Best
Steven Kilby, Lachie Richardson, Craig Mc Kay, James Stirton, Gavan Neville.

Game Summary
Eltham won its fourth premiership in eight years when it defeated Mernda in the second division DVFL grand final at Whittlesea. Eltham won in traditional Panther style, grinding away with pressure football and slowly but surely getting on top on the scoreboard. The game opened up quite tight in the greasy and cold conditions, in stark contrast to the previous weeks. The decisive quarter in the match was once again the second when Eltham piled on five goals to one to lead at half time by 30 points. Mernda threw away any chance they had of getting back into the game kicking one goal nine behinds in the third. But through tireless work by community radio 88.6 commentator Tony Topp’s best afield Steven Kilby in the ruck kept Mernda at bay. By the last change it was all over bar the showers. It was Eltham’s small players Chris Moyle, Mark Minney and Jimmy Stirton that proved the most difficult for Mernda to handle. Their pace and willingness to put their heads over the ball at all costs was magnificent. And the entire team followed suit providing few opportunities for the opponents to get into the game. Once again the defence held firm with Lach Richardson again sweeping bravely across half back and providing attack on the rebound. He was aided manfully by Luke Ferns, Matthew Tallack and Kalev Jones. In attack Gavin Neville provided a genuine focal point kicking four goals. But in the end it was Eltham’s courage to attack the ball and feed it out to their runners that brought the silverware back to Panther Park. It’s time to build that trophy cabinet! Well done Wayne Freeman on a tremendous job and the boys.

Best
Adam Burton, Gavan Neville, Ashley Dickson, Lachie Richardson and Kalev Jones.

Game Summary
The Eltham Panthers fought their way into a grand final berth after accounting for the highly talented Reservoir. In what was a dramatic game, the two-Blues kicked six goals straight after just ten minutes from the opening bounce. The sorry plight of the last month for the Panthers looked set to continue. But the glorious spring day was not going to let the crowd go home without getting some value for their entrance fee. In the rare opportunities the Panther forwards had they manufactured some freakish goals. Gavin Neville kicked three for the quarter, one right foot snap that bounced once in the middle of three players and a left foot snap from an impossible angle. Jimmy Stirton dribbled another off his left boot under extreme pressure and the ball somehow missed the goal post on the right side. But Reservoir were still powering on strong and their further two goals came from fantastic team football. The way each team was scoring was in complete contrast. The Panthers were lucky not to be down by more than the 20 point quarter time margin. The second quarter was the turning point in the game. Jumping ruckman Glen Moriarty was successfully moved into the middle to force the ball the Panthers way. The leadership qualities of Craig McKay, Mark Minney, David Brown and Lucas Paul came to the fore and the team poured on relentless pressure. The free running of Reservoir was immobilised and the Panthers bit back on the scoreboard. Eltham kicked five goals five behinds to three-one but most importantly were enjoying most of the play. The half time deficit was only one straight kick. In the premiership quarter the game became an exhausting struggle for supremacy as both teams threw everything they had. Reservoir could have been unlucky to have two key forwards sent from the field after the report book came out. This limited their scoring options but not their fight. They had terrific contributors all day especially Jason Wilkinson who Eltham could not stop getting the ball, Jason Maloney and Dave McGregor. For Eltham, Adam Burton showed tremendous courage and poise under pressure in his best afield performance and Lach Richardson continued to mark everything across half-back in a perfect sweeping roll. Up forward Ash Dickson was in the zone and was the Panthers key target across half forward and Gavin Neville made every possible contest working hard at full forward. At the final change Reservoir were up by a point. The Panthers looked to have the goods as Gavin Neville banged through the opening goal of the last quarter, on the run from 50 out. Chris Moyle was continuing to lurk with intent around Neville in a flawless partnership. Eltham got out to fifteen points ahead and looked to have it all wrapped up after Adam Burton kicked nicely through the ball in open play straight over the goal umpires head. In defence, Kalev Jones and Luke Kennell were defending gamely as Steven Kilby was seeing to it that every kick into the Reservoir goal square was being punched through for a point. But then second quarter hero Glen Moriarty gave away a down the field free kick resulting in a goal that turned the fortunes of Reservoir. They kicked another and it was only two points the difference. In a climatic final minutes it was fitting that close to best afield Neville took a mark running with the flight of the ball. He kicked truly into the big grand old eucalypt tree at the mountain end of the Whittlesea ground. And as the Sherrin bounced around in its branches the timekeeper was preparing to press the siren for the end of a remarkable comeback. A comeback that has kept alive the premiership aspirations of the Eltham Panthers.

Best

Game Summary
The Eltham senior team are a shadow of their former selves from the side that won 15 games in a row at the start of the season. Exploiting this on Sunday in the 2nd semi-final was Mernda who powered their way past the flat Panthers to book the first spot in the grand final and sign on as flag favourites. The Panthers had few winners or positives from the day and will be searching for the answers during the week before they face in form Reservoir who beat pre-finals premiership favourite Whittlesea. The Panthers still may have Lucas Paul and David Brown to come back into the team but will need to lift their work around the packs and quicken their ball movement. Lachie Richardson tried hard on his wing as did Adam Burton and Matthew Tallack in their stopping rolls. The Panthers now have only one win from their last 5 games.

Best

Game Summary
Displaying a greater desire to win, Hurstbridge fired a warning shot at the Panthers to get their act together or forget about winning the flag. With their ladder position settled, the top of the table Panthers did not show their opposition the respect they deserved and will go into the finals out of form and in desparate need of re-grouping. Hurstbridge, with nothing to lose hung in the game for the first half and then started to outplay their more fancied oppostion in the second. Eltham tried to finish off the game strongly but even in the last quarter were struggling to keep up with the more enthusiastic Hurstbridge. But still with fifteen wins from eighteen games the Eltham boys should be congratulated for finishing the home & away season on top of the ladder. With the aid of plenty of finals experienced players their game will definately lift to another level during the final campaign to the premiership.

Best

Game Summary
The Eltham senior team guaranteed top spot and the weeks break after defeating Mernda on their home patch. It was their first win at the venue since round 10 1995 after three consecutive losses. The most infamous of those was round 18 2000 when the boys got pumbled but went on to win their next four games including the premiership. On Saturday Luke Ferns was impassable in defence and with Ash Dickson back to full fitness across half forward the Panthers always had a target. Andy McHugh continued his good form with a no fuss game at half-back and Mark Minney provided sparks of brillance. The Panthers needed a good opening quarter to establish themselves in the game, which they did but they let in Mernda in the second as they piled on 8 goals to lead at half time by two. The margin got out to 4 goals with Mernda pressing hard and it looked all but over. However, the Panthers dug deep with Donnie Lucero, Lloyd Mash and Minney asserting themselves around the packs to make it all square at the last break. In an arm wrestle finish the Panthers made less mistakes to run out winners by a goal.

Best

Game Summary
The Eltham Panthers are quickly losing their invincibility following their second successive loss, this time the Whittlesea Eagles. In a quality game, the lead changed on a number of occasions with the Eagles having a slight advantage at the long break. When the Panthers put on a scintillating burst early in the third quarter to take the lead it appeared to the red and black faithful that the real Panthers had finally come out to play. But Whittlesea themselves stepped up a gear and took the game right up to Eltham with hard physical play, clinical ball handling and decisive finishing. The Panthers tried a last quarter push but the play of the Eagles was good enough to take home the four points from Central Park for the first time since 1993.

Best

Game Summary
In blustery conditions at Crispe Park the Eltham Panthers were defeated for the first time this season by a determined Reservoir outfit. The Two Blues successfully shut down the Panther midfielders which cut supply to the forwards. What did get through missed their target making it easy for the Reservoir backmen. Reservoir jumped out of the blocks well and maintained their position at half-time. During the long break Eltham were unable to restructure their team to sufficiently hold off a four goal to nothing match winning third quarter by Reservoir. In the last a desperate Reservoir stacked their backline and Eltham were always too far behind to recover.

Best

Game Summary
On Saturday the seniors added another win to take their total to 13 from 13 games. The final margin was 77pts. The first three quarters saw the side pile on the goals with quarters of six, six and eight with the last quarter the opposition winning with four goals to our three. The forward line fired all day with Gavin Neville kicking seven and Luke Kennell finishing with six. The backline was held together by Andy McHugh and Kalev Jones. The win still sees the senior on top by three games and 20%.

Best

Game Summary
The Eltham Panthers stretched their winning streak to 13 after accounting for giant killing Thomastown. With a gale wind sweeping across the Main Street ground at Thomastown, conditions were difficult for the players to score. Thomastown led at quarter time and half time but could not contain Andy McHugh, Lach Richardson and Lloyd Mash whose skill and superior pace broke the game up and allowed their forwards to get more consistent quality ball. Steve Kilby was the best big man on the ground and Kalev Jones was rock solid at full back. First gamers Rob Jordan and Dan Irwin played good games for their time on the ground and showed selectors that they were on the pace. The loss was Thomastown's first home defeat for the season but it was evident that they are fast becoming a significant team in the competition.

Best

Game Summary
Another former Eltham junior player has come of age playing a great game ruck roving against Watsonia on the weekend. Adam Burton, who played his first game in the 1999 finals series, has worked his way from the pockets, the flanks and the wings to the important on-ball roles. It was another classic hard fought game for the Duncan Minney Memorial Trophy. Eltham came out of the blocks early and established a lead which they never relented. Watsonia pushed hard in the second quarter and closed off the Panthers scoring options but was unable to close the gap. The respect both Clubs have for the memory of Duncan was evident in the after match presentation.

Best

Game Summary
Eltham High School teacher Mr Ferns steered the Eltham Panthers A grade side to the eleventh straight win on the weekend against second placed Macleod. Playing at centre half-back, Luke was unpassable, calmly gathering the ball at will, avoiding oncoming tacklers and setting up forward moves as if he had time to mark some homework. Sport 88.6 Plenty Valley FM commentator and Eltham life member Alex Walker named him the "landscape gardener" because of his apparent one pace attitude to playing the game. The Diamond Valley match of the round also unearthed another cult hero to the Panther locals in Gavan Neville who booted 5 goals at full-forward, a position left vacant since 1997 when Greg Wilson booted 65 goals. Gavan, wearing Willo’s old number 13 (normally worn by injured Tim Borches) lead strongly and impressed with his vice like grip and long straight kicking at the big sticks. Macleod, the big improvers of the season, found the going tough against the experience of the fast Eltham runners. Mark Minney and Chris Moyle each kicked 6 interchanging on the ball, with Luke Kennell, Jimmy Stirten, Craig McKay and Lach Richardson solid in and around the packs.

Best

Game Summary
The dynamic form of ruck rover Mark "Skips" Minney is leading the Panther A grade team through a mid-season surge for domination in the second division competition. The side flexed their muscles even without their key ruckman Luke McCreery who is nursing a hand injury. Going into the game weary of the inconsistent Fawkner Park form the Panthers set about establishing a commanding lead by the quarter time break. Rover Chris Moyle celebrated his return to the side with three opening term goals. Out of form Tim Borches sat the first quarter and a half on the bench before leaping to a spectacular mark and goal as soon as he entered the fray. He finished the game with five. Aided by a solid performance by the back six the Eltham midfielders proved too fast and experienced for their undermanned opposition, who missed dearly five regulars including their captain and vice-captain.

Best

Game Summary
Looking forward to the showdown of the season, the Eltham A grade Panthers kept their end of the bargain by beating South Morang but Macleod faltered at Thomastown. That leaves Eltham the only undefeated team and alone on top of the ladder win nine wins. Eltham played a disciplined game and set up a handy 8 goal break at three quarter time. The Lions rallied in the last quarter to bang through 6 goals to 2.

BestZennon Eaton, Luke Ferns, Craig McKay, Luke Kennell and Luke McCreery.

Game Summary
The Panthers cruised to another victory over a very dogged Kinglake. Zennon Eaton kicked seven goals after coming back into the side from injury and Luke Kennell kicked five. Both these tallies represent the best individual haul for both players in their A grade career.

Best

Game Summary
After being up and playing great football over the last five weeks coach Freezer was just happy to get the four points. The youthful Wallan team did not allow the Panthers the easy game they were hoping for when they ran out in the chilly pre-winter air. The newcomers to the competition showed plenty and will be a dangerous squad with a few more seasons under their belt. The occasionally flatfootted Panthers overused the ball at times which did not help Borches or Paul up forward time their leads. But with Minney, Mash, Burton and Richardson providing constant drive and Dickson capping off another four goal game the boys kept their noses in front all the way through to the final siren. It was great to see Chris Morgan make his A grade debut and he showed glimpses of why he might see more of the same action before his career is done.

Best

Game Summary
The Eltham seniors ran over the top of Diamond Creek after an ugly on field incident to record another impressive victory. The fast moving Panthers had too many scoring options for their opposition to cover with 10 players sharing the 19 goals. Controversy continues to surround the games between the two arch rivals when the ambulance was required to attend to Zennon Eaton after contact to his head during play. The incident spurred on the Eltham players who ran away with what was a tight encounter.

Best

Game Summary
The Eltham seniors recorded their fourth win in succession to join Macleod and Fawkner Park as the three undefeated teams in the competition. Panton Hill worked hard early, displaying superior team work and if it was not for their poor kicking the Eltham lads could have been playing serious catch up football. Ash Dickson then started to fire up taking a number of his trade mark big grabs. He was well supported by the Eltham talls, Kilby and McCreery who took on the dangerous Box rucking for the Redbacks. Borches kicked 4 goals in the last quarter to finish off what was another impressive performance.

Best

Game Summary
The relentless running brigade of the Eltham senior team outlasted the Whittlesea Eagles at the large Showgrounds oval to record another impressive victory. Led by Mash, Strickland and Kennell the Panthers scored 10 second half goals, five unanswered in the last quarter, to over run their quality opposition.

Best

Game Summary
The fleet a foot Eltham Panthers proved too quick for Mernda in the last quarter to run out victors by 16 points. In a tight tussle throughout, Eltham were fortunate to stay in touch early on against the experienced Mernda outfit and as the game wore on it appeared the visitors would take the points. However, in a climatic final quarter the pace of the Panthersbroke the game open to secure the 4 points.

BestLuke Mc Creery, Matthew Tallack, Lloyd Mash, Tim Borchers, David Brown.

Game Summary
Our first quarter started with a bolt out of the gate, a six-goal haul startled the opposition and by quarter time, our lead was 31 points. Hurstbridge weren't beaten on their home ground last year and we have lost our last two meeting on their soil. Therefore, it was important to maintain our lead. For the next three quarters we were out scored by the opposition but we never lost the lead. A victory came our way by 14pts and a wise man would always take a victory at Hurstbridge.