Mernda retains top spot on NFL Division 3 ladder ahead of top-two battle against St Mary’s
MERNDA will have an opportunity to open a one-game buffer at the top of the Northern Football League Division 3 ladder when it hosts St Mary’s this weekend.
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MERNDA will have an opportunity to open a one-game buffer at the top of the Northern Football League Division 3 ladder when it hosts St Mary’s this weekend.
The Demons and Burras are the competition’s two unbeaten sides after four rounds after banking wins on Saturday.
A youthful Mernda side easily accounted for Heidelberg West, triumphing 28.20 (188) to 5.9 (39) at Heidelberg Park.
St Mary’s scraped home against Banyule by two points to set the scene for a top-of-the-table clash at Waterview Reserve on Saturday.
“We knew that (St Mary’s) were going to be a good side this year,” Mernda coach Jason Ford said.
“Full credit to them, they’ve been in the competition a few years now and we’ve slowly seen them progress.
“They’re seeing the results now. We’ve got to be extremely prepared and switched on.
“We know they’re coming to play. It will be an interesting hitout.”
The Demons led from start to finish away from home on Saturday despite being without several of their prime movers.
David Hutchinson, Krys Douglas and Daniel Bryant missed the clash due to a wedding, giving Ford the opportunity to blood a group of promising juniors.
Anthony Cardamone was the standout on his senior debut for the club, named best afield in the 149-point victory.
“He’s just a fantastic young kid, he’s got enormous football ability,” Ford said.
“He’s going to become a very good senior player at some stage.”
In other results, Watsonia accounted for Kilmore by 64 points and St Mary’s pipped the luckless Banyule 12.11 (83) to 11.15 (81).
The Bears are 1-3 after four rounds, but have lost their last three matches by a combined seven points.
South Morang and Epping were due to do battle on Monday in a stand-alone Anzac Day game.
In Division 1, Bundoora claimed its first win over Greensborough since 2013 to end the 2015 runner-up’s unbeaten start to the season.
The Bulls were without Gary Moorcroft and skipper Brent Marshall but won 8.17 (65) to 5.19 (49) in a game where the sides went at a combined 28 per cent conversion rate in front of goal.
Whittlesea led at every change against Lower Plenty but was overrun at Montmorency Park.
The Bears capped an emotional week with a 20.10 (130) to 15.11 (101) win.
Thomastown remains unbeaten in Division 2 after a late Jacob Osei-Duro goal lifted the Bears to a five-point win over Fitzroy Stars.
Osei-Duro slotted five majors in the 13.14 (92) to 13.9 (87) victory.
Lalor was set to tackle Diamond Creek on Sunday.
TALKING POINTS
— Bundoora produced its first win over Greensborough since Round 14, 2013.
— No unbeaten side after four rounds has missed Division 3 finals in the past five years. Do we pencil Mernda and St Mary’s in?
— Banyule has lost its last three games by four, one and two points. Talk about unlucky.
— Lower Plenty dug deep to end a tragic week on a high by beating Whittlesea.
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