By Matt Fotia
Whilst an enforced fortnight hiatus from action was never in anyone’s ideal planning, the competition break has given clubs time to take stock, look at what’s working, what isn’t working and figure out how they can hit the ground running when the EFNL returns.
North Ringwood
Pos: 10th (Premier)
W-L: 1-4
Percentage: 65%
For (Rank): 73.6 points per game (7th)
Against (Rank): 113.8 (11th)
Leading Goalkicker: Michael Apeness (10)
Best + Fairest Leader: Billy Schilling
It’s been looking a bit dangerous for Saints fans in 2021, with new coach Robin Nahas throwing caution to the wind, as the folks from Quambee Reserve look to create a new identity for themselves.
Their one win against Doncaster East was off the back of a spirited last quarter and the ex-Roo + Tiger has clearly encouraged his side to be forward thinking, ranking better going forward than sides like Noble Park and Balwyn.
What will please was their spirited effort against a top quality opponent in Vermont, following a lacklustre one against Berwick.
Billy Schilling has been impressive at either end of the ground, with 10 goals in season 2021 to go with 25.2 disposals and 7.2 marks per game.
The next month will play a major part in the future of the club and should they continue to forge ahead with their attacking mantra, it’ll be and intriguing one to watch.
Grade – C
Montrose
Pos: 6th (Division One)
W-L: 4-3
Percentage: 86%
For (Rank): 61.8 (8th)
Against (Rank): 71.2 (6th)
Leading Goalkicker: Mitchell Davis (15)
Best + Fairest Leader: Jordan Bastinac
The Demons breathed life into their season with a pre-lockdown upset of Croydon and given the decision to go to a top four finals series, that win proved to be more than a handy one.
The win not only kept them in the finals hunt, but it also showed the Demons players that they can match it with the other finals contenders , something they’d needed given they’d lost their two previous ‘big boy’ encounters by an average of 62 points against Mitcham and Park Orchards.
The Demons have struggled going forwards, with their highest score (82) coming in a loss to Wantirna South. Mitch Davis has 24% of all goals kicked in 2021, despite nine players having notched up multiple goals in a game this season.
Promisingly 19 players have had their names in the best this season, showing that there isn’t a real reliance on any one group of players.
They’ll need every one of them if they’re to sneak into the four.
Grade – B
South Belgrave
Pos: 4th (Division Two)
W-L: 4-3
Percentage: 171%
For (Rank): 87 (1st)
Against (Rank): 50.7 (3rd)
Leading Goalkicker: Tim Smith (22)
Best + Fairest Leader: Cayden Black
The Saints talked the talk in the pre-season, and other than a tricky three week period, they’ve walked the walk so far in 2021.
The entertaining crew from up the mountain have put the lesser sides to the sword and seen their percentage benefit. Given the tightness of the Division Two finals race, that might end up being worth as good as a win.
Their forward line is almost peerless and they’re yet to find a settled 22, with only nine players taking the field in every game this season.
Add onto this that two of their three losses could easily have been wins, most notably their see-sawing battle with Ringwood where they kicked 2.8 in the first quarter, and the Saints are firming in the premiership race.
Their next three games against Boronia, The Basin and Ringwood will tell us even more.
Grade – B+
Warrandyte
Pos: 1st (Division Three)
W-L: 5-1
Percentage: 148%
For (Rank): 88.5 (3rd)
Against (Rank): 59.8 (1st)
Leading Goalkicker: Ryan Phillips (24)
Best + Fairest Leader: Chris Tout
The Bloods have been ultra impressive this season, other than that small slip up against Scoresby.
The move to increase Nikoda Brooking’s midfield minutes has added a bit of x-factor to their on ball brigade and they have some understated defenders in White, Buckley and co.
Struggled to put away bottom side Fairpark, but have put strong outfits like Ferntree Gully and East Burwood to the sword.
Once they become less Phillips centric and utilise their other forwards like Cullum, Clark and Dunn, the Bloods will go to another level.
Oh, and when they start kicking straight.
Grade – A+
Nunawading
Pos: 8th(Division Four)
W-L: 0-6
Percentage: 23%
For (Rank): 41 (7th)
Against (Rank): 171.6 (8th)
Leading Goalkicker: Dylan Harvey (3)
Best + Fairest Leader: Tom Rogers
Whilst Croydon North-MLOC have been boosted by their ground breaking win, Nunawading have been absolutely flattened.
Even more disappointingly was the fact they had been showing signs in their performances leading into their loss against KangaRams.
Cam Woods, Josh Murley and Ben Roberts have been some of their best, along with skipper Tom Rogers.
The break from football will do the club some good, giving them a chance to breathe and reset for the second half of the year and continue on their off-field focus for the future.
It’s hard to see a way out right now, but they are putting in the work behind the scenes.
Grade – D
Waverley Blues
Pos: 3rd (Division Three)
W-L: 4-3
Percentage: 139%
For (Rank): 96.7(1st)
Against (Rank): 69.5(5th)
Leading Goalkicker: Matt Perry (19)
Best + Fairest Leader: Matthew Sharpe
The Waverley Blues have been an absolute enigma in 2021, with no-one – not even their coach- able to get a read on them.
His best explanation is the mix of very young and very experienced players, plus a new coach/system is causing their inconsistency. Whatever it is, the Waverley Blues still remain a massive premiership threat if they can keep it together long enough to lock in top four.
They’ve booted three scores over 120 points and have four players with more than 10 goals in 2021, whilst the old heads of Sharpe and Paul Savage – who celebrated 250 games pre lockdown – have been their most consistent.
They’re unstoppable on their day. They just need to have more days.
Grade – B
Mooroolbark
Pos: 5th (Division One)
W-L: 4-3
Percentage: 108%
For (Rank): 74.2 (4th)
Against (Rank): 68.2 (5th)
Leading Goalkicker: Aaron Mullett (19)
Best + Fairest Leader: Kane Noonan
The Mustangs started like a house on fire and were the talk of the town in the opening few weeks, but have come crashing back to earth since then with both injuries and the NAB League/VFL playing their part.
One obvious flaw is their reliance on a couple of players, most notably Kane Noonan and Aaron Mullett, who they’d like to clone if they had the technology.
Austin Smith and Cayden Maki have also been consistent, whilst the injury to Sam Baker will see even more weight fall onto the shoulders of the main duo.
The alarming stat for Brett Lavars will be the margins by which they lost to Croydon and Park Orchards.
Injuries or not they should be more competitive if they’ve got any real ambitions of a proper premiership tilt.
Grade – B+
Park Orchards
Pos: 1st (Division One)
W-L: 6-1
Percentage: 191%
For (Rank): 102.7 (1st)
Against (Rank): 53.7 (2nd)
Leading Goalkicker: Connor Hickey (16)
Best + Fairest Leader: Kane Keppel
The Sharks have always been good to watch, but 2021 has been something special, with Dennis Armfield’s side averaging 17 goals a game. Scarily, they’ve only kicked more goals than behinds on two occasions, meaning there’s room for improvement.
They’ve had five wins by over 50 points and have raised the bat for 100 on five occasions and with a multitude of avenues to goal they’re hard to keep tabs on. Michael Prosenak remains one to watch, having kicked 12 goals from his two games this season.
Their one loss came at the hands of Croydon, and it was a fairly handy loss at that.
Croydon have got some fairly strong bodies around the contest and may have shown a chink the Sharks armour – beat them at the coalface.
Grade – A+
Rowville
Pos: 9th (Premier)
W-L: 1-4
Percentage: 76%
For (Rank): 65 (10th)
Against (Rank): 85.4 (8th)
Leading Goalkicker: Lachlan Wynd (15)
Best + Fairest Leader: Nikolas Schoenmakers
The Hawks are re-building after a number of years competing at the top of the EFNL, with a new coach and a number of youthful prospects.They’re setting records for the number of debutants in a season and like Mooroolbark have been hurt by VFL and NAB League availabilities.
The Hawks are playing a high handball game under Ben Wise, averaging 125 per game the highest in the division, with Chayce Black getting 10.8 every time he’s set foot on the field.
They’ve also played four of the top five in the division and whilst they wouldn’t want excuses made for them, there’s a strong chance they’re a lot better than their current record.
They won’t make finals, but they’ve got more than enough to avoid relegation – you’d hope.
Grade – C
Norwood
Pos: 4th
W-L: 4-1
Percentage: 136%
For (Rank): 89.2 (3rd)
Against (Rank): 65.8 (4th)
Leading Goalkicker: Jayson Spurrell (14)
Best + Fairest Leader: Tom Maloney
The Wooders need to make finals in 2021 and even though the equation has changed, there’s still no excuses should they miss out.
Norwood’s wins have been impressive, with two 50+ point wins over Rowville and North Ringwood, along with a couple of gutsy, but impressive performances against Doncaster East (away) and Balwyn.
Tom Maloney has starred for the Norsemen, averaging 26 disposals – 14.8 contested – 9.2 clearances, 7.4 tackles and 5.4 Inside 50’s a game, whilst Tristan Tweedie is becoming impossible to get past down back, taking 2.6 intercept marks a game. Norwood have been good in that regard on the whole, with their average of 16.6 a game the third best in the division.
The question mark will remain for Marty Pask’s men until they put away a couple of finals contenders, with their win against Balwyn the only one of real substance on paper.
You’ve still got to win our trust Wooders.
Grade – B+