams that compete in the Northern Football Netball League’s netball competition.
The Power won four from five, with the only slip up Laurimar 4’s loss to Montmorency, while Laurimar 1 took a thrilling one-goal win over Greensborough.
South Morang had a mixed night, with its premier division team scoring a 34-21 win over Bundoora, while South Morang 3 and 4 scored wins.
Whittlesea had a tougher night, with its premier division team losing 30-47 to North Heidelberg 2, while Whittlesea 2 and 3 also lost to Hurstbridge and Hazel Glen respectively. Whittlesea 4 defeated Watsonia.
