By Matt Fotia
Whilst an enforced fortnight’s hiatus from action was never in anyone’s ideal planning, the competition break has given clubs time to take stock and look at what’s working, what isn’t and figure out how they can hit the ground running when the EFNL returns.
And if you’re outside the inner sanctum, don’t stress, cause we’ve done it too in our Deakin University Mid-Season Reviews.
Balwyn
Pos: 7th (Premier)
W-L: 2-3
Percentage: 92%
For (Rank): 68.4 points per game (8th)
Against (Rank): 74.2 (5th)
Leading Goalkicker: Jordan Lisle (12)
Best + Fairest Leader: Paul Pattison
The Tigers have been a massive talking point in 2021, with everyone keen to see how this new look outfit would fare in an even Premier Division. Paul Pattison has been their most consistent performer, averaging 22 disposals (11 contested), 3.6 tackles, 7.4 clearances and 8 hardball gets a game – a stat the Tigers are league leaders in.
Their wins have been as impressive as anyone, knocking off Vermont and Blackburn away from home, but have in turn lost their own home fixtures to South Croydon and more notably Berwick.
Given the resurgence of Norwood and Noble Park losses to sides outside of the ‘finals race’ – which to be fair is harder to define in 2021 – will be a key factor when it comes to September action.
Talent on Tigers list screams finals, but currently they’re tracking to miss.
Grade – C+
Croydon
Pos: 3rd (Division One)
W-L: 5-2
Percentage: 150%
For (Rank): 82(3rd)
Against (Rank): 54.5(3rd)
Leading Goalkicker: Riley Costantino (24)
Best + Fairest Leader: Riley Costantino
The Blues were heavy Premiership favourites heading into the season and despite sitting a deserved 3rd on the ladder, you’d still suggest their best football is the best football in the Division.
Their midfield depth is one of the best with talent on the inside and outside of the contest, they’ve got a balanced defence with Jayden Cyster and Kyle Maher providing some offensive drive from the back 50 and their forward 50 is tantalising on paper, with Dale Hehir, Justin Ficorilli and Riley Costantino supported by Riley Britton and Joel Koger.
They could easily be 7-0 after they had more scoring shots in both of their losses (21-19 Round 1 v East Ringwood and 18-16 Round 7 v Montrose).
The only chink in the armour might be a lack of height in defence, but there is enough flexibility around the ground to cover that if need be.
Grade – A
Boronia
Pos: 5th(Divison Two)
W-L: 4-3
Percentage: 132%
For (Rank): 71.1(5th)
Against (Rank): 53.7 (4th)
Leading Goalkicker: Jarryd Rutherford (10)
Best + Fairest Leader: Harry Burgess
The Hawks have had their depth tested this year, with a host of changes in and out of the side each and every week in 2021, and they’ll be keen to get their best team out on the park on a consistent basis.
They’ll be extra eager to get star signing Taylor Leggate back out there, given his ability to take games by the scruff of the neck, something the Hawks have lacked thus far.
They have an experienced core and still defend very well, the likes of Burgess, Jarrod Lake and Fletcher Duke consistently in their best players, but they lack speed around the contest and all three losses this year have come against teams with elite foot-speed.
Will need to really smash teams up around the stoppages and get better by foot if they’re to inject some pace into their game and hit the scoreboard more often.
Matt Clark knows what he’s doing though, so don’t count them out.
Grade – B-
Donvale
Pos: 4th (Division Three)
W-L: 4-2
Percentage: 103%
For (Rank): 67 (7th)
Against (Rank): 65 (2nd)
Leading Goalkicker: Nicholas Murphy (11)
Best + Fairest Leader: Kyle Wignell
The Magpies have struggled going forward, kicking over 70 points on just two occasions – their last two fixtures – and Nick Murphy seems to be the be all and end all up forward.
Conversely, they’re incredibly hard to score against having kept the competitions best attack (Waverley Blues) under 70 points, as well as shutting out Scoresby (39) and the Whitehorse Pioneers (35).
Like a number of sides, the Magpies are still searching for their best 22, with only eight players pulling on the jumper in every game this season. Notable names Matt Leardi and Karl Toce have played just six games between them.
Recruit Brandon Kapakoulakis has settled in nicely after making the trip from Alexandra in the off-season, notching up four appearances in the Magpies best players.
Are proving very hard to beat and are well and truly in the hunt for finals action, but they’ll want to improve that percentage.
Grade – B+
Chirnside Park
Pos: 5th (Division Four)
W-L: 3-3
Percentage: 88%
For (Rank): 69(6th)
Against (Rank): 77.6(5th)
Leading Goalkicker: Daniel Beddome (16)
Best + Fairest Leader: Ben Slattery
The Panthers have been steadily working through their to-do list.
First item, get a win on the board.
Second item, knock off a team outside the bottom three.
Their third item will be maintaining the momentum they’ve built in the first half of the season and to continue developing the next generation of Panthers.
That next generation will hopefully have a couple of key position players, with two of their best this year – Grattan Stephens and Daniel Beddome – closer to the end of their careers than the start, whilst Ben Slattery will want some help as the year goes on.
Looking forward to seeing more out of the likes of Ethan Stone, Bailey Klewer and co as Chirnside Park look to replicate their last month or so.
Grade – B
Coldstream
Pos: 1st (Division Four)
W-L: 6-0
Percentage: 610%
For (Rank): 177.1 (1st)
Against (Rank): 29 (1st)
Leading Goalkicker: Darcy Fristch (55)
Best + Fairest Leader: Darcy Carrigan
There’s not much about the Cougars that hasn’t already been said. They’re doing what’s asked of them with apparent glee and have seemed all encompassing at times.
I have no doubts this unit would be middle of the table – if not higher – in the Division above, with the likes of Witnish, Fristch, Koger, Shield, Carrigan, Batten-Leitch and Deacon all more than capable at that level and some others.
Forest Hill the only side yet to be vanquished and they’ll have to wait a while to have a crack due to the impromptu lockdown, but it is Coldstream’s premiership to lose.
Grade – A+
East Burwood
Pos: 6th
W-L: 3-3
Percentage: 96%
For (Rank): 71 (4th)
Against (Rank): 73.6(6th)
Leading Goalkicker: Braeden Barlow (19)
Best + Fairest Leader: Jason Kennedy
Your view on the Rams season will depend on which set of three games you focus on.
Do you pay more credence to their three wins over Whitehorse, Donvale and Glen Waverley or are their losses to Warrandyte, Ferntree Gully and the Waverley Blues the real East Burwood?
Personally, either way you’ll find a side that’s too good to get tangled in a relegation mess but not quite good enough to be in the premiership/finals picture. The Rams look a little bit too slow to match it with the top three sides, but have more than enough talent to see off and compete with the rest of the competition.
They’re very strong around the contest and have talent at both ends of the field with Ed Rixton and Max Wills doing good work on the defensive end whilst Jai Middleton and Braeden Barlow are giving opposition coaches plenty of headaches at the other end.
Grade – B+
Heathmont
Pos: 3rd (Division Two)
W-L: 5-2
Percentage: 155%
For (Rank): 84 (2nd)
Against (Rank): 54 (5th)
Leading Goalkicker: Jed Hansen (15)
Best + Fairest Leader: Ryan Burleigh
Are Heathmont burying the lead?
Coach Nick Rutley said he and his side came into the year complacent after their pre-season performances and got caught out by a rampaging Basin outfit. They were also in control against South Belgrave before shipping seven unanswered goals in the last term to go down by 20 odd points.
Was it the falsest 0-2 in a while?
Everything since then would suggest so.
They’ve been ever impressive in the last five weeks, with the Burleigh brothers leading the way whilst forward trio Fin Brown, Ayhan Bajramov and Jed Hansen are tormenting their opponents.
They’ll be most pleased with the fact they’re the only side to not only beat Ringwood, but also keep them under 20 scoring shots.
Grade – A
Bayswater
Pos: 8th (Division One)
W-L: 2-5
Percentage: 74%
For (Rank): 63.7 (7th)
Against (Rank): 85.5 (8th)
Leading Goalkicker: Josh Treeby (6)
Best + Fairest Leader: Kurt Lopo
Thank God for the bottom two.
That will be the thoughts of a few members down at Bayswater Oval, as the Waters go through an on-the-go re-build.
They would’ve been nervous when a double relegation was announced but have shown throughout the first seven rounds that their best is nowhere near relegation worthy, especially with one of the best midfield units in the division with Lopo, Ben White and Joel Galvin.
They’ll be looking to find some goal kickers in the young crop they have coming through, ideally over six foot, but they should be in this division in 2022 if the first half of the year is anything to go by and can make it a sure thing with a win over Wantirna South or Montrose when they get the chance.
Grade – C
Berwick
Pos: 6th (Premier)
W-L: 2-3
Percentage: 95%
For (Rank): 75.8(5th)
Against (Rank): 79.8(7th)
Leading Goalkicker: Harrison Money (17)
Best + Fairest Leader: Travis Tuck
If you’d offered this record to the Wickers on the eve of the season, I’m sure they would’ve taken it, but their attitude might have changed as the season progresses.
Their Round One clash against Noble Park could’ve gone either way, with Travis Tuck almost willing his side across the line, as he’s done all year – averaging 23 disposals (12.8 contested), 7.8 clearances, 5.5 tackles and 116 ranking points.
Injuries have hurt them in winnable games against Rowville and Doncaster, but they’ll still be talking about the win over Balwyn, one that’ll go down in the history books for the boys in blue.
Harry Money has been everything we’d heard about, up there in the goal kicking charts and taking plenty of marks where it matters. The mid-sized focal point has taken 19 marks Inside 50 this season, with the Wickers ranked 2nd for this stat, taking 11.6 a game in 2021.
Hard-nosed midfielder Madison Andrews is another Chandler Medal smoky, with a tendency to win umpires votes for his integral link up play.
Finals aren’t out of the question, but they’ll be more than content with proving themselves in their first crack at the big time.
Grade – A
