Percentage only separating the best of the best

In the space of a couple of hours on Saturday, Division 2 went from being wide open with clear front-runners, to a top 4 that is all square with percentage the only thing separating all four sides. 

In the top of the table clash at Ivanhoe Park, the Ivanhoe AFC seemed to be in total control for much of the afternoon. Keeping the ladder leaders Brunswick goalless in the opening half of the contest. Given the nature of the low-scoring contest, a 34 point three quarter time lead was a bridge too far as Ivanhoe held out a fast finish from Tom Hunter’s men. 

The Division 2 sharpshooters were standing at separate ends as Ash Close (18 goals) kicked 3 for the victors, while Tom Wilson (19 goals), added three more to his tally. Daniel Jones was named best afield, with the support of Luke Svarc. Brunswick remain on top with a 22% gap on Ivanhoe in second, they’ll see this Saturday as an opportunity to get back on the winners list when they host Bulleen Templestowe. Ivanhoe AFC are shooting for 4 wins in a row as they travel to Doncaster to face Yarra Old Grammarians. 

Yarra Old Grammarians will enter that clash with their tails up after the bottom of the table clash against Power House went down to the wire. Twice Yarra broke away to a more than three goal lead before it was whittled down to under a kick. Liam Marshall kicked 3 goals in the win, Edison Donelan named best afield for the second straight week. While for Power House, perhaps a goalless first quarter made the task too tough to overcome, they didn’t give up all afternoon and their first win of the season isn’t far away with endeavour like they showed. 

Could it come in the form of an upset this weekend against MHSOB? If Gold Coast can do it against the Swans at the SCG, they should be asking why not us? 

This is the third consecutive week Julian Eimutis has been named best on ground for the Unicorns, to go along with two goals in the 32 point win over Bulleen Templestowe. He had plenty of assistance with Kruyt, Edmonds and Wijayakumara all kicking 2 each as well. 

The contest saw MHSOB get out to a 5 goal lead at quarter time and the margin hovered around there for the afternoon. 

It’s a different style of Bulleen this year, there’s no question about that. They won’t go away, and they’re staying in games a lot longer than recent years which will fill the club with a lot of confidence after a couple of lean seasons. David Dakin has been a regular in the best, while Anthony Lucisano is averaging 3 goals a game up forward. They get another opportunity this weekend to test themselves against the best travelling to Alec Gillon Oval to face Brunswick.  

In the lowest scoring contest of the round, Old Parade were held to just one goal against West Brunswick, the goal came in the opening term while for the Magpies they were only able to add three more to their own score from there. 

Will Dillon was best afield for West Brunswick, Luke Buckler again hit the scoreboard with another two goals, as did David Ferrier. For the Paradians, it’s a case of licking their wounds, putting this one behind them and going again, they’ll come up against Aquinas who have run themselves back into form over the weekend. 

They didn’t have it all their own way Aquinas at home to Manningham, trailing at quarter time they turned a nine point deficit to a 10 point lead at half time before really hitting their straps and going bang in the second half with 11 goals to two, extending the final margin to 71 points. 

Luke Harley and Michael Di Donato shared the majors with four goals each. Di Donato in a best on ground display, he’s putting together quite the season and the coaching staff will no doubt be impressed with the first third of the season. 

Manningham’s next assignment is West Brunswick at Koonung Park, where hopefully for their sake after a good week on the track they’ll see themselves as a genuine chance to ruffle some Magpie feathers.