EFL Media’s Matt Fotia previews all the weekend’s action in Division 4. Make sure you get involved this weekend by Tweeting us, @footyefl using the #EFLDIV4 hashtag.
Coldstream (5th, 8-6, W L L ) v Glen Waverley Hawks (6th, 8-6, W W L)
A crunch game for both sides as they chase after a spot in the final four with just a month of football to go. The Cougars are now in finals limbo despite their strong start making every game a mini-final, the Hawks find themselves in a similar position but have their slow start to blame for their fate.
If the Cougars are to get back to their early season form, they’ll need to drastically improve their defence. After conceding 244 points in the last eight quarters of football, they’ve given their forwards a massive challenge to outscore the opposition. They are still waiting on the return of key defender Paul Wagner, but the Cougars still need to plug other holes in their back six if they are to get back into finals contention.
A Hawk who will be looking to exploit the leaky Cougar defence is Adam Amin. He has continued his strong form over the past few weeks, kicking 15 goals in the last three weeks, bringing his season tally to 47, making him the danger for the Coldstream back half.
Amin however is the finisher of the Hawks attacking moves, and his upturn in form is paralleled by that of speedster Ryan Goold. Good has had three back to back vote catching games, and the wide-open spaces of Coldstream Reserve will suit his game style a lot.
Last time: GWH 10.6.66 def Coldstream 7.13.55
Amin kicked 6 goals out of 17 for the match so the Cougars should know who he is.
Fairpark (8th, 4-9-1, T L L ) v Nunawading (10th, 0-14 , L L L)
Fairpark fell just short of a major scalp last week, and will look to finish off season 2017 as strong as possible to gain momentum heading into 2018.
Ronald McKendry has been consistent over this past month at Fairpark Reserve, appearing in the best players the last three weeks on the bounce and is a chance to make it a solid month this weekend.
It’s a massive chance for Fairpark to develop more scoring opportunities, which is an area it has struggled with this year, only scoring 927 points which is the second lowest in the division.
Their opponents will be concentrating on consistency and improvement for the remainder of the season. However, their more optimistic fans will see this game and their Round 18 clash against Silvan as their big chance for points in 2017.
Zac Zaloumis is someone who would be key to pulling this off. He kicked three goals last week and some strong performances in the weeks prior sees Zaloumis as the Lions’ most inform operator.
Last time: Nunawading 4.1.25 def by Fair Park 25.19.169
Peagram 7. Doulgeris 5. Flintoff 4. They all took their chance to hit the scoreboard, and need to get back into that form this time out.
Kilsyth (4th, 8-5-1, T W W) v Forest Hill ( 3rd , 10-4 , L W W )
Slipping under everyone’s radar, Kilsyth finds itself in fourth place, and with just a month to go it’ll be looking to maintain its current form as finals football approaches.
Cameron Van Florestein continues to be unbelievably consistent. He has been in the Cougars’ best two players the past five times. The versatile big man is red-hot and his form is synonymous with Kilsyth’s move up the table.
They’ll need to be tight down back however, as the 1157 points they conceded this season is the worst of the top six and their opponents Forest Hill, love to attack having scored 1405 points this year which is the third best in the division.
The Zebras will be stoked with their past fortnight. They’ve taken down two finals rivals and they’ve opened up a small gap between themselves in third and the chasing pack. Whilst the top of the table clash occurring at Donvale Reserve means a win here gives them a chance of moving back into the top two.
Aaron Creak continued his strong season against Glen Waverley Hawks, in what was a good game for the Zebras defensive unit, keeping the Hawks to just eight goals. This will please the coaching staff after the shootout against Coldstream the week before last.
They’ll also be pleased with Nicholas Pincott making a big contribution up forward, snagging five to take his season tally to 23, and more importantly taking some attention from usual suspect Matt Carnelley.
Last time: Forest Hill 18.19.127 def Kilsyth 7.5.47
Kilsyth was bought back to earth by the Zebras after its strong start to the year. 10 goals form Pincott (4) and Carnelley (6) was huge and will need to be stopped.
Surrey Park (7th, 6-8, L W W ) v Silvan ( 9th, 3-11, L L L)
Two games out of finals with just four games to go Surrey Park seem the slimmest chance of finals football. However with games against Forest Hill, Donvale and GWH to come, whilst taking into account the fact there are still eight other games where Top 6 sides clash to come this season, the Panthers have their destiny in their own hands. Just.
Danyon Smart has taken this situation in his stride. Best on Ground against Nunawading , the backman has been in Surrey Park’s defence seven weeks in a row, helping the Panthers keep their audacious finals push alive.
Their opponents, Silvan are in the middle of a re-building year and have been competitive in most games, but are lacking that final layer of polish to get over the line.
A big positive has been the play of Jarrod Rowe. Able to play all over the ground, he has been used to best effect taking intercept marks in defensive 50. Best on Ground against Kilsyth for his side, he has been a regular in the Cats best players, getting his name in the paper nine times this season, including five Best on Ground games.
Last time: Silvan 9.6.60 def by Surrey Park 13.14.92
Andrew Rogers kicked 6, as Surrey Park pulled away late. Rowe was the best for the Cats.
Donvale ( 1st, 11-3 , W W W ) v Whitehorse Pioneers ( 2nd , 11-3 , W L W)
This week’s radio game sees a top of the table clash with both teams coming into the game in different mindsets.
After an inconsistent start to the year Donvale have exploded into the team to beat in Division 4.
They’re the best defensive unit (750 points against) and the best offensive unit (1651 points scored), suggesting the Magpies have the right mix at either end of the ground.
Up forward Nicholas Murphy (63 goals) and Jake Purcell (59) have been incredible, and whilst the back six have been solid all year but it’s been the midfield who’ve driven the Pies.
Sam Coghlan and Matt Leardi have been spectacular all year, but in recent weeks David Withers has taken over. In their best three weeks in a row, the ex- Uni Blue is hitting form at the right time.
The Pioneers won’t care how they win at the moment, four points is four points. Tight wins against Silvan and Fair Park sandwich a loss to Kilsyth, which has seen the Pioneers drop to 2nd.
With the worst offensive record of the top five, the goals have begun to dry up at Springfield Park. Andrew Padbury has kicked 54 goals for the year, but only has eight in the past month. They need to find another key contributor up forward. Marcus Tippett could be that man, his 23 goals is their next best.
Maverick Gleed however has continued to stay true to his form during this rough patch. Best on Ground in the last two wins, the dynamic midfielder is key to the way Whitehorse play. Kicked two goals last week which could help their attack in this next month.
Last time: Whitehorse 11.14.80 def Donvale 10.10.70
Gleed in the votes. Murphy 5, and something Whitehorse will look the replicate again was the fact they had eight individual goal kickers.
