By: Matt Fotia
Division 4 can often be forgotten about when it comes to discussing the EFL. So we’ve devoted some time to analysing how the 10 clubs in the fourth division of our great league are travelling and where we expect them to finish.
EAST BURWOOD
Ladder: 1st
Record: 9-1
Percentage: 157%
Offensive Rank: 1st (1019 points for)
Defensive Rank: 4th (649 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Adrian Gileno (45)
Highlight: Round 2’s hard-fought win in the pouring rain against Glen Waverley was absolutely massive in hindsight.
Lowlight: The Rams’ only loss came in Round 9 against Whitehorse where they were completely outplayed.
Grade: A+
This has been a long time coming for Rams fans. Barring the Rams’ uncharacteristic performance against Whitehorse they’ve been brilliant. Some big recruits from Knox have help their list and experienced goal kicker Adrian Gileno has combined well with young gun Max Wills up forward. Top two should be a lock.
GLEN WAVERLEY HAWKS
Ladder: 2nd
Record: 8-2
Percentage: 171%
Offensive Rank: 2nd (1015 points for)
Defensive Rank: 1st (593 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Adam Amin (37)
Highlight: Their seven-point win in Round 10 really sent a message as they toppled a contender after the Round 1 loss to them.
Lowlight: That Round 1 loss to Whitehorse – a pretty poor start to the year.
Grade: A+
Somewhat underperforming for a couple of seasons, the Hawks have got everything clicking right now. They’ve won eight on the trot heading into their clash with East Burwood this weekend. Adam Amin has been pretty important up forward whilst Mitchell Potts has been consistent across half back. If they finish top two they’ll fancy the flag.
WHITEHORSE PIONEERS
Ladder: 3rd
Record: 7-3
Percentage: 161%
Offensive Rank: 3rd (972 points for)
Defensive Rank: 2nd (601 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Andrew Padbury (26)
Highlight: Big win over East Burwood on the back of an Andrew Padbury bag. Reminded the competition how good they can be.
Lowlight: Round 7’s 49-point loss to Fairpark really hurts. They can’t afford to be dropping games like that if they want top two.
Grade: A
The Pioneers are building quite nicely on their preliminary final berth last season, picking up experienced bodies via the Marianis and Eddy Sim. Matthew Mariani has only played six games but has been in the best five of those times. Not so reliant on Padbury to kick goals as well which helps their cause. Can’t afford a slip-up against a lower-ranked side if they want top two. Should make finals again.
FOREST HILL
Ladder: 4th
Record: 7-3
Percentage: 149%
Offensive Rank: 4th (956 points for)
Defensive Rank: 3rd (639 points for)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Steven Pimm (35)
Highlight: The Zebras’ Round 6 away victory against Whitehorse by nine points was massive. Really needed a win and stood up when it counted.
Lowlight: The Round 9 loss to Kilsyth by nine points really hurt the club’s top two chances.
Grade: B
The Zebras are going for the jugular one more time. Early season favourites that have slid down the pecking order since the pre-season. Recruits Pimm and Cardamone have combined for 66 goals whilst Tim Johnston is vital down back and through the middle. The Zebras should make finals and if they do that no-one will fancy playing them.
KILSYTH
Ladder: 5th
Record: 6-4
Percentage: 134%
Offensive Rank: 5th (875 points for)
Defensive Rank: 5th (652 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Jonathan Hevern (21)
Highlight: The Cougars’ nine-point victory over Forest Hill bought their season back to life.
Lowlight: The loss to Coldstream by 12 points could have big ramifications at the pointy end of the season. Have to win those games.
Grade: B
The Cougars are doing just enough at the moment. Finals was their goal at the start of the season and they’ve shown that they are capable of achieving that goal. They’ve got some good forward options with Hevern and Jye Sigersma kicking 41 between them. They have to ensure they don’t slip-up against sides below them and knock off at least one of the top four.
FAIRPARK
Ladder: 6th
Record: 5-5
Percentage: 97%
Offensive Rank: 7th (796 points for)
Defensive Rank: 7th (815 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: James Gough (33)
Highlight: The Lions’ Round 7 victory over Whitehorse took everyone by surprise and put them in the finals conversation.
Lowlight: The week before that victory they were appalling in an 88-point loss to the Glen Waverley Hawks. Only had six scoring shots.
Grade: B
The Lions are the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde side. One week they’re smashing a genuine premiership contender the next they’re shocking against another. The stats suggest they’re currently living beyond their means. Doulgeris has been pretty consistent all year and James Gough has been a good focal point. Could be anything in the latter half.
COLDSTREAM
Ladder: 7th
Record: 4-6
Percentage: 101%
Offensive Rank: 6th (804 points for)
Defensive Rank: 6th (792 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Chris Witchell (25)
Highlight: The 12-point victory over Kilsyth which showed how good the Cougars can be.
Lowlight: The 70-point loss to Glen Waverley Hawks in Round 7. Not the only team to cop one but they would’ve expected a better performance.
Grade: B-
The Cougars are going through some transition with new coach Chad Rogers at the helm. Odermatt and Cardamone have left and been replaced with some more youth. Their best is obviously good enough but we don’t see enough of it. Cameron Shield has been incredible appearing in the best nine times, whilst Darcy Carrigan is one of the best players in the division.
SURREY PARK
Ladder: 8th
Record: 2-8
Percentage: 87%
Offensive Rank: 8th (765 points for)
Defensive Rank: 8th (879 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Chris Smith (50)
Highlight: The 92-point win over Silvan in Round 6 – the Panthers had to win that game and did.
Lowlight: Their Round 2 loss to Fairpark by 51 points, which in hindsight has typified their season.
Grade: D
Surrey Park had a fair bit of hype about it during the off-season. Only Chris Smith who has kicked a half century of majors and appeared in the best seven times and Kane Henden (nine times in the best) have met that hype. Yes, the club has a lot of injuries but there can only be so many excuses. The Panthers must improve in the second half of the season, or else this will be major step backwards as a club.
SILVAN
Ladder: 9th
Record: 2-8
Percentage: 73%
Offensive Rank: 9th (756 points for)
Defensive Rank: 9th (1035 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Chris Murphy (16)
Highlight: The Cats’ season got off on the right foot with a pumping of Nunawading. Expected to win, but they didn’t take it lightly.
Lowlight: Round 6 saw the loss by 92 points to Surrey Park in what was a chance to snare another win.
Grade: C
The Cats have a new coach in Trent Martin and a few new recruits as they look in a new direction. Chris Murphy cannot play forever so they need to find another forward option. Warren Schmidt and Daniel Lemon have been their best players across the first half of the year, whilst they’ll look at games against Fairpark and Surrey Park as chances to get on the winners’ list in the second half of the year.
NUNAWADING
Ladder: 10th
Record: 0-10
Percentage: 24%
Offensive Rank: 10th (412 points for)
Defensive Rank: 10th (1715 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Zac Haig (13)
Highlight: The reserves’ victory against Coldstream in Round 6 is of course massive, but the Lions’ performance last weekend against Silvan also showed some positives.
Lowlight: The 101-point loss to Fairpark in Round 4. Would’ve expected that to be a closer result heading in you’d suggest.
Grade: C
Obviously it is a different grading system when it comes to Nunawading, who is heading in the right direction, which has been shown in the Round 9 and 10 performances. Haig has been a great pick-up, whilst Jordan Winter has been in the best five times and kicked eight goals. A win in 2018 is probably a stretch, but it is coming.
Predicted Ladder:
- Glen Waverley Hawks
- East Burwood
- Forest Hill
- Whitehorse Pioneers
- Kilsyth
- Coldstream
- Fairpark
- Surrey Park
- Silvan
- Nunawading
All views expressed in this article remain those of the author and not of the Eastern Football League or its affiliated clubs.
