By: Matt Fotia
There’s been a clear gap between the top four of Division 3 and the rest, implying that sometimes it can be hard to get a read on how the rest of the clubs are going. So let’s cast the microscope on each club and see what they’ve made of 2018.
RINGWOOD Ladder: 1st Record: 10-0 Percentage: 238% Offensive Rank: 2nd (936 points for)
Defensive Rank: 1st (393 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Trent Farmer (48)
Highlight: Round 9’s victory over Boronia in a top of the table clash away from home. Only won by 25 points but completely harassed the Hawks and were much better than the margin suggests.
Lowlight: N/A
Grade: A+
New coach this year for the Redbacks and new high-pressure game style. They’ll be hoping that it brings some new luck come September. Trent Farmer is having another great year leading from the front with 48 goals and seven appearances in the best players. Like Vermont in Division 1, none of this matters if they can’t transition this form into finals.
BORONIA Ladder: 2nd Record: 9-1 Percentage: 213%
Offensive Rank: 3rd (927 points for)
Defensive Rank: 2nd (435 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Zak Robinson (20)
Highlight: Tight wins over Scoresby (Round 2, eight points) and Heathmont (Round 7, four points) were fantastic, almost cementing the Hawks’ top two status. Lowlight: Loss to Ringwood in Round 9. Looked a fair way behind the Redbacks as they didn’t really fire a shot.
Grade: A+
Matt Clark’s new style of footy has finally got this underperforming list playing up to its potential. The Hawks lack a real goal-kicker, like Farmer for the Redbacks, to straighten them up and give them an outlet when going forward. May need to think about a plan-B when it comes to ball movement, Ringwood’s pressure game really got to them.
SCORESBY Ladder: 3rd
Record: 8-2 Percentage: 179%
Offensive Rank: 4th (909 points for)
Defensive Rank: 3rd (507 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Dale Hehir (37)
Highlight: 18-point come from behind victory against Heathmont at the Hangar last weekend. Massive for the Magpies’ hopes of the double chance.
Lowlight: Round 7 loss to Ringwood in what was a massive chance to make a statement against the top side. That 36 point loss shows the gulf in class.
Grade: A+
The Magpies are really building on their surge in the second half in 2017 with numerous recruits and homecomings. Hehir is a major player for the Magpies up forward and could be the difference between them and Boronia. Paul Chadwick has been fantastic as well with seven appearances in the best. If the Magpies have no more slip-ups they should have the double chance.
HEATHMONT
Ladder: 4th
Record: 7-3
Percentage: 162%
Offensive Rank: 1st (964 points for) Defensive Rank: 4th (593 points against) Leading Goal-Kicker: Fin Brown (29)
Highlight: 57-point win over the Waverley Blues at home was spectacular in Round 4. Was a great exhibition of pace and youth.
Lowlight: Last quarter against Scoresby last weekend. Led all day only to give up third spot in the last.
Grade: A
Very, very exciting side are the Jets. Plenty of youth such as Bailey Stevens, Ryan Young and Fin Brown who has slotted 29 goals. Throw in the wise heads of Brent English and homecoming king Leigh Odermatt who has 25 goals. Defence is solid as well with Sverns and Sheriff patrolling down back. They need a scalp, however, for confidence heading into finals.
THE BASIN Ladder: 5th
Record: 6-4 Percentage: 133%
Offensive Rank: 5th (906 points for)
Defensive Rank: 5th (680 points against) Leading Goal-Kicker: Beau Dowler (23)
Highlight: Was the Round 10 46-point victory over the challengers to the Bears’ fifth place throne, Waverley Blues. Lowlight: You have to say the losses to all four teams above them, however, none of them have been embarrassing. Grade: A
The Basin are in this wonderful limbo called fifth place. They continue to show that they’re a class above all sides below them, but can’t quite grab the scalp of any top four sides. Jayden Brown and Jordan Roberts have been their most consistent players all year in the best seven times. They should keep beating sides below them and will be very dangerous come finals time.
TEMPLESTOWE
Ladder: 6th
Record: 5-5
Percentage: 84% Offensive Rank: 9th (635 points for)
Defensive Rank: 6th (749 points against) Leading Goal-Kicker: Daniel Cripps (23)
Highlight: Wins over Donvale and Warrandyte. Both were tight hard fought wins which could be the difference between top six and bottom six.
Lowlight: Round 1 loss to the tune of 103 points to Boronia was a pretty poor way to start the season.
Grade: B
The Dockers have tried to make a fresh start after so many years attempting to win that elusive Division 3 premiership and are performing above expectations this season. They’re winning the games they need to win to stay in the division, but don’t have enough scoring power to trouble The Basin who currently have a stranglehold on the last spot in the five . Dockers will probably be focusing on finishing top six.
WAVERLEY BLUES Ladder: 7th
Record: 4-6 Percentage: 86% Offensive Rank: 6th (688 points for)
Defensive Rank: 7th (797 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Ben Turner (16)
Highlight: Round 6’s 54 point win over Templestowe where they completely shut out the Dockers.
Lowlight: Rounds three to five were pretty poor with three nine-goal losses to Ringwood, Heathmont and Scoresby.
Grade: B-
Had massive changes during the off-season; a new coach and a few major exits. The Blues have beaten most sides that sit below them, but are probably a little bit off the finals and have a fight on their hands with the Dockers to stay in the top six. Ben Turner needs a friend down forward. He has 16 goals with Jaye O’Connell next with four.
WARRANDYTE Ladder: 8th Record: 3-7 Percentage: 80%
Offensive Rank: 8th (670 points for) Defensive Rank: 9th (837 points against) Leading Goal-Kicker: Luke Dunn (20)
Highlight: Round 4’s 63-point victory of Ferntree Gully was absolutely massive for the Bloods.
Lowlight: Round 8’s 53-point loss to the Waverley Blues hurt, the Bloods would’ve fancied themselves in that one.
Grade: B+
Many suggested Warrandyte as certainties to finish bottom of the table, but Anthony McGregor has done wonders with this list. Winning basically all the games that the Bloods would’ve marked down as chances to win which is a good sign. Lewis Oliver has only missed the best on two occasions, whilst Blackburn junior Jordan Powell has featured in the best players six times. Could be a fun place to be in a few years.
DONVALE Ladder: 9th Record: 3-7 Percentage: 76% Offensive Rank: 7th (682 points for) Defensive Rank: 10th (889 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Nicholas Murphy (29) Highlight: The Magpies’ Round 2 victory over Warrandyte by 17 points was a special moment for the club after the trials and tribulations of recent times. Another step towards the top flight.
Lowlight: Round 10’s 72-point loss to Boronia. The Pies would’ve liked to be a little closer to the top four side.
Grade: B
The Magpies are going pretty well considering the losses of Purcell and Haig during the off-season. They’re competing well, as they were expected to. A top six finish may be a bridge too far. Ben Lyall has been really good with eight appearances in the best and 10 goals. Nicholas Murphy doing really well in the absence of Purcell with 29 majors.
FERNTREE GULLY Ladder: 10th Record: 3-7 Percentage: 69% Offensive Rank: 11th (580 points for) Defensive Rank: 9th (834 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Lee Boyle (21)
Highlight: Started the year off well with a Round 1 win over South Belgrave to the tune of 54 points.
Lowlight: Round 4 was a sign of things to come, with the Eagles going down to Warrandyte by 63 points.
Grade: D-
After such a promising 2017 and a good fortnight to kick off the year the Eagles would’ve been eyeing off top six as a bare minimum. Since Round 2 they have been pretty awful and only have two forward options with Lee Boyle and Lachlan Kennedy (20). They almost lost to Chirnside Park on the weekend which is a worry. Hopefully they can build on those four points.
SOUTH BELGRAVE Ladder: 11th Record: 2-8
Percentage: 54% Offensive Rank: 10th (587 points for)
Defensive Rank: 11th (1070 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Alex Bakens (26) Highlight: The Round 9, one-point victory over the Waverley Blues is the big highlight of the Saints’ year thus far. Lowlight: Round 10 was a pretty poor back-up after that win. Went down to Ringwood by 118 points.
Grade: C
The Saints are where they probably expected to be at this stage of year. They have shown that they can push sides above them and will be hoping to pinch wins against Ferntree Gully, Chirnside Park and Warrandyte in the second half of the year. Alex Bakens is having a fantastic year with 26 goals.
CHIRNSIDE PARK
Ladder: 12th Record: 0-10
Percentage: 38% Offensive Rank: 12th (432 points for)
Defensive Rank: 12th (1132 points against)
Leading Goal-Kicker: Dean Prizmic (12)
Highlight: Travis Cloke is playing for the Panthers this weekend, that should be good.
Lowlight: 149-point loss against Heathmont, kicking just one goal.
Grade: UG
You’ve got to feel for Chirnside Park with so many people leaving during the off season, but this sort of drop has been on the cards for a while. Hopefully the Panthers can pinch a win in the second half of the year for their supporters.
Predicted Ladder 1. Ringwood
2. Scoresby
3. Boronia
4. Heathmont
5. The Basin
6. Waverley Blues
7. Templestowe
8. Donvale
9. Warrandyte
10. Ferntree Gully
11. South Belgrave
12. Chirnside Park
All views expressed in this article remain those of the author and not of the Eastern Football League or its affiliated clubs.