Division 2 Preview: Round 4

Anna Pavlou

It was a week to remember in Round 3 with some surprisingly close results and some big margins that have set teams above the rest. MHSOB have got their name on the winners list, with a massive win over Hawthorn, a result that has turned the ladder on its head. Bulleen Templestowe came convincingly close to a poised Yarra Old Grammarians, while Whitefriars remain undefeated and Brunswick added to their percentage compellingly.

Ivanhoe come off their double-bye and are eager to get back onto the winners list, teetering on the edge of a spot in the top four. If other results go their way and they also take the four points, they could end up sitting pretty in the top four. If Brunswick can create the same, flawless team-effort plays that spawn from the middle of the ground, they’ll be set to challenge the Hoers. The talk of Brunswick town is 17-year old Francis Evans, who is currently coming second in this sections goalkicking ladder. His three goals last week were key in his side’s convincing victory over Power House, so expect him to be lively this week and a hard unit for the Hoers to shut down in front of goal. Ivanhoe, who sit 1-1, will be eager to add another four points as they push for finals contention. To get the job done here, the Hoers must pile on the goals as early as possible, as the Nobbers proved last week that they can put their foot on the gas when they want.

MHSOB know how to hurt opposition on their small home deck, but Glen Eira will be eager to earn their points after they let their early hard-ball game against Whitefriars last week slip away as the game progressed. The Unicorns have now moved into sixth spot on the ladder after their Round 3 win while Glen Eira remain winless, but that will only inspire them further to bring their best footy to knock over the up-and-about Unicorns. Glen Eira’s Ash Carey in front of goal should be a worry for MHSOB, but down the other end, Scott Braithwaite and partner-in-crime Ashan Wijayakumara will be forces to be reckoned with as they want to boot big. The Unicorns are fast, but Glen Eira are too around contests, so this match will be about the side who can produce a prolonged period of dominant football and shut down their opponent’s run-on.

Division 2 foes Power House and Bulleen Templestowe meet for the first time in 2019, after both sides pipped each other for four points last season. The House are comfortable on their smaller ground at Ross Gregory, however, Bulleen have shown, even after their loss last week, that they’ll pester even the best sides in Division 2. After a disappointing Round 3 result, where they almost knocked off Premiership frontrunners Yarra Old Grammarians, Bullen will look to their spread of able goal kickers to challenge the House’s defence. Power House have some serious work to do if they want to stay relevant in Division 2, but that might be possible this weekend with the return of some key players across the ground, including big men Matt and Steve Devine. 0-4 wouldn’t be ideal, but the House match up really well with the Bullants, so the contest will be intense and every ball will be fought for.

Whitefriars are a super-force and although early in the year, this impending match against Hawthorn is certainly in their favour on their massive ground. The Hawks will be wiping the slate clean coming into this contest, and figuring out a plan to slow-down the fast ball movement and so-far flawless ground structure the Friars are upholding. Whitefriars’ forwardline are proving to be not only versatile, but also unstoppable in front of goal, and with the possible return of Friars key forward Michael Nitas, the Friars could be even more dangerous then their current 156ppg average.