With a third of the 2021 season already behind us, every game has more and more context and consequence ; get your head around it all with the Weekend Preview.
Blackburn v Noble Park
One of the competitions most inform sides, Noble Park, head out to Morton Park this weekend to take on the highly rated, if inconsistent, Burners.
The Burners have won the last two meetings between the two sides, but have yet to win at home this season, having lost to South Croydon and Balwyn. Their opponents have been impressive on the road, having had hard fought wins over Berwick and Norwood on their way to a 4-1 record.
Both sides have shown their desire to control the ball in 2021, ranked first and second for average disposals (NP – 332 per game, BB – 326), average kicks (NP – 206.6, BB – 206.4) and are both taking a high number of marks per game, ranked second (NP – 86) and third respectively (BB – 84).
The Bulls have three key men when it comes to collecting the leather, with Jackson Sketcher (139 disposals), Thomas Glen (126) and Kyle Martin (117) all above the 100 mark for season 2021. Conversely the Burners have a bigger spread with only Ben Daniher having raised the bat (119) so far this season.
Both teams have a lot of the ball and therefore have a lot of inside 50’s, with Blackburn having the most per game of any side (55) and Noble Park ranked third with 50 per game.
Alarmingly for Noble Park they’re ranked 10th for goals scored, averaging 8.2 goals per game, whilst Blackburn are booting 12.6 on average in 2021. Ryan Bathie is the only player heading into this game with a double figure goal tally this year with 12, teammate Samuel Harte is the nearest on the field with seven after he booted four against North Ringwood last weekend.
With both sides keen to hold possession, the matchup between Bathie and Ryan Morrison will be a deciding factor, with Bathie the man most likely to break this stalemate and I’ve got a feeling he’ll get the job down.
Blackburn – just.
Matt Fotia
Mooroolbark v Park Orchards
The high scoring Sharks travel out to Mooroolbark this weekend, coming off a fortnight which has seen them win by a collective total of 152 points against Montrose and Wantirna South.
The Sharks have lost to just one side thus far in 2021 Mooroolbark’s last opponent – Croydon. The Mustangs suffered their second consecutive loss when they hosted the Blues last weekend, when they rolled over in the second half of a scrappy affair.
The trio of Kane Noonan, Samuel Baker and Shane Kennedy have appeared in the best 13 times between this season but were close to ineffectual against the Blues, with Kennedy having a more defensive focus due to Croydon’s stacked forward line and Baker struggling to have an influence with a lack of supply and fast ball movement.
Kane Keppell is a likely front runner in the Sharks best and fairest, with a 100% record of appearing in their best six and 10 majors in the last four weekends. Park Orchards will also be boosted by the return of Michael Prosenak and their freewheeling style should suit the Heights, if conditions allow.
Clearances will be crucial to the Mustangs chances after they were dominated in this facet last weekend, putting their defenders under immense pressure, with quick entries into the Blues forward 50.
The Sharks, like the Blues, have more than enough goal kicking options with Hickey, Voogd, Philp and Keppell all into double figures this season.
I expect them to keep tracking that way, with some more misery on the way for the injury riddled Mustangs.
Matt Fotia
Bayswater v Mitcham
Two teams firmly planted in the middle of the pack will fight to gain some momentum as the season moves into its middle third.
For Mitcham, it’s been a disappointing few weeks, as they have dropped three in a row after bursting out of the gates with a 3-0 start. Sitting 5th on the ladder and well in the finals picture, the Tigers will be looking to turn things around behind key rebounding defender Benjamin Joseph who has been named in their best in both of his last two matches and will return this weekend, alongside VFL listed Josh May and star forward Jake Parente.
Bayswater’s season has been almost the complete opposite.
After a dreadful 0-4 start, the side has managed to knock off a couple of opponents and get into the winners’ column in back-to-back weeks. They’ll be hoping for another big display from Justin Dight, who found the goals last week against Lilydale, thanks to the work further up the field by midfield trio Joel Galvin, Kurt Lopo and Ben White.
Mitcham have come back to earth and Bayswater have awoken from their slumber, Waters at home for me.
Mitch Turner
Heathmont v Knox
Two sides in very different positions face off in Division Two this week, as 4th placed Heathmont take on 7th place Knox.
Heathmont are sitting at 4-2 on the season with hopes of moving into the top two, should results go their way elsewhere.
After a slow start to the year the side has won four straight and looks to have found some great form after two big wins over the last two matches. Campbell Stevens has been stellar all season long, posting four performances which found him in his sides best six.
For Knox, this season hasn’t quite gone the way they would have hoped.
They find themselves with just one solitary win this year, which sees them firmly placed at second-bottom on the ladder.
They’ll be hoping Mitchell Greaves can continue his stunning run of form, as he’s named amongst his sides best in all bar one game this season, including two best-on-ground nods.
Heathmont look too good to tip against at the moment and I expect them to get the job done in style.
Mitch Turner
Boronia v Ringwood
These recently frequent foes meet once again in Division Two, in what looms as a mouth watering clash.
Ringwood won the last two meetings in 2019 by a total of 81 points on their way to the 2019 Grand Final and come into this one off the back of big win over The Basin.
Boronia jumped back onto the winners list against the hapless Dockers, but will still be a little unsure of themselves. The Hawks have played over 35 players in 2021 and will be without Jess Bolton tomorrow.
The Hawks struggled with the leg speed of The Basin and Heathmont in their two losses this season, with it limiting their ability to get back and defend in numbers. They’ll be boosted by the omission of inform Redbacks trio Mitch Brereton (8 goals), Daniel Collier (2 times in best) and Trent Farmer (13 goals + 4 TIB).
It won’t bother Ringwood too much however, with the divisions number one attacking unit more than comfortable with its goal kicking options. The Redbacks average 24.8 scoring shot per game in 2021 and Mitch Farmer (11) Daniel Jordanov (8) and Declan Hill (7) all still pose a massive threat to the Hawks.
Boronia must win the contested ball by a fair margin and be precise by foot if they’re able to negate the spread and speed of Ringwood, keeping their hands on the football and allowing their defence time to structure up.
It’s not often I tip against the Hawks, but Ringwood look in frightening form at the moment and I think they’ll get the job done.
Matt Fotia.
Donvale v Glen Waverley
Donvale have had quite an inconsistent season thus far, managing three wins and two losses. The erratic nature of the Third Division is significant as securing a top four spot within the ladder is just a single win away.
Donvale are coming off of a win against Whitehorse where the final margin of 63 points will no doubt boost the confidence in Kevin Collins group.
Standout performances by Kyle Wignell and four goals from Nicholas Murphy ensured that the dominance and attacking threat of the Magpies propelled the side to a buoyant victory.
They face the Hawks who are going to put up a fight, aiming for finals contention as well. With the Magpies fifth and Hawks narrowly behind by two points on the ladder, the matchup will be crucial, and the intensity will up a notch as the stakes are high for both sides.
The Hawks are currently having an inconsistent run of form with two wins, two losses and a draw, making the clash at Donvale Reserve a blockbuster where a win, although early in the season, a chance at furthering finals football.
The Hawks will go into the game with a significant level of confidence, especially after the result against local rivals the Waverley Blues, where a single point was the final margin, thanks to a last quarter comeback.
This one’s going to be close, however, the Magpies might have an edge through home ground advantage.
Arian Odza
Warrandyte v East Burwood
Two sides with finals aspirations find themselves going head-to-head this Saturday as East Burwood makes the trek to play against their hosts Warrandyte.
Warrandyte have dropped only one game so far this season and will look to the brilliant play of Chris Tout so far this season to spur them to another victory and potentially even first place on the ladder.
East Burwood needs to find itself back on the right side of the ledger in order to right the ship.
After a very strong start to the season, the bye appears to have done nothing good for their momentum, as they have dropped two straight heading into this matchup, albeit against two pre-season premiership contenders.
Braedon Barlow may need to turn in another monster performance to get his side over the line, as eight goals in his last two matches still hasn’t been enough to get the job done.
The Bloods have scraped a couple of results in the past few weeks, whilst East Burwood have competed well against good opposition, making this one hard to split.
Home ground advantage will have to do for now – Bloods for the win.
Mitch Turner.
Chirnside Park v Surrey Park
The battle of the Panthers will take place at Kimberley Reserve and both sides will be looking for the win to move up to second on the ladder.
Chirnside has the better form with a four point win against Silvan furthering the morale built up from the triumph against Kilsyth the previous week.
However, Surrey Park will be looking to bounce back after two disappointing losses in a row where the final margin has exceeded 30 points. The matchup will be a good opportunity for either side to understand where they’re at and how much work is needed to excel to that next level and compete with the likes of Forest Hill and Coldstream.
Surrey Park will not want their high percentage of 192.46 to go to waste as it could end up being significant if Surrey Park were able to string together some wins and play finals football, with the double chance likely to play a big role.
This is expected to be a win for Chirnside, based on the good form as of late, however, Surrey Park will not let them run away with it easily, making for an interesting matchup, where Chirnside might just get over the line in a close one.
Arian Odza