Division 2 Preview: Round 10

Anna Pavlou

After a well-deserved week off, every team put in all on the line in Round 9 to welcome the second half of the 2019 season. It was a week of big bags of goals, which may flip the goal tally on its’ head.

Whitefriars are straying further from the pack with their eighth straight win, while the Nobbers are keeping themselves in close measure of top spot.

MHSOB have come home strong against a steadily improving Power House, while Glen Eira fought off a refreshed Hawthorn side.

Coming off a double bye, Bulleen Templestowe are itching to come back firing this weekend against Ivanhoe, and continue their push to play finals this season. They have won 14 and lost 18 quarters this season, and only beaten sides below them, so this game will be a great test against a very even Ivanhoe outfit. Ivanhoe, on the other hand, had an unfortunate Whitefriars loss last week but have put together a competitive side that is vying to keep in touch with the top four. Billy Wilson for the Bullants has been in hot form over the past few weeks and will have enjoyed his long break, so he’ll be one to watch in front of goals and in the middle. At the other end of the ground for the Hoers, Blackmore-Moore has been a force to be reckoned with and will be hard to stop in the contest.

Last time Power House and Brunswick met, the Brunswick boys rolled the House comfortably and will look to add another win to their improving list this week. Power House are ticking along better than they were earlier in the year, adding a few new young kids to their list, but still look to remain competitive for entire matches. If they can string together four quarters, they may just test the Nobbers side. But, these Nobbers don’t look to be budging any time soon. Trailing the Friars (1^st) by a game and 86.65%, the Nobbers need percentage, and if it’s a dry day without too much wind (which is unlikely for the Ross Gregory Oval on Albert Park Lake) it may be a perfect day for the big forwards. The House will put their all on the line to stop the Nobbers run-on, but Brunswick seem to be on a steady path to keep in second position.

This game may just be the match of the round, with Whitefriars taking on an up-and-about Glen Eira side at Whitefriars College. The Friars are yet to lose out on their home turf, but the Gryphons recent form, big bags of goals and fast pace around the footy may see them be the first side to knock the Friars off their unbeaten throne. But, it is getting more difficult by the week to find any issues in the Friars’ game and their list is looking as strong and deep as ever. The number of players that have contributed in front of goal (more than 95% of their playing list) is elite at this Division 2 level. Glen Eira put on a show last week, and look to be in the right form to steal the four points, but they’ll have to figure out a way to shut down the multitude of goal scores that the Friars are renown for. Likewise at the other end, the Friars defence need to keep in shape to stop the impressive goal hauls from Barrett and Waras Carstensen last week.

While MHSOB prevailed last week, they’ll be up for a bigger challenge against a refreshed Yarra Old Grammarians side in Round 10. Following their loss after a hard-fought comeback against Brunswick last week, the Bushrangers will be looking to right their wrongs and collect four points. MHSOB let Power House come close in the third quarter, but blew out the margin in the final quarter. They’ll need to stay in front early to keep the Bushrangers at bay, as they are a team pushing to keep alive their finals chances. Both sides have been plagued with injuries to key men, but will look to match up well on this smaller Yarra ground in Doncaster. The success in filling voids in depleted player lists was shown last week with MHSOB’s replacement forward Timothy Strickland kicking ten majors. This game will be a mental battle, as the injuries play a major part in each sides’ unity and willingness to push until the final siren.