Division 2 Preview: Round 13

Alisha Min

With just six rounds remaining in the home and away season, the race to make it to finals and avoid relegation is absolutely paramount in the Division 2 competition. For UHS-VU, their opportunity to seize their 12^th win of the season looms as they host bottom placed Eltham Collegians. These sides last met just five rounds ago, in a game where the Vultures booted their highest score for the season with 23.22.160, all while restricting the Turtles to 32 points. Keen not to repeat their biggest deficit of the year, and with their likelihood of remaining in the relegation zone becoming more pronounced each week, expect Eltham to approach this game with some fight.

Ladder leaders Old Paradians might be hard pressed to repeat their 59-point beating of MHSOB when they host the University side again this weekend. Striving for a place in the final four, the Unicorns have been in excellent form boasting three wins in a row, and sit outside the top four in 5^th by mere percentage (albeit significant percentage as Whitefriars sit 59.23% above them in 4^th). Keen to prove their finals credentials, and to beat a team which is placed above them on the ladder for the first time this season, expect a close encounter at Garvey Oval this weekend.

Bulleen Templestowe fell short by 43 points to 3^rd placed Yarra Old Grammarians last time they met in Round 8. Though appearances may elude the Bullants are not far off the finals pace in 6^th position, the reality is in stark contrast. Comparatively, the 5^th placed Unicorns have accumulated five more wins and a 36.12% advantage over Bulleen – highlighting the distinction between the top five teams in Division 2, and the bottom. A seven-game winning streak is hard to overlook; the Bushrangers to win and continue to challenge 1^st (Old Paradians) and 2^nd (UHS-VU).

Of their two wins this season, Power House (9^th) recorded their second of which against their Round 13 opponents in St Johns (8^th), back in Round 5. Although the Jocs have been unable to take the chocolates in the last four rounds, they have shown glimpses of their full capabilities against sides like Old Paradians in Round 11, who on paper, should have had their measure in a much more convincing manner. Similarly, the House have also shown spirit in recent weeks and competed bravely against sides like Yarra Old Grammarians. This is very much a gettable win for both sides, a fact both would be well aware of as they look to distance themselves from the relegation zone.

4^th placed Whitefriars will look to distance themselves from 5^th placed MHSOB via a compelling, and potentially even further percentage boosting, win over bottom-of-the-ladder Eltham Collegians. The Friars have had a difficult last five weeks, suffering 3 losses to UHS-VU (2^nd), Yarra Old Grammarians (3^rd), and Old Paradians (1^st), so is this an opportune time for the Turtles to secure their second win of the season? Their Round 1 encounter produced the Turtles worst score of the season; they accumulated just 2.5.17 for the entire match, but with relegation fears on the line, don’t count Eltham out this time around.