By Noel McPhee
The Statsbench welcomes footy fans to the 2022 EFNL season and what an off-season it has been, with two new clubs joining, the first time that this has happened since 2000. A big hearty Statsbench welcome to Beaconsfield FC and Oakleigh District FNC, the 66th and 67th senior men’s teams to have ever played in the league, and bringing the total number of senior men’s teams to 48.Division 1 Round 1Wins WinsDrawsStreakCroydon18Lilydale191C 3^Montrose7East Ringwood70M 2Mitcham3Mooroolbark101Mbk 2Upper FTG5Bayswater200B 1Beaconsfield–Wantirna South–––
SBRD* have noted that Beaconsfield previously played against Berwick in a number of leagues, most recently Outer East, and also against South Belgrave in the South West Gippsland FL and Mulgrave and Noble Park in the Dandenong and District FL. The Eagles will face Wantirna South as their first EFNL opponent and become Wantirna South’s 57th senior men’s opponent equalling Rowville for the most number of teams played.Division 2 Round 1Wins WinsDrawsStreakEast Burwood4Knox70K 2Mulgrave15Boronia250B 3Oakleigh District–Templestowe–––South Belgrave4Heathmont120H 1The Basin9Ringwood161TB 1
Oakleigh District have previously matched up against Balwyn in both the Southern FL and the old South East Suburban FL and against Noble Park in both those leagues plus the Federal FL and the Caulfield-Oakleigh FL. A first up match against Templestowe will result in the Dockers’ 41st EFNL opponent.Division 3 Round 1Wins WinsDrawsStreakFerntree Gully32Fairpark211FTG 5Scoresby1Glen Waverley01S 1^Warrandyte7Waverley Blues110WB 1Whitehorse Prs3Donvale40D 2^Coldstream Bye
Coldstream change divisions for the 12th time.Division 4 Round 1Wins WinsDrawsStreakForest Hill13Chirnside Park80FH 2Surrey Park7Kilsyth221SP 2Silvan2Croydon Nth MLOC00S 2^Nunawading Bye
There will be a significant Premiership drought broken in Division 4 no matter which club takes home the flag. Could the current EFNL-wide drought (Forest Hill back to 1984) be broken??
Current Streaks: Coldstream W11; Mulgrave L7
All figures are for men’s EFL matches 1962 – 2021
* Statsbench Research Department
^ Best Winning Streak against this week’s opponent
Acknowledgement: localfootystats.com
© Noel McPhee 2022