Yarra Valley Water | The Run Home

By Ryan Long.

There's only five rounds left to play in the Division Three Senior Men's Home and Away season and all ten teams still have plenty to play for.

This weekend's results saw The Basin leapfrog Silvan into fifth position, Oakleigh District and Silvan kept their season alive with crucial wins, and the Minor Premiership is now within reach of Scoresby.

Take a look below at each side's run home and their projected finish at the conclusion of Round 18.

1.        Donvale (11-2, 211.28%, 44 Points)

Round 14: Fairpark (H)

Round 15: Silvan (H)

Round 16: Upper Ferntree Gully (A)

Round 17: Scoresby (A)

Round 18: Knox (H)

Prior to the weekend’s results, Donvale looked on track for a third consecutive Minor Premiership, entering the last six rounds of the season with just the one blemish next to their name.

However, a surprise loss to Ferntree Gully has put this in a little more doubt.

They’re three games and percentage ahead of third place Upper Ferntree Gully, so the only threat of a side pinching top spot is second-placed Scoresby who are now level on points, behind on percentage.

The two sides meet again in Round 17, this time at Scoresby Recreation Reserve which may likely decide who wins the Minor Premiership.

Predicted Finish: 2nd  

2.        Scoresby (11-2, 186.59%, 44 Points)

Round 14: The Basin (H)

Round 15: Coldstream (A)

Round 16: Silvan (A)

Round 17: Donvale (H)

Round 18: Upper Ferntree Gully (A)

Perfect weekend for Scoresby, a strong win over fourth placed Knox while other top four sides Upper Ferntree Gully and Donvale dropped games against sides below them on the ladder.

The Donvale loss means Scoresby is now tied on points with a Round 17 clash at home against the Vales to come. Win that game and avoid a slip-up in their other four games on the run home and they’ll earn themselves top spot and the first week of finals bye.

After a loss at Batterham Reserve against the Bears earlier this year, they’ll be eager to meet The Basin this week and keep their unbeaten run at home.

Predicted Finish: 1^st 

3.        Upper Ferntree Gully (8-5, 142.00%, 32 Points)

Round 14: Silvan (A)

Round 15: Oakleigh District (H)

Round 16: Donvale (H)

Round 17: Coldstream (A)

Round 18: Scoresby (H)

An opportunity blown.

A win over The Basin would have seen Upper Ferntree Gully put a one-game buffer on fourth-placed Knox. The double chance will be essential for their premiership aspirations.

Upper Ferntree Gully still have both Donvale and Scoresby to face on the run home, both difficult tests. However, they’re the perfect type of tests to have in a lead-up to a long awaited return to the finals.

For the meantime, they’ll be setting their sights on a much-improved performance against Silvan who are a completely different side on their home deck.

Predicted Finish: 3rd

4.        Knox (8-5, 109.73%, 32 Points)

Round 14: Oakleigh District (A)

Round 15: Fairpark (A)

Round 16: Coldstream (H)

Round 17: The Basin (H)

Round 18: Donvale (A)

Assisted by The Basin’s win over Upper Ferntree Gully, the double chance is still in their reach, just percentage behind.

Next three games against bottom five sides could see the Falcons get on a roll but with Oakleigh District’s mid-season recruiting, this week’s game will be a massive challenge on the road.

If they can win four of their last five, they might just snare the double chance, similar to what they were able to do last year, knocking Coldstream to fourth.

Predicted Finish: 4^th 

5.        The Basin (7-6, 83.31%, 28 Points)

Round 14: Scoresby (A)

Round 15: Ferntree Gully (H)

Round 16: Fairpark (A)

Round 17: Knox (A)

Round 18: Oakleigh District (H)

What a win for The Basin, another top four scalp and a major result that goes a long way for their finals chances.

Their destiny is in their own hands; a game clear of Silvan and two games clear of Oakleigh District and Ferntree Gully.

Three wins from their last five should be enough, particularly if they’re taking wins off teams like Oakleigh and Ferntree Gully. Anything less and they keep the door open for the three teams below them.

After this weekend’s win, I think they may just hold on.

Predicted Finish: 5^th 

6.        Silvan (6-7, 83.31%, 24 Points)

Round 14: Upper Ferntree Gully (H)

Round 15: Donvale (A)

Round 16: Scoresby (H)

Round 17: Ferntree Gully (A)

Round 18: Coldstream (A)

Two completely different sides at home and on the road. The record reflects this, 6-1 at Silvan Recreation Reserve, 0-6 when away from home.

With three more away games to play, the Cats must find a way to end the unwanted streak if they’re to play finals in 2025.

Making things extra difficult, their two remaining clashes at Silvan Recreation Reserve are against premiership contenders Upper Ferntree Gully and Scoresby.

Predicted Finish: 8^th 

7.        Oakleigh District (5-8, 88.46%, Points)

Round 14: Knox (H)

Round 15: Upper Ferntree Gully (A)

Round 16: Ferntree Gully (A)

Round 17: Fairpark (H)

Round 18: The Basin (A)

Can they make it? Or have they left their run too late?

A 117-point win on the weekend with some big inclusions. Dane Swan and Josh Growden have committed for the rest of the 2025 season, while Blake Pearson returned from injury to kick eight.

I believe they’re the most dangerous side outside of the top four but with The Basin’s win over Upper Ferntree Gully on the weekend, they’ll need to be near flawless to finish the year.

Four out of five may be enough to get them across the line, nine wins the magic number last year for Oakleigh District, it's possible that history repeats itself.

Tough fortnight incoming with clashes against Knox and Upper Ferntree Gully, lose both and it’s curtains on season 2025. Win at least one and there’s a chance that it all comes down to a trip to Batterham Reserve in Round 18.

Predicted Finish: 6^th 

8.        Ferntree Gully (5-8, 77.90%, Points)

Round 14: Coldstream (A)

Round 15: The Basin (A)

Round 16: Oakleigh District (H)

Round 17: Silvan (H)

Round 18: Fairpark (A)

What an upset!

Ferntree Gully had their biggest win of the season when they defeated Donvale on Saturday Afternoon. What it does is keep the door slightly ajar for their finals chances with a great run home.

The only current finals side they meet again in the Home and Away season is The Basin, a team they held to just nine points earlier in the year. Without a doubt, must beat them again if they’re to play finals.

A record of 9-9 might see them sneak in, dependent on other results. At a minimum, they’ll need to win at least four of their last five to be a genuine chance.

Predicted Finish: 7^th 

9.        Coldstream (2-11, 62.68%, Points)

Round 14: Ferntree Gully (H)

Round 15: Scoresby (H)

Round 16: Knox (A)

Round 17: Upper Ferntree Gully (H)

Round 18: Silvan (H)

After some positive signs in their last three weeks, Coldstream was on the end of a 117-point belting. With Fairpark also winning on the same day, the Cougars are now under some pressure to find a win or two in their run home.

Four out of the last five games at home gives them some hope.

Despite Ferntree Gully’s big win on the weekend over Donvale, overall form suggests they’re gettable. Silvan at home in the final round of the year is also another big opportunity for a win considering the Cats are winless on the road.

Predicted Finish: 9^th 

10.  Fairpark (2-11, 52.99%, Points)

Round 14: Donvale (A)

Round 15: Knox (H)

Round 16: The Basin (H)

Round 17: Oakleigh District (A)

Round 18: Ferntree Gully (H)

Some key inclusions from Bayswater at the mid-way point of the season has breathed life into Fairpark.

A big win over Silvan has the Lions tied on points with Coldstream. Even after the Cougars big loss, there’s still a ten percent gap between the two sides so to survive relegation, Fairpark are likely going to need a win an extra game than Coldstream.

Winnable games inside their last month, but unless Coldstream go 0-5 to finish the year, they’ll likely need at least two more wins on the run home.

Predicted Finish: 10^th