Division 2: Eltham hand Northern the Sunday Blues

By Brenton Mann – @BrentyMann

Eltham took another step closer to successive finals births with a dominant 53-point win over Northern Blues at Eltham College. The win saw the Turtles leapfrog the Blues and secure fourth spot. Eltham’s performance may just be its best of the year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Blues on the other hand will be rueing the loss, which has put a serious dent in their quest for a third successive flag. The Blues are definite finals smokies. Their best is well and truly good enough to match it with Ivanhoe and St John’s, but unfortunately, they haven’t displayed it consistently enough away from home. Northern’s season is on the line this week as it heads to Garvey Oval in a game that they simply must win. Eltham are in a similar position. Two doesn’t go into one, and both Eltham and Northern can’t afford to drop any of their final two games of the year. The Turtles head to the inner southeast to face a plucky Melbourne High, and will need to bring the same defensive intent as it did last week. Eltham held Northern to a mere five goals, and banged on 13 of their own. The Blues will be hoping it was just a blip on the radar, while the Turtles may be hitting their straps at the right time of year.

Richmond Central threw a spanner in the works as it held on for a nail biting nine-point win over Old Paradians at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. The win all but consolidates the Snakes’ spot in Division 2 for 2016 while the loss means the Raiders are still yet to cement their top-four spot. In a tight first-half, goals came at a premium and both had their fair share of momentum. Richmond held sway by ten-points at the main change, and with their finals’ spot on the line, the Raiders lifted accordingly. They slotted five-goals-to-two in the third-term and reversed the deficit and took a five-point lead into the final term. In a pulsating last quarter, the Snakes bagged a match-winning five goals to three and sealed a memorable win. They were led superbly by Jake Munro (5) who worked brilliantly in concert with Bugeja (5). The Boundy brothers combined for eight goals as David bagged six, and Michael slotted two. Parade is in an unenviable position where it now must win its final two games against Northern and South Melbourne to secure their top-four spot. Richmond can’t make the top-four, but last week, they may have helped shape it. They’ll go in warm favourites this week against Elsternwick, and have the opportunity to end the year with eight wins.

Ivanhoe spearhead Mitch Lovell recorded a career-best bag of 13 as the Hoes demolished lowly Elsternwick by 129 points. Lovell was handsomely supported by Reuben Blackmore-Moore who bagged six and will provide plenty of headaches for the St Johns’ coaching this week. The game went according to plan for the opening three quarters, and in the last, the floodgates burst open. The Hoes stormed home with an 11-goal-to-three and are in scintillating form. The win beautifully sets up this week’s top-of-the-table with St John’s in what looms as an intriguing encounter. It’s extremely likely that the two sides will face each other in a fortnight, and may play their cards close to their chest. Elsternwick finds itself at the other end of the spectrum, as the Wicks find themselves dangling dangerously close to relegation. This week they face Richmond Central, and if they’re any chance at dragging themselves out of relegation, they must win.

Melbourne High was dealt a scare in its hard-fought eight-point win over cellar-dweller South Melbourne. Little more than a goal separated both sides for most of the day, with Unicorn’s “Panda” Hawking’s bag of six proving the difference. South District’s came agonisingly close to recording its second win of the year, and now are anchored to the bottom of the ladder. After a few lean years, Melbourne High’s ability to consolidate its position in Div 2 will please the Unicorn’s hierarchy. This week they host the Turtles, who have finals on their mind. Souths face possible relegation partner Monash, in a crucial clash for both sides.

St John’s recaptured some of its attacking prowess as key-forward Tim Edwards bagged ten and led his side to a commanding 80-point win. The JOCs were wary of Monash’s plucky late season form and jumped the Gryphons and controlled the match for the remainder. Holding a six goal lead at the main change, St John’s blew the Gryphons out-of-the-park with 11 goals in 15 minutes to start the third and effectively ended the contest. Monash toiled away manfully but was simply outclassed by a St John’s outfit that is priming itself for the post-season. The JOCs this week have an interesting game against ladder-leaders Ivanhoe, who beat St John’s handsomely earlier in the season. Monash’s game this week against South Melbourne is intriguing for more dire reasons. One seems destined for relegation and as the Gryphons sit perilously close to the relegation zone, they would want to lift for the occasion.

Tips

Monash vs South Melbourne
Elsternwick vs Richmond Central
Old Paradians vs Northern Blues
Ivanhoe vs St John’s
MHSOB vs Eltham