By Ryan Long.
Chirnside Park
Position: 4th (5-2)
Percentage: 119.81%
Points For (Rank): 738
Points Against (Rank): 616
Leading Goalkicker: Leigh Odermatt (20 Goals)
Despite a little inconsistency in their results thus far, compare where Chirnside Park sit after Round Nine in 2024 compared to Round Nine 2023, it’s a much more comfortable position to be sitting in.
Chirnside Park won’t have too many concerns heading into a finals series, knowing their best is good enough to beat anyone. They’ve defeated all of the other top-four teams once, including a 21-point victory over Whitehorse at Springfield Park, a difficult venue to win at.
Like most sides in the division, their home form is much better than on the road, four and zip at Kimberley Reserve.
Skipper Chaz Clavant has been outstanding, leading the way. Trent Castledine and Justin Ficorilli have both lived up to expectations, the two recruits combining for 33 goals this season, both possessing the ability to turn a game on it’s head.
Veteran Leigh Odermatt has been in the best six times of seven games, the side’s leading goal kicker with 20 majors.
As the case for the other top four teams, double chance going to be vital. The Panthers missed out on a spot in the top-two last season, eliminated in an Elimination Final, they’ll know the importance of finishing in the top-two.
Can they win the flag this season? Absolutely.
Prediction: 3rd
Croydon North MLOC
Position: 7th (1-6)
Percentage: 57.78%
Points For (Rank): 375
Points Against (Rank): 649
Leading Goalkicker: Jacob Crowe (10 Goals)
The KangaRams pinched their first win of the 2024 season two weeks ago with a thoroughly convincing win over Nunawading by 51 points.
The side had a high influx of recruits join the squad this season, their overall form has certainly improved from last year’s results.
Apart from a 96-point loss to Chirnside Park, the KangaRams have been competitive most weeks of the season, having lapses in second halves that has blown out margins.
Two of the side’s most consistent players has been Tom Galway and William Robinson. Both players have featured in the best six of seven games. Galway came to Croydon North MLOC last season, moving from Blackburn. Only managing eight games last year, Galway is yet to miss a game all season.
Jacob Crowe from his four games this season, has booted ten goals, the senior side’s leading goal kicker.
Improving each week, looking forward to seeing if they can put together a full four-quarter performance against some of the division’s top teams.
Prediction: 7th
Forest Hill
Position: 5th (2-6)
Percentage: 63.61%
Points For (Rank): 465
Points Against (Rank): 731
Leading Goalkicker: Ben Rudd (13 Goals)
2024 marks a transition season for the Zebras with Brad Tuite taking over the duties as senior coach.
Just the two wins in the opening nine rounds, one of those coming against premiership contender, Chirnside Park. Sonny Doherty was outstanding in that victory, having come up from the Under 19’s side last season, playing all eight senior games this season.
Ben Rudd has carried a fair part of the workload, 13 goals and four times listed in the best. Arguably his best game this season came last week in the side’s six-point loss to Nunawading with four majors for the day in a low-scoring game.
Ned Bradley has continued to improve in his second season at Forest Hill, four times in the best, possessing the ability to hit the scoreboard.
Biggest thing they’ll be after in the second half of the season is some further consistency from the overall young group. They may not make the top-four, but as we’ve seen, they can shape it with upset victories.
Prediction: 5th
Kilsyth
Position: 3rd (5-2)
Percentage: 131.68%
Points For (Rank): 561
Points Against (Rank): 426
Leading Goalkicker: Ryan Goodinson (18 Goals)
Last year’s Minor Premiers and Runner’s Up haven’t set the world on fire, yet still sit nicely in third place, having played one less game than the other top-four teams.
Their best win of the season came last week when the Cougars defeated the Pioneers by 33 points, keeping the fast attacking side of the Pioneers to just six goals.
Skipper Ryan McNay hasn’t missed a beat, sure to be a contender for this year’s Division Four league best and fairest.
Youngster Spencer Lamb has also continued to improve across the season, putting together a nice month of footy, three times in the best in the last three weeks.
One of the best stories coming out of the season so far is Luke Ivanovic. Still playing in the Under 17’s side, Ivanovic has also managed to play in all seven senior games, a great achievement for the young star.
Another big test for the side this weekend when they head to Scoresby Recreation Reserve for the second time this season. Last year, they had the Magpies match but they’ll be looking to make things even in 2024 with a win next week.
The extra game in hand will certainly help in their attempts for a top-two finish.
Prediction: 4th
Nunawading
Position: 6th (2-6)
Percentage: 57.87%
Points For (Rank): 500
Points Against (Rank): 864
Leading Goalkicker: Andrew Murray (20 Goals)
Frank Salanitri’s men are building nicely, entering the King’s Birthday Weekend bye off a six-point victory over Forest Hill.
It was an important victory after what had been a disappointing three-week patch of football after some positive signs early in the season.
Early season form showed a big improvement on their scoring ability, 62 points per game which was much higher after the first month of the season.
Defensively, the side has leaked more points than anyone else, conceding an average of 108 points per game.
Andrew Murray and Jordan Murray have impressed in front of the big sticks with 39 goals between them. Meanwhile, Harrison Miller has been as consistent as ever, six times in the best, five of those in consecutive weeks.
Great to see Cooper Winter return in the last month, his best performance of the season came last week in the side’s close win over the Zebras.
Important for the group to continue to make the right steps forward and add a couple of more wins to the tally.
Prediction: 6th
Scoresby
Position: 1st (6-2)
Percentage: 185.37%
Points For (Rank): 836
Points Against (Rank): 451
Leading Goalkicker: Adam Amin (50 Goals)
Top of the ladder after Round Nine, a superior percentage and an exciting young list, a lot to like if you’re a Scoresby fan.
They did tick a big box earlier this season when they defeated Kilsyth, a team they struggled against multiple times in 2023.
However, there’s still plenty to prove for Scoresby, a three-week block of games against the other top-four teams will give us a true indicator of just where the side sits.
One of the other big questions in the second half of the season is can Adam Amin kick 100 goals this season? Half-way through the season, he sits on exactly 50 majors, an average of six goals per game.
It’s no surprise that the Magpies are the number one attacking side in the division, but they’re also the number one defensive side if you don’t count Kilsyth who have played one less game. Scoresby concede an average of 56 points per game, only Whitehorse have hit the 100-point mark against them.
Across the board this season, they’ve had great contribution for the likes of Jacob Delrayne, Toby Richards and Zac Corcoran.
Well and truly in the mix this season, winning at least two of their next three games will put Scoresby in the box seat for the double chance.
Prediction: 2nd
Whitehorse
Position: 2nd (6-2)
Percentage: 147.64%
Points For (Rank): 812
Points Against (Rank): 550
Leading Goalkicker: Tom Young (38 Goals)
Huge start to the season for the Pioneers, coming down a grade into Division Four.
Under former Chandler Medalist Andrew Haining, the Pioneers have been building nicely, sitting in second position with a record of 6 and 2.
Before last week’s lost to Kilsyth, the club were coming off the back of five-straight victories. Their most impressive victory coming in Round Eight when they put away Chirnside Park by 50 points, a 71-point turnaround from the last time the two clubs met.
There’s been a lot of talk about the forward line duo of Tom Young and Daniel Horvat who have kicked 72 goals between them. But the side have also found ways to goal via the likes of Fabris, Prout and Taylor.
Ed Sim has also been one of the side’s best once again, missing last week’s important clash with Kilsyth. Sim has featured in the best five times from seven games.
A lot of sides have found it difficult this year to travel to Springfield Park and win. They can make the uniquely shaped ground a fortress for the senior group. If they can also prove to match it with the best away from home, they’ll enter this year’s finals series as one of the leading premiership threats.
Prediction: 1st