By: Matt Fotia
We’ve ticked over the halfway mark of season 2018 in the first division, so we can safely say we’ve got a good read on how clubs are going and how good they are. But if you can’t be bothered doing that yourself check out the mid-season report cards below…
VERMONT
Ladder: 1st
Record: 9-0
Percentage: 200%
Offensive Rank : 1st (1016 points for)
Defensive Rank : 1st (508 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Brett Eddy (40 Goals)
Highlight: 84-point victory over Norwood in Round 4 is the best Eagles performance so far. Came into that game with a few doubters and successfully silenced them.
Lowlight: Hard to find when you’re 9-0. Could maybe say the tight win over North Ringwood, but that would be very disrespectful to North Ringwood. Plus Vermont still won.
Grade: A+
Vermont just doing Vermont things, Balwyn and North Ringwood tested them early in the season but since then they’ve been clinical. Adam Parker and Joe Fisher have been good all year, both appearing in the best players six times. But of course this will mean nothing if they fail to gain ultimate glory in September.
DONCASTER
Ladder: 2nd
Record: 7-2
Percentage: 156%
Offensive Rank: 4th (837 points for)
Defensive Rank: 2nd (536 point against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: James Munks (20)
Highlight: Second half comeback against South Croydon in Round 3. 12-goal turnaround to win by nine points to show that they can open up if required.
Lowlight: 25-point home loss to Balwyn. They rarely lose at Shark Park and it would’ve been another massive message to the rest of the competition.
Grade: A
The Sharks defensive prowess is well known but they aren’t given nearly enough credit for their attacking ability. Led by Chris Annakis, Michael Fogarty and ruckman Ewan McKenzie, the Sharks seem destined for the top three. If they beat everyone they should, finals won’t be an issue, will just need a couple more scalps like South Croydon. Building well on last year’s elimination final loss.
SOUTH CROYDON
Ladder: 3rd
Record: 7-2
Percentage: 145%
Offensive Rank: 2nd (1005 points for)
Defensive Rank: 4th (690 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Michael King (25)
Highlight: Easy wins over fellow finals aspirants North Ringwood (Round 7) and Rowville (Round 9) as they look to establish themselves as a big club.
Lowlight: That second half fade-out against Doncaster in Round 3. Almost happened again in Round 4 against the Burners.
Grade: A
Even with a new coach and new recruits the reigning premiers have managed to go well under the radar. Have moved away from the intense tackling game somewhat to prioritise speed and multiple attacking options. Michael King, Daniel Cooper and Jake Tucker all have 20-plus goals which shows good forward spread. Have great run off half back with Marshall and Cass. Looking forward to a shootout this weekend against Vermont. Will be looking at another double chance this season.
BLACKBURN
Ladder: 4th
Record: 6-3
Percentage: 112%
Offensive Rank: 3rd (882 points for)
Defensive Rank: 8th (787 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Jake Hammond (25)
Highlight: Drought-breaking three-point win over Balwyn at Cherry Road which turned out to be a season-defining win.
Lowlight: 73-point loss to Noble Park in Round 2. Could be the difference between double chance and not in the long run.
Grade: B+
Started very slowly with losses to Doncaster and Noble Park, but have turned a massive corner and now have five wins on the bounce. Great midfield depth headlined by Ben Daniher, whilst Xavier Murphy is classy off half back. Nowhere near as reliant on Jake Hammond for goals as well which is a big positive. Will make finals. Will have to knock off one of Doncaster, Vermont or South Croydon to finish in the top three.
ROWVILLE
Ladder: 5th
Record: 5-4
Percentage: 115%
Offensive Rank: 8th (733 points for)
Defensive Rank: 3rd (633 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Lachlan McDonald (13)
Highlight: Round 2’s 10-point victory over Doncaster. It is the Hawks’ only real scalp for the season.
Lowlight: Round 8’s 35-point loss to Noble Park. Can’t be dropping these sorts of games.
Grade: B
The Hawks started well, but would’ve maybe expected more after their off-season. New coach and some big name recruits in regards to Alwan and Gwilt. Are really struggling to hit the scoreboard, evidenced by no-one kicking more than 13 goals, and only three players with 10+. Desperately need not only a big scalp, but a win in general after three straight losses.
BALWYN
Ladder: 6th
Record: 5-4
Percentage: 110%
Offensive Rank: 6th (776 points for)
Defensive Rank: 5th (701 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Jeff Gobbels (26)
Highlight: Round 5 win over a very good Doncaster side away from home. The South Croydon win in Round 2 is a close second.
Lowlight: 44-point loss to Norwood in Round 7. Tigers only kicked one goal after quarter time.
Grade: C
The Tigers made a big statement in the pre-season, parting ways with Marty Pask and employing Rodney Eade as they looked to win back the premiership. They’ve had the losses of Daniel Gorringe and Henry Schade before they could even play a game and injuries to Luke Barker, Charlie Haley and Cameron Manuel which have hampered them. The stats suggest they will be around the edge of the finals, but with the new points system and their lack of depth this could be their last chance for a while.
NORTH RINGWOOD
Ladder: 7th
Record: 5-4
Percentage: 90%
Offensive Rank: 9th (672 points for)
Defensive Rank: 6th (745 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Jayden Hoegel (21)
Highlight: Could make a case for its Round 3 effort against Vermont, but its 17-point win over Norwood in the local derby takes the cake.
Lowlight: A pair of 12 goal plus losses to South Croydon and Doncaster, the Saints only managed 12 goals over those two weeks.
Grade: B
The Saints made a move during the off season recruiting some mature heads from Mitcham in the Hoegels and the Petraccas along with journeyman Mitch Keedle. Shot out of the blocks and surprised a few but look like they just don’t have the polish to make finals. Building something for the future it seems.
NORWOOD
Ladder: 8th
Record: 4-5
Percentage: 102%
Offensive Rank: 5th (793 points for)
Defensive Rank: 7th (769 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Leigh Williams (39)
Highlight: Round 7 shut out of Balwyn. Norwood’s best game by miles and it seemed to reignite its season.
Lowlight: Rounds four and five.148 total deficit across those two weeks against last seasons grand finalists.
Grade: D
It’s a general consensus that the Norsemen should not be in eighth place with their list. Often show signs of their potential before inevitably crashing. David Johnson is their second highest goal-kicker with eight goals showing their almost sickening reliance on Williams. Gysberts, Kroussoratis and Jordan have been their best all year but not many others have been as consistent. If they’re to make finals they have to take at least two scalps.
NOBLE PARK
Ladder: 9th
Record: 3-6
Percentage: 87%
Offensive Rank: 7th (751 points for)
Defensive Rank: 10th (867 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Piva Wright (16)
Highlight: Round 2, a 73-point drubbing of Blackburn. Massive win over a potential finals side.
Lowlight: Round 3, just seven days later when Norwood defeated the Bulls by 91 points.
Grade: C+
The Bulls stripped back their list and are looking to the future, hence their inconsistency. Their best is very good, their worst lets not talk about it. Will be a danger game for all sides looking to finals in the second half of the year. Need more A-graders like Martin and Sketcher.
MONTROSE
Ladder: 10th
Record: 2-7
Percentage: 62%
Offensive Rank: 11th (572 points for)
Defensive Rank: 11th (921 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Tim Jones (13)
Highlight: Tempted to say its two-point loss to Noble at the Bullring, but have gone with its three-point victory over East Ringwood in Round 3..
Lowlight: 95-point loss to Norwood in Round 8. No-one likes a 15-goal loss.
Grade C-
The Demons are doing what’s required of them, and thats beating the other two sides in danger of relegation. If they could’ve pulled off the Noble win their grade is much higher. There are danger signs of course, must win the reverse fixtures of course.
EAST RINGWOOD
Ladder: 11th
Record: 1-8
Percentage: 73%
Offensive Rank: 10th (625 points for)
Defensive Rank: 9th (856 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Liam Jeffs (13)
Highlight: Has to be their 62 point win over Knox in round seven.
Lowlight: Three point loss to Montrose. Would’ve been confident of knocking them off after they pushed Norwood the week before.
Grade C-
The Roos are doing a lot of things right and the stats show they shouldn’t be 11th, but they just haven’t been able to finish off their chances, like Norwood and Montrose. They need a goal-kicker to help in those games. Chris Cerni and Tristan Tweedie are having massive years both appearing in the best eight times. I think they have Montrose’s measure and will survive.
KNOX
Ladder: 12th
Record: 0-9
Percentage: 41%
Offensive Rank : 12th (460 points for)
Defensive Rank: 12th (1108 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Matthew Northe (13)
Highlight: Not many to chose from of course, however the Falcons did put 15 goals past Balwyn in their 25 point loss.
Lowlight: 149-point loss to Vermont, followed by 137 point loss to Rowville the next week.
Grade: UG
A lot of players leaving from their premiership side, a lot of them to East Burwood. They should start planning for 2019.
Predicted Ladder
1.Vermont
2. South Croydon
3. Doncaster
4. Blackburn
5. Rowville
6. Norwood
7. Balwyn
8. North Ringwood
9. Noble Park
10. East Ringwood
11. Montrose
12. Knox
All views expressed in this article remain those of the author and not of the Eastern Football League or its affiliated clubs.
