Greensborough and Macleod clash to have ‘extra significance’

GREENSBOROUGH is staring down the barrel of three consecutive losses when it faces Macleod on Saturday.

Greensborough’s Jack Johnstone taps the ball forward against Heidelberg on the weekend. Picture: Richard Serong.

GREENSBOROUGH faces a crunch game on the road this weekend against Macleod after slipping to third on the Division 1 table following a 30-point loss to undefeated Heidelberg on Saturday.

Coach Ben Turner acknowledged another loss could see his side fall back into the chasing pack in the middle of the table.

With both Macleod and the Borough sharing 6-4 records, Turner said the game would take on “extra importance” for both sides.

“For us, it is super important and there are not too many more harder road trips than Macleod at Macleod,” he said.

“If we can do what we know we are capable of doing we will give ourselves a chance of winning games of footy but, at the moment, we are not doing that. We haven’t dropped in confidence but we have to start producing our best to win these games of footy.”

The Borough was in the contest at quarter-time on Saturday, trailing by just seven points.

But, from quarter-time, Heidelberg’s bigger bodies dominated proceedings around the contest.

“They were just too strong around the footy, their better players got on top in that part of the game and they were able to provide their forwards with plenty of opportunities, who capitalised in the tough conditions,” Turner said.

Elsewhere, Montmorency continued its mid-season resurgence with an impressive 64-point win over West Preston-Lakeside.

Leading by eight points at the first change, Montmorency broke the game open in the second quarter to lead by 35 points at the main break.

The Magpies were never troubled in the second half, posting a 19.11 (125) to 8.13 (61) win.

In other Division 1 matches this week, Eltham went down to Northcote Park 13.11 (89) to 5.5 (35) at Bill Lawry Oval while Lower Plenty went down to Macleod 18.17 (125) to 11.14 (80) at Montmorency Park.

In Division 2, Hurstbridge had a 13.16 (94) to 11.19 (85) win over North Heidelberg at Ben Frilay Oval while Panton Hill lost to Fitzroy Stars 14.11 (95) to 10.9 (69) at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval and Diamond Creek had the bye.

And, in Division 3, Watsonia defeated Banyule 18.7 (115) to 6.12 (48) and St Mary’s had a 14.12 (96) to 11.12 (78) win over Mernda.