Div 3 Men’s returns with finals all but locked

Sheridan Harris

With VAFA footy returning this weekend, those familiar with the Division 3 Men’s will be aware that the home and away season has four games left, and it all begins this weekend. The top 4 is set, with Hawthorn, Parkside, Richmond Central and Emmaus St Leo’s all certain to play finals this year, bar some absolute miracles as Canterbury sit in fifth on the ladder, 12 points behind the Animals whose fourth position rests solely on their percentage. But while the remaining games will play out with teams aware they’re playing finals, where exactly they finish at the top is going to be surely left to the final round. Before they get there though, round fifteen looms on the horizon and its match-ups make for more than interesting viewing.

Ladder-leaders Hawthorn will be on the hunt for a win as they travel to Kevin Bartlett Reserve to take on Richmond Central. Round twelve was the last time we had any VAFA-footy, and it was an interesting one for the Hawks after surprisingly drawing at 33 apiece with fellow top 2 team Parkside at Pitcher Park to make the ladder more of a riddle, while at home, the Snakes systematically dismantled the Westbourne Grammarians by upwards of 100 points.

North Brunswick’s season continues with a trek to Bill Woodfull Oval to face a still-winless Albert Park. The Bulls have had more than ample time to rue a missed opportunity after going down to Emmaus St Leo’s in their last outing in round twelve, despite taking the lead into the final term, while the Falcons were gallant in their five-goal defeat to Canterbury.

It’s another trip to the other side of the city for Emmaus St Leo’s, with Westbourne Grammar their destination for the second time this season as they take on the Westbourne Grammarians. It probably hasn’t been the most joyous break for the Warriors, who went into the unscheduled footy hiatus off a 135-point loss to Richmond Central, but it’s happier times for the Animals headed in on a win, weathering a North Brunswick storm to take the four points in round twelve.

Canterbury gets to stay at Canterbury Sportsground as they welcome Parkside to their home deck for round fifteen. The Cobras suffered a small scare in their most recent outing but still managed to take home the win against a winless Albert Park outfit, while the Red Devils will be looking to get back onto the winner’s list after drawing with top-of-the-table Hawthorn in a very low-scoring affair at Pitcher Park.