Upsets galore in Div 2 as the Raiders win the battle for the top 4
Posted on - Latest News, Featured, Division 2 Men's
Angus Archibald – @GusArchi
It was a massive week in Division 2 as round 17 wreaked havoc on the final ladder positions. Old Paradians put their destiny in their own hands after overcoming Yarra Old Grammarians away from home whilst Glen Eira kept their survival hopes alive with a massive upset win at home against Melbourne High School Old Boys. Prahran Assumption sealed the minor premiership after a 90 point win against Bulleen Templestowe whilst second placed West Brunswick were beaten by a rampant Emmaus St Leo’s outfit who continued their charge up the ladder. Eltham Collegians kept their survival hopes in their own hands with a win at home over already relegated Hawthorn.
Yarra OG raced out of the blocks with a 5 goal first term against Old Paradians to lead by 16 points at the first change. The Raiders fought back in the second to bring the deficit back to just 8 points, with wayward kicking keeping them from holding an advantage at halftime. Yarra responded to the charge to kick away to a 15 point lead in the third, leaving it all up to the Raiders in the last term. With a finals spot to play for, up stood Michael Boundy with 3 clutch goals in the final term to help push Old Paradians across the line, resulting in a 24 point win for the Raiders. Boundy ended the match with 6 majors in a best on ground performance, whilst Danny and Marcus Nolan both chipped in with 3 each for the Raiders. David Wildsmith, Michael Gazeas and Jackson Moloney all kicked 2 majors for Yarra whilst Simon Yeo continued his good form and was named best afield for the Bushrangers. Old Paradians have now jumped into 4th spot and 4 points clear of Yarra with 1 game remaining.
Eltham Old Collegians made light work on Hawthorn at Eltham College with a 76 point win. An 11 goal to 2 first half made sure Hawthorn were never in with a sniff, with a blistering 7 goal first quarter proving to be the difference. The scoring slowed in the 3rd term leaving the margin at just 62 points, with much the same occurring in the 4th. Chris Mizzi had a day out for the Turtles with 4 goals, whilst Brent Switkowski kicked a goal and was voted best on ground. Matthew Downie kicked 1 of the 4 Hawthorn goals and was named in their best, whilst Travis Whittle was named as the Hawks’ best. Eltham are now 1 game clear of the relegation zone, with a game against chasers Bulleen Templestowe to come in the final round of the year.
The first upset of the round came at Packer Reserve as 9th placed Glen Eira overcame 3rd placed Melbourne University Old Boys. Glen Eira got the jump early on the Unicorns with a 4 goal to 2 first term. They maintained their lead in the 2nd with another strong quarter, leaving the Unicorns with an 11 point margin to chase in the final half. A tight 3rd quarter ensued with only 2 majors being added to either side, setting up a massive last quarter as Glen Eira fought to keep their survival hopes alive. The Saints proved they could stand up to the pressure with a 3 goal final term helping them to a 25 point win and robbing MHSOB of a chance to lock down a spot in the top 4. Glen Eira had 10 goal kickers on the day with Daniel Entwistle the only multiple goal kicker with 2, whilst Nathan Dennis was named best afield. Kane Smith did his best to will MHSOB over the line with a 4 goal performance to bring his season total to 38, whilst Thomas Hickey kicked 1 major in his best on ground performance for the Unicorns. Glen Eira now need to win their final match of the year by 6+ goals whilst also relying on other results to go their way in order for them to escape the drop, whilst MHSOB need a win in their last match to secure their spot in this years finals series.
Prahran Assumption flexed their muscles against Bulleen Templestowe with a 90 point win out at Toorak Park. The game was tight early with the Two Blues holding an 8 point margin at the first change. Prahran kicked away in the 2nd however with a 5 goal quarter bringing them to a 37 point margin at the major break. The continued to put the foot down in the 3rd term with a 7 goal quarter leaving the match out of reach for the Bullants, with another strong performance in the 4th finishing them off to have the the Two Blues run out 90 point winners. Ariel Steinberg and Gerard Hogarth were on fire in front of goal for the Two Blues, kicking bags of 7 and 5 respectively with Hogarth bringing his season total to 40 in a best on ground performance. Scott Dekeizer kicked 2 majors for Bulleen Templestowe whilst David Dakin was named as their best. Bulleen sit 1 game outside the drop zone, with a win this weekend the only sure way to secure their safety.
Bennettswood Sports Ground played host to the upset of the round as a rampant Emmaus St Leos subjected West Brunswick to only their 4th loss for the year. It was a low scoring affair early with both sides only managing 1 major apiece in the first term. The Animals took control in the 2nd term, kicking away to an 18 point margin at the major break. They managed to keep control the game in the 3rd to hold onto their lead, leaving the 2nd placed Magpies with a 19 point deficit to make up in the final term. The Animals held out, kicking away to a 31 point win in what was one of their best for the season. Daniel Hill and Thomas Birkett both managed 2 majors apiece for the Animals, whilst Brent Simonds continued his recent good form with his second best on ground performance in the past 3 weeks. Bill Irving continued his stellar season for West Brunswick kicking 3 goals to bring his season total to 36, whilst Louis Martin was voted as their best on ground. The Animals are now locked away in Division 2 for another season, whilst West Brunswick remain in the hunt for the premiership as they look forward to a matchup against Prahran Assumption in 2 weeks time in the Qualifying final.
Round 18 will see Glen Eira given the chance to rescue their season with a game away from home against Old Paradians. A loss for the Raiders could spell the end of their finals hopes whilst a win could grant them a home final. MHSOB look to maintain their spot in the top 4 with a tough matchup against Prahran Assumption at home, whilst Yarra OG look to leapfrog them into 4th spot with a game against West Brunswick away from home. Hawthorn host Emmaus St Leos at home in what will be the final chance for supporters to take home a famous Sally’s Special from the canteen this season. The game of the round this week will be played between Bulleen Templestowe and Eltham Collegians out at Ted Ajani Reserve, with both sides looking to escape the drop. A loss for both sides will not automatically result in relegation, but neither will be wanting to rely on other results to seal their fate. With key matchups all over the division, the final round of the season looks set to bring season 2017 right down to the wire.
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