By Justin Schwarze
Time for reflection is over for teams in the Outer East Premier Division as attention turns quickly towards the Anzac round this weekend after an enjoyable few days off.
In an enthralling clash, the bitter local rivalry between Gembrook Cockatoo and Emerald will get its latest chapter when the two arch enemies collide at Chandler Reserve on Saturday.
The Bombers will be looking to take advantage of their home turf, with scoring struggles the main source of their turbulent start this year.
Ewan Wadsworth, Josh Rich and Jake Pedder have been major ball winners, all ranking in the top four for total disposals this season.
“They’re unreal,” Emerald coach David Johnson said of his midfield.
“It’s great having those three in the guts; we just need to be able to back them up all around the ground.”
However, finding forward options has been tricky as the Bombers have by far the fewest goals in the competition, with just 12 through two matchups.
“We’ve talked a lot about perceived pressure, we sometimes think we’re under a lot more pressure than we actually are,” Johnson said.
“If we can cut that out and get the ball into the forwards instead of fumbling and handballing into the ground, I think that’s going to help us score a lot.”
Last year, the Brookers and Bombers split the season matchups, with Gembrook Cockatoo victorious by two goals in the Anzac Round and Emerald getting the chocolates by 21 points in round 15.
The Brookers are hoping to have gun midfielder Aaron Firrito back for the game, providing the side with a massive boost in centre bounces.
Despite the Bombers boasting one of the league’s best midfields statistically, Gembrook Cockatoo’s lineup through the middle is really strong too.
Robin Nahas has had a magnet for the footy, with an average of 37 disposals per game.
He’s gotten support from Josh Tilly, who’s top five in the league for centre clearances with six.
The Brookers enter a hostile environment with finding the big sticks an issue of their own.
They average just 48 points per game, marking the forward line as the key area for both teams that will decide who tastes success on the day.
However, Gembrook Cockatoo was missing recruit Marley Williams in its first game, and Williams booted two in his debut last week.
The freshest instalment of the rivalry will see one team pick up its first win for the year and send its enemy to 0-3.
“We need to lift our pressure, hold our tackles which we are very good at, we just need to bring the heat,” Johnson said.
“Every time we’ve played against Gembrook, the boys have come to play.
“It’s no exception to every time we play against Gembrook, we never want to lose to them.
“We’ve just got to stick to four quarters of footy and we know we can knock them off.”
In what will be an intense and close game, Emerald will walk away as two-goal victors in an Anzac special.
Officer will be on the road again to pay Woori Yallock a visit after the Kangaroos’ competitive defeat at Upwey Tecoma.
Taylor Gibson’s name will be in big bold letters on Nathan Allen’s whiteboard, with limiting him proving to be near impossible for opposing clubs.
The Kangaroos were night-and-day better in round two, suggesting the team is starting to come together under a new voice.
The biggest positive sign was in the forward line, where star key forward Mark Seedsman booted his first bag of five since 2023 and Antonio Quach managed three.
Officer will put up a very good fight, but ultimately Riley Monkhorst and Jordan Williams will apply significant pressure and effective delivery to Gibson, getting the hosts over the line by 26 points.
In the Anzac Day twilight slot, Olinda Ferny Creek and Upwey Tecoma will battle in the Bloods’ backyard.
Olinda Ferny Creek have been immensely impressive around every part of the ground except in front of goal, with the club kicking 25.35 on the year.
With that being said, it is 2-0 after absolutely belting Officer and sneaking past Monbulk.
The Tigers are an intriguing side, with a solid victory over the Kangaroos last week to make up for a round-one defeat at the hands of Healesville.
Half forward Spencer Richards-West has seen a great start to 2025 and emerged as a reliable option alongside the main target of Carmine Porcaro, who is yet to fire this season.
The Bloods will use the footy efficiently and learn from their mistakes to ride accurate goal kicking and claim a 14-point win.
Wandin heads to Monbulk beaming with supreme confidence after a seriously impressive second half performance against Woori Yallock last week.
Patrick Bruzzese has had a simply outstanding start to the campaign, ranking second in intercept possessions and centre clearance, while being third for score involvements.
In fact, the Bulldogs have three players in the top five for total score involvements, with superstar Aaron Mullett atop those rankings with 30 on the year.
Chayce and Cayden Black are both formidable players and tackling machines and will help their side crush the Hawks by 47 points.
Another side gleaming after two games is Healesville, which faces Mount Evelyn after a perfect start.
The Rovers are an incredibly tough fixture at home, but the Bloods are dangerously effective with the ball in hands and impossible to score against.
Healesville have only conceded nine goals this season, only allowing 35 points per game.
The Bloods will fight in a scrappy contest to keep their dream start alive, getting the job done by three goals.
