By: Matt Fotia
Division 2 is well-known for being extremely tight year after year. This season is no different with the table almost seemingly split in two. Those who can make finals and those who are scrapping to stay in the division for next year. We ran the rule over your club’s performance in the first nine rounds.
LILYDALE
Ladder: 1st
Record: 8-1
Percentage: 161%
Offensive Rank: 4th (806 points for)
Defensive Rank: 1st (501 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Lachlan Koger (25)
Highlight: Round 2 smashing of Bayswater by 67 points. Sent a message to the rest of the competition by dismantling the side returning from Division 1.
Lowlight: Only one loss so it has to be that. Lost by 21 points to Doncaster East away from home. Had chances and panicked in an uncharacteristic fashion.
Grade: A+
The Falcons had a very quiet pre-season with hardly any recruiting done. A lot of homegrown talent who despite being young have all played almost 50 senior games. Depth is a worry but you can’t complain with an 8-1 record. Will back themselves against Doncaster East on a bigger ground, but unfortunately the LSO is not that. Must lock down top two.
DONCASTER EAST
Ladder: 2nd
Record: 7-2
Percentage: 142%
Offensive Rank: 2nd (861 points for)
Defensive Rank: 3rd (604 points for)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Jake Summers (22)
Highlight: The Lions’ win over Lilydale in Round 8 is the main highlight. Had a few major outs and still managed to knock off the previously undefeated Falcons.
Lowlight: Followed that win up by losing to Mitcham. If you take into account that its other loss came to the eighth-placed Mustangs, you could probably say there have been two big lowlights.
Grade: B+
The Lions realistically should be 9-0. They can’t afford to give the sides immediately below them a sniff of top two by slipping up to teams such as Mooroolbark and Mitcham. However 7-2 is still pretty good and Buckle’s side knows how to play at the right time of year. Recruits Simon White and James Appleby have been good all year. Will finish top two.
PARK ORCHARDS
Ladder: 3rd
Record: 6-3
Percentage: 132%
Offensive Rank: 1st (917 points for)
Defensive Rank: 7th (694 points for)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Daniel Gorringe (28)
Highlight: Round 1 victory over Wantirna South by 23 points. Announced itself to the division with a solid performance.
Lowlight: Round 6 loss to Doncaster East by nine points. Led all day before fading really badly in the last. Would’ve been a massive scalp.
Grade: A+
The Sharks are well known for having copious amounts of juniors amongst their senior ranks. Add the experience of Gorringe and Wright with this exciting list and you’ve got a good set up. Matt Haythorne continuing on with his 2017 form and Nathan Wiggins has played some good games. They play a fast game which is suited to wide open expanses. Defence is a worry but if you score more than the other team it won’t matter. Will play finals and could possibly be a sleeping giant of the Eastern Football League.
BAYSWATER
Ladder: 4th
Record: 6-3
Percentage: 131%
Offensive Rank: 3rd (826 points for)
Defensive Rank: 4th (626 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Jack Callahan (18)
Highlight: Round 9 victory over Wantirna South kicking seven goals to none in the last quarter to win by 41.
Lowlight: Round 2 loss to Lilydale by 67 points which was a listless performance by the Waters.
Grade: B
Dropping down a division, the Waters are where they probably expected to be. Rank well going both ways and have Aaron Cotte to thank for that. He’s been in their best seven times this season and has slotted 15 goals. They get found out by quick sides however which could be dangerous come the back end of the year. Have to knock off one of UFTG and Park Orchards in the back half of the year.
UPPER FERNTREE GULLY
Ladder: 5th
Record: 6-3
Percentage: 129%
Offensive Rank: 6th (680 points for)
Defensive Rank : 2nd (526 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker : Joel Perry (18)
Highlight: Tough, hard-fought win over Park Orchards in Round 2 by 12 points. Could prove crucial in the back half of the year.
Lowlight: Nine-point loss to Bayswater in Round 8 which was another chance to beat another finals aspirant.
Grade: B+
New coach and a few new recruits for the Kings as they try to climb up the rankings year after year. They beat who they should beat and have some good players running around. Thomas Meagher and Matt Lee are two of those who seem to be amongst their best every week. They need to find another goal kicking option or another way to move the ball forward as they need to score a bit freer to knock off other teams around the four. Will all come down to their clashes with Bayswater and Park Orchards.
WANTIRNA SOUTH
Ladder: 6th
Record: 4-5
Percentage: 110%
Offensive Rank: 5th (700 points for)
Defensive Rank: 5th (633 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Taylor Leggate (19)
Highlight: Round 8 victory over Croydon by 42 points. Croydon was a big smoky coming off some good form and the Devils showed the gap between them and the bottom four.
Lowlight: Round 9, only managed to kick majors in the third quarter against the Waters in that 41-point loss.
Grade: C
All the stats suggest the Devils are the fifth best side in the competition. They’ve had tight games against Lilydale, Park Orchards and Doncaster East, who of course make up the top three. Recruit Will Edwards has had a strong year as has Brent Walker. If Jess Sinclair’s side can put some four quarter performances together they could make a dash for the finals. Have to beat all three of Bayswater, Upper Gully and Park Orchards.
CROYDON
Ladder: 7th
Record: 3-6
Percentage: 84%
Offensive Rank: 7th (653 points for)
Defensive Rank: 8th (775 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker : Justin Ficorilli (17)
Highlight: Round 7 win over Mooroolbark. That 25-point victory was massive for the Blues’ season.
Lowlight: Round 5 loss to Doncaster East by 83 points, which is the Blues’ only real hammering.
Grade: B
Win over Mooroolbark has been massive for the Blues who have been a little depleted after a few players exited for Park Orchards and Silvan in recent times. They’ve included a bit more youth and have shown promising signs with only one loss that could be considered a smashing. Will need to develop more goal-kicking options as old faithful, Justin Ficorilli, is a great goal sneak, but isn’t a key forward. If the Blues stay up, which they should, it’s a good platform to build upon for the future.
MOOROOLBARK
Ladder: 8th
Record: 2-6-1
Percentage: 87%
Offensive Rank: 8th (596 points for)
Defensive Rank: 6th (680 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Matt Polkinghorne (16)
Highlight: Round 1 win is the only real highlight, and in hindsight, a massive shock, knocking off Doncaster East by 15 points at home.
Lowlight: The Round 8 draw against Mitcham is the obvious one. Was a massive chance to bed any relegation threat, but instead opened up the trap-door below them.
Grade: D
The Mustangs were tipped to be a top four side over the pre-season and possibly challenging for the flag after last season’s preliminary final berth. In reality, if it wasn’t for a Trent Georgiou set shot in Round 8 they would be in the relegation zone. Troy Wright and Matt Polkinghorne have been their best all season but need a few more friends. Their list should survive. Should.
MITCHAM
Ladder: 9th
Record: 2-6-1
Percentage: 59%
Offensive Rank: 9th (523 points for)
Defensive Rank: 9th (898 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Jake Parente (10)
Highlight: Pretty obvious, last weekend’s win over Doncaster East is absolutely massive for the Tigers’ season.
Lowlight: Round 1’s 93-point smashing by Upper Gully, who haven’t gone near scoring that much since.
Grade: D+
Stats show the Tigers deserve to be ninth, but the last three weeks have seen them play some pretty impressive footy. Seemed destined to join Mulgrave at the foot of the table all year, but their young cubs have started to sync up. Lachlan Ryan needs a bit more support through the guts and Jake Parente has scope to improve on his goal kicking tally. If they can take their chances against Croydon, Mulgrave and Mooroolbark again they could be safe.
MULGRAVE
Ladder: 10th
Record: 0-9
Percentage: 41%
Offensive Rank:10th (440 points for)
Defensive Rank: 10th(1065 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Adam Booth (12)
Highlight: N/A
Lowlight: A few. Had two 100-point losses against Bayswater and Doncaster East to kick off the season.
Grade: UG
Not expected to be any higher than they are, but the Lions were probably expected to perform a little better. They average a 70-point losing margin which is disappointing. Tim Knowles and skipper Dean Siakoulis have been strong performers all year in a tough situation. Could be refreshing to go down for season 2019.
Predicted Ladder:
- Doncaster East
- Lilydale
- Park Orchards
- Upper FTG
- Bayswater
- Wantirna South
- Croydon
- Mitcham
- Mooroolbark
- Mulgrave
All views expressed in this article remain those of the author and not of the Eastern Football League or its affiliated clubs.
