AN extraordinary weekend of football has turned the Northern Football Netball League landscape completely upside down in all three divisions. Of course, I’m here to take a look at it all.
THE UPSET OF THE YEAR
It will be hard to top this as one of the great local footy shocks in recent history, but that’s exactly what Diamond Creek managed to pull off as it came from behind to shock Heidelberg, ending the Tigers’ almighty 33-game winning run.
It all looked as though things were going to be as per usual early on as the Tigers kicked the first three goals of the afternoon, but as the Demons have proved throughout the season, they are a tough egg to crack.
The Tigers got back out to a 16-point lead in red time in the third term, but Diamond Creek kept coming.
After conceding the first goal of the last term, the Demons kicked four consecutive goals to break open the game, giving themselves a 16-point lead, before hanging on to win by eight points.
Carlton VFL player Liam Farrar kicked six goals in the win, Ewan McPherson was in the thick of everything, and it’s a result which tips the division one landscape completely upside down – are the Tigers now gettable?
What it also does is it creates a fascinating game this weekend where Montmorency and Diamond Creek battle it out for the right to sit second outright with 10 rounds gone. The last meeting was a draw – what will this game at Montmorency Park produce?
GETTING AWAY WITH IT
Banyule sat 22 points down in the final term against West Preston Lakeside. It all looked as though the relegation battle was going to take another twist.
However, eight-pointers have a funny way of providing twists and turns, and so it was as the Bears found something to kick five consecutive goals after kicking four goals in the first three quarters – the end result is that the Bears now sit three games ahead of West Preston, and the Roosters facing an almighty battle to stay in the top division, which they have done since 1997.
BIG WIN FOR ELTHAM
Eltham turns for home in fifth place on the ladder ahead of a big few weeks of football as it looks to return to the division one finals.
To defeat Hurstbridge by 19 points is an excellent start for the Panthers in what is a huge few weeks – Greensborough at home, followed by West Preston, Montmorency and North Heidelberg away.
The third quarter was the game-breaker for Eltham, kicking three goals to one to open up a 21-point lead at the final change.
REDBACKS WEB TANGLES LIONS
Division two was also the land of the upset this weekend just gone, with South Morang completely dominated after quarter time by a Panton Hill outfit which got itself off the bottom of the ladder for the first time this season.
The Redbacks stunned the Lions with a seven-goal second quarter to turn an 11-point deficit into a 28-point lead by the main break and continued increasing their lead in the second half to eventually win by 53 points.
There are theories that suggest the Redbacks are better at home, but the fact remains it is their first win of the year at AE Cracknell, having previously shocked the Fitzroy Stars away.
A big game now beckons for the Redbacks, who host Thomastown – a win will see them move two games clear of the Bears, as well as keep their finals hopes in play. Some season.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT
Spare a thought for Thomastown, however, who sat 19 points up at the final change away from home against Lower Plenty, only to lose by five points in the battle of the Bears.
Jasper Collins was the hero, kicking a goal at the 23-minute mark of the final quarter to break Thomastown hearts, and deliver a brutal blow.
The Bears will still back themselves against the Redbacks, having taken a victory in round one, and another win will deliver another big twist in the relegation battle.
RUNAWAY LEADERS STRIKE ANOTHER BLOW
Another week, another scalp for Northcote Park, who now sit two games clear on the senior ladder – an almighty effort when you consider the reserves are at the opposite end of the ladder.
This time, seven goals in the final term allowed the Cougars to run all over Whittlesea at Bill Lawry Oval, having led all day.
The ascension to the top of the ladder for the Cougars has been one of the stories of the year so far – for Whittlesea, however, it is now desperate times, with the Eagles sitting in seventh place and a game behind the finals race.
WHILE MACLEOD SIT TWO GAMES OUT…
Desperate times too, for Macleod, with last year’s grand finalists not just two games outside the top five but also getting pulled in to the bottom by the likes of Panton Hill, despite having the second-best percentage in the division two competition.
Macleod, unfortunately, could not buy a goal on Saturday afternoon against Old Paradians, kicking just one major to three-quarter-time, before eventually kicking three goals in the last term.
With St Mary’s, Whittlesea and Northcote Park the next three games, it’s now make-or-break for the Roos.
For Paradians’ part, the Raiders now sit just percentage behind South Morang and sit nicely in third. They look every bit a contender when push comes to shove.
AN 11-GOAL BURST
Laurimar put together the quarter of the year in its 101-point win over Epping, kicking 11 goals and having 19 scoring shots with a fierce breeze.
It seemed everything the Power touched turned to gold in the opening quarter, with Matt Keys the main beneficiary, kicking five goals.
However, there seems to be a slight blow, with a reported injury to Patrick Fitzgerald the only sour note of the afternoon.
Either way, it was a solid reminder that Laurimar’s best is still very much devastating.
RESERVOIR TIPS THE LANDSCAPE
It looked to be a three-horse race, but Reservoir’s first win against Mernda since 2012 left the Demons wanting ahead of a very significant period, with games against Laurimar and Ivanhoe next up for the men in red and blue.
The Mustangs dominated after quarter time, kicking 10 goals to four, with Aaron Edwards kicking six goals.
Suddenly, a couple of big weeks for the Mustangs has them sitting pretty inside the top five, one game and percentage ahead of Kilmore and Heidelberg West.
THE WATSY WAY GOES ON
The incredibly nice story of Watsonia this season continues, as the Saints keep pushing to get themselves into premiership contention.
What has really impressed me about the Saints has been their ability to find other avenues to goal and not just be reliant on Cameron Cloke.
While Cloke kicked six on Saturday, they also got great contributions from Bailey White, who also kicked six, and James Latross, who kicked four.
Beware the boys from Binnak Park – they are young, brash and having a crack.