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.
Freshen Up
Surrey Park’s boilover against Silvan gave Division Four a fresh lease on life this weekend.
After the Cats demolition of the most obvious contender in Chirnside Park by almost 200 points last weekend, anyone looking at Division Four was at pains to find any way a side could knock off the Cats, making the usually exciting build up to finals a bit more bleak than usual.
But thanks to a six goal to none first quarter, where they had 10 scoring shots to one, and some gritty defence in the dying stages, the Panthers pushed themselves right into the Premiership picture and injected some spice into the Division Four run home.
This comes after a rejuvenation of their own, following the club’s decision to split with David Jensen a fortnight ago via mutual consent, with pre-season recruit James Kentworthy taking over the reins.
Kentworthy, who came to the club looking to dip his toe into some assistant coaching whilst still having a run, has had a focus on bringing some more enjoyment to the way the Panthers approach their football.
In his two outings as the main man, Kentworthy has seen the Panthers hit the scoreboard with more ferocity – averaging 114 points per game – and get some star players back into form, with Tom Smith (7 goals and back-to-back times in best) and Danyon Smart (back-to-back times in best) just two of the Panthers who are back to their best following the bye.
It’s all set up for the Panthers to get some real momentum into their season now as we head for the straight.
They’ve got the bye this week before very winnable games against Nunawading and Croydon North MLOC, giving them a chance to continue developing this forward-thinking approach, whilst banking crucial percentage points along the way, as they look to pinch the double chance from Chirnside’s grasp.
Something Silvan won’t fancy after the weekend.
Split in Two
It’s not just Division Four that has a new look after the weekend.
Division Three has become quite the conundrum, with the top four sides seemingly all but safe in the finals, with the remaining five clubs still working to keep their heads above water, with the spectre of double relegation looming large.
Waverley got yet another to win as their assault on the minor premiership continues, while Warrandyte all but locked away finals with another tight win on their home deck, leaving their opponent Coldstream back in fourth after Donvale snuck home in a shootout with Scoresby to scoot into third.
Mathematically only Waverley have secured their finals position, but on form it’s hard to see any of the other three clubs slipping out. Warrandyte should get enough wins; Donvale are seeing more and more players return and Coldstream still have three home games and a trip to Glen Waverley to come, leaving them with more than enough bankable games to lock up a spot.
Down the other end of the table, Fairpark’s win over Glen Waverley not only saw the Lions move up to 8th on the ladder – pushing Ferntree Gully back to the bottom in the process – but it also dragged Whitehorse and Scoresby right back into the mire, with just four points now separating the 5th placed Magpies and the 8th placed Lions.
Neither Scoresby nor Whitehorse have won a game on the road this season, something that could sink them in the long run.
Both sides have three home games remaining but with Scoresby hosting Waverley, Coldstream and Whitehorse and Whitehorse welcoming Warrandyte, Glen Waverley, and Ferntree Gully, these home games aren’t the locks they were in the front half of the fixture.
Both clubs travel to Fairpark, games the Lions will fancy, given the Magpies and Pioneers worries on the road, and the freedom that comes with a lack of expectation.
Add into this equation the ominous return to form of Ferntree Gully and one thing’s for sure.
Only four sides are safe from relegation in 2022.
Devils Double
Are Wantirna South about to take ownership of the elusive fifth spot in this season’s Division One after all?
The Devils straight kicking saw them down a wasteful Montrose side on their home deck this Saturday to move a game clear into 5th spot on the table, after their first back-to-back wins (in consecutive weeks, they won back-to-back games late last season pre and post a lockdown) since Rounds Four and Five last season.
Liam Hewett continued his impressive 2022, kicking another set of four goals to make it eight in a fortnight, whilst David Lang has returned to form following the Queen’s Birthday bye and Marcus Jordan bobbed up again with four majors of his own.
The Devils should make it three in a row this weekend, as they host Upper Ferntree Gully, and will have some serious momentum under their belts before a crucial set of games against Croydon and Mitcham.
Given their close shaves against the Blues (5 points) and Tigers (1 point) the first time around, some much needed momentum (and confidence) might be the difference, as they look to deliver finals for the first time since 2016.