By Matt Fotia
Local football means a lot to all of us and here at the EFNL we’re committed to giving you the analysis it deserves in the weekly Eastland In and Under column, where Media Manager Matt Fotia gives you his three key takeaways from the weekend that was.
- Coming Up Coldstream
The weekend could not have gone any better for Coldstream.
The Cougars were challenged early by Glen Waverley before producing an incredible final three quarters, kicking 12 goals to the Hawks one after the first break to get their second away win of the season.
Chad Rogers’ crew had 12 individual goal kickers and have welcomed the return of spearhead Darcy Fristch from VFL duty and former Lilydale key forward Lachlan Koger in recent weeks.
Even better was the news from Warrandyte, where the Bloods willed themselves over the line with a four goal to zero final quarter against an inform Ferntree Gully side. The Bloods win has quashed any hopes of finals miracle by the Gully and all but locked in finals for Coldstream in their return to Division Three.
They’ll now set their sights on the run home, where they have the advantage of consistent football – they’ve already had their two byes – and a tricky final three weeks which sees them take on runaway Premiership favourite Waverley (more on them later) at home before trips to Ferntree Gully and second placed Donvale.
With the Blues keen to keep their foot on the throat of the chasing pack, Donvale wanting the second chance and Ferntree Gully still staving off a relegation threat the Cougars will hit the first weekend of finals having played three games of similar intensity.
Mix that in with the return of some power forwards and the undeniable form of their midfield and Coldstream are well placed to surprise in 2022.
- Crumbling Croydon
At the other end of the spectrum are Croydon, who suffered their sixth loss of the season to Wantirna South on the weekend a result that saw the Devils usurp the Blues and take fourth spot on the Division One ladder.
Croydon led Wantirna South at the main break before conceded 4.4 to 0.3 in the third term to be 14 points down at the main break.
The Blues have struggled to score all season, averaging just 62.3 points per game, ranked 9th in the competition below lowly Upper Ferntree Gully. They’ve had 24 individual goal kickers this season but haven’t been able to replace the influence of Riley Costantino. Only four players have kicked over 10 for the year and Troy Broussard’s four goal haul against Bayswater is their biggest of the season.
Their scoring woes weren’t the biggest problem to start the season when their defence continued to hold up, but it’s beginning to falter, with the last month seeing them average 21 scoring shots against.
Their percentage has taken quite the hit, now sitting at 95, the worst of the top five and well below Montrose who sit in sixth position (two games behind).
Of their five remaining games only one – Upper Ferntree Gully this weekend – is a lock for the Blues, with trips to Beaconsfield and Mooroolbark and home games against Mitcham and Montrose to come in 2022.
On current form there is a real possibility the Blues and Demons could be playing off a spot in the five come Round 18.
Exciting for some, disappointing for others.
- Who can catch them?
Three months into the season and the Premier Division and Division One premiership races are still wide open. Rowville lead the way in Premier but any of the top five could stake a claim on their day, whilst Mooroolbark and East Ringwood are setting themselves for a battle within a battle over the next six weeks.
Further down the pyramid however and the picture is a little less intertwined, with three clear front runners for the Premiership.
So, we asked the question. Why are they so good and who can catch them?
Division Four – Silvan
11 – 1
312.7 %
164.6 points per game
52.6 points against per game
Silvan have picked up the Coldstream mantlepiece in 2022, carrying on Coldstream’s incredible 2021 dominance this season, with a slightly different feel.
It seems every second weekend someone kicked a bag full for the Cats, especially when they were racking up 200-point totals on a weekly basis. They’ve got four of the top five goal kickers in the division and their two spearheads – Leigh Kimpton and Justin Ficorilli – have 132 between them for the season.
The Cats have annihilated second placed Chirnside Park both times this season, most notably rolling them by 179 points at home, whilst they’ve beaten Forest Hill (4th) by 77 points and Kilsyth (5th) by an average of 104 points.
Surrey Park, despite being in third spot on the ladder, seem to be the most likely of the chasing pack to take the Cats down. Surrey only went down by 35 points when they played the Cats on their home patch and are the only side to defeat them when they won the return fixture.
The consensus is that the bigger grounds might be a bit of leveller for Silvan. If you look at their two match ups with Kilsyth, there was a 74-point swing to the Cougars (they still lost by 67) when they played at Pinks Reserve. Similarly, Chirnside Park were 107 points better off when playing at home (still lost by 72).
With the Division Four finals set to be played at East Burwood Reserve, ground dimensions seem to be the trump card that Surrey Park can play should they get a chance to topple the minor premier elect on the last day of the season.
Division Three – Waverley Blues
12-1
173.4 %
93.6 points per game
54 points against per game
Despite Silvan’s dominance, a strong case can be made to say that Waverley are the most dominant of the three front runners.
The Blues have won 12 straight after a narrow two-point loss to Warrandyte to start the season and have an astonishingly strong list, with the pairing of Matt Perry and Josh Williamson headlining a long line of stars including Steele, Hale, Hawkins, Playsted, Turner, Serpanchy, Mier, Mohammad and the playing coach Langford who had 37 and kicked five a fortnight ago.
With the top four pretty much locked in, Waverley can head into the finals knowing that their most recent games against Warrandyte, Donvale, and Coldstream (at time of writing) have seen them win by an average margin of 59 points.
Each of those opponents can test the Blues in one facet of the ground, but not all three. Warrandyte can match them in the air but won’t be able to keep up on the outside, Donvale will threaten them up forward but will have to risk a shoot-out and Coldstream have the midfield depth to break-even but lack the defensive cover for the host of Blues attacking options.
One thing that will worry Waverley is their on-off end to the season, with two byes in the final month before finals.
Should they win the qualifying final they will go into the decider having played three games in six weeks.
Division Two – South Belgrave
12 – 1
194.8%
106.8 points per game
54.8 points against per game
The last fully completed season saw the Saints cruise through to the premiership in Division Three, with their starting 22 head and shoulders above their opponents.
There’s not quite the same differential between South Belgrave and the rest on paper this season, but there is still that feel about it.
Like Silvan and Waverley, the Saints have a swag of goal threats, with Tim Smith, Taylor Garner, Damian Garner, Sam Brown, and Grand Final specialist Leigh Odermatt all eyeing off a run at the ultimate prize, whilst former Rowville ruckman Mitch Garner ensures they’re getting first use of the football more often than not.
The chasing pack in this division will be feeling a lot more bullish than their Division Three and Four peers.
East Burwood have a young side with plenty of speed and Boronia have the star power (Leggate, Mellis, Hannon(s) and Robertson) to match it with the Saints best and will relish playing at a venue like Mitcham come September.
Ringwood, who went down by 25 points when the two sides met earlier in the year, will back themselves to close the gap now that their best side is on the park.
And as the Redbacks know the best team on paper doesn’t always come away with the silverware.
