WHO would have dared suggest at the start of the season that come the halfway mark of the 2013 year neither of last year’s Grand Finalists would be located in the top two positions?
Okay, Geelong and Port Melbourne sit third and fourth respectively and the former is only percentage points away from top spot.
But, that’s not the point. The surge by Box Hill Hawks and the continued consistent form of Casey Scorpions highlights just how tight, competitive and enthralling the 2013 season is shaping.
While North Ballarat is languishing in 11th position the powerhouse from not-so-long ago showed it still can mix it with the top-of-the-table clubs like Port Melbourne.
What has been the recurring theme of the first half of the season is that any club on any given day can defeat another club regardless of where they may be sitting.
And, that’s what all competitions want – a season that goes right down to the last quarter of the last home and away match.
It’s not gilding the lily too much to suggest such a scenario may exist this season.
That’s just how even the competition shapes up.
So, how has your club fared and what’s ahead? Here’s a club by club overview. Today we look at the fortunes so far of Bendigo, Box Hill, Casey, Coburg, Collingwood, Essendon & Frankston
BENDIGO GOLD
2013 Record: 14th, 0-9
2012 Record (same stage): 8th, 5-4
2012 Finish: 8th
Goal kickers: Magin (8), Pollock (8)
Season So Far: Unfortunately, no warm and fuzzy feeling stories for the expansion team, which has struggled mightily in its first season as a stand-alone VFL club. With the departure of key VFL players, headed by co-captains Ben Duscher and Trent Shinners, Bendigo had no player with more than 40 VFL games on its list. Captain Steve Stroobants is the most experienced player, but most of his teammates are new comers to such a standard, intensity, pressure and speed. Regrettably, it’s very evident. Such inexperience has haunted Bendigo, which has been on the receiving ends of some frightful hidings. The Gold have suffered three 100 plus point defeats including a whopping 175-point loss against Williamstown. But, to Bendigo’s credit they rebounded in their next game to run Coburg to 10-points in their best performance for the season. It was the same ugly scoreline, however, when Werribee had finished with them last week.
Outlook: Bendigo Gold still has a long haul ahead of it, but you have to tip your hat to Aussie Jones, whose positive, resilience and enthusiastic approach has given the young, inexperienced team the belief that if they keep persevering they will improve. Improve enough to win a match this season? That may be stretching it, but Jones will looking to the second half to reduce the magnitude of the defeats and work towards becoming a far more competitive team.
BOX HILL HAWKS
2013 Record: 1st, 7-2
2012 Record (same stage): 5th, 5-4
2012 Finish: 6th
Goal kickers: Tobin (12), Wood (11),
Season So Far: Box Hill Hawks could make a compelling case that it should turn into the second half of the season undefeated such has its stunning first half been. The VFL Hawks own a 7-2 record with both its defeats being less than one goal – four points against Port Melbourne and then finishing five points shy of Geelong and both those clubs promise to feature prominently in premiership calculations. Box Hill Hawks also belted Casey Scorpions by 10 goals and apart from an 11-point win against Essendon and a six-point win against Sandringham, has won all its games by four goals or more. Box Hill Hawks has a good mix of experienced VFL players like Sam Iles, Daniel Pratt and David Mirra and that’s been a big plus. Admittedly, Damian Carroll has plenty of talented AFL Hawks at his call, but, significantly, they’ve performed as every club would like and consequently, Box Hill Hawks have soared to their best start to a season in a decade.
Outlook: For all its good start to the season, plenty of challenges await. While Box Hill Hawks don’t face Geelong in the second half, they’ve still got a daunting draw with Werribee (away), Port Melbourne (away) and Williamstown awaiting. And, to cap off a tough schedule, Box Hill Hawks host Casey Scorpions in the final game of the home and away season. It has enough wins in the bank to ensure they’ll play finals, but just how high they finish in the eight depends on how they fare in those upcoming big games.
CASEY SCORPIONS
2013 Record: 2nd, 7-2
2012 Record (same stage): 2nd, 8-1
2012 Finish: 5th
Goal kickers: Fitzpatrick (16), Best (12), Taggert (10)
Season So Far: Who said Casey Scorpions wouldn’t be a factor in 2013? Many were guilty of again writing off the Scorpions on the back of no big name pre-season signings. But, importantly, Casey retained the core of its VFL list and there’s been plenty of affiliate senior, highly touted Melbourne players rolling in an out of the Scorpions on a weekly basis. And, the added bonus is that Demon mini draft selection Jesse Hogan will play the entire season at Casey. Admittedly, they slipped up against Box Hill Hawks, Port Melbourne and Geelong, but those three clubs have handed out similar defeats to most clubs. Casey boasts a win over Williamstown and comfortably handled all the other clubs it has played.
Outlook: As a result of all the above, Casey has all but booked its seventh successive finals appearance. The Scorpions not only have a healthy bank of wins, but its percentage is also worth a game. What will help Casey in its bid for a top four spot is that it doesn’t play Geelong, Port Melbourne or Williamstown in the second half and it also has five games at Casey Fields, where its record is impressive.
COBURG
2013 Record: 12th, 3-6
2012 Record (same stage): 9th, 3-6
2012 Finish: 11th
Goal kickers: Edwards (21), McBean (19)
Season So Far: THERE’s a Groundhog Day feel about Coburg. On its day, as evident against Sandringham and Essendon, Coburg Tigers are a most formidable team. The problem for Coburg is that day is like sightings of Punnsutawny Phil! Too rare! For most of the season Coburg have struggled big time with Williamstown inflicting a 100-point defeat and Werribee (89) and Port Melbourne (55) also showing them up. And, it took Coburg an eternity to shrug off a pesky Bendigo Gold at home. Coburg relies massively on its Richmond affiliation. When it defeated Essendon, the team boasted Shane Tuck, Aaron Edwards, Robin Nahas, Orren Stephenson, Nathan Foley, Robin Nahas, Jake Batchelor and Matthew Dea.
Outlook: Much will depend on how injury free Richmond is in the second half. If the Tigers are able to keep all its players on the park then the flow on effect is that we’ll see a lot more of the Coburg side we saw against Sandringham and Essendon. While the first half results have left them with much work to do if Coburg can field its best possible team they could make a late rush for finals action.
COLLINGWOOD
2013 Record: 6th, 6-4
2012 Record (same stage): 11th, 2-7
2012 Finish: 12th
Goal kickers: Paine (27), Martin (20), Allan (13)
Season So Far: Collingwood could easily lay claim, along with Box Hill Hawks, to being the most improved club in 2013. After being largely uncompetitive last season and on the end of some fearful hidings, the VFL Magpies have emerged as a different team this season. Sure, Casey Scorpions belted them by 90-points, but Collingwood had 14 VFL players that day as opposed to the Scorpions having 14 AFL players. It told. That loss aside, Collingwood has been in every game with its three previous losses coming by six, eight and 13 points against Williamstown, Werribee and Frankston respectively. Collingwood is one of only two clubs to defeat reigning premiers Geelong and unlike last season they’ve been able to provide scoreboard pressure. Six times they’ve kicked 100 points or more, something they weren’t able to do all last season. More importantly, Collingwood has unearthed a bunch of players – Nick Riddle, Lachlan Ferguson, Ben Moloney, Jack Hellier and Chris Mangoni – who’ve shown they’re quite at home at this level.
Outlook: Collingwood can push for its return to the finals for the first time since 2010 if it can reproduce its first half season performance. As has been evident throughout the season, Collingwood’s AFL listed players have bought into its VFL program and that’s lifted its VFL players to previously new heights. But, the VFL Magpies will need to be on the top of its game as it faces Port Melbourne, Geelong, Casey, Williamstown and Werribee on the run home.
ESSENDON
2013 Record: 10th, 3-7
2012 Record (same stage): N/A
2012 Finish: N/A
Goal kickers: Dell’Olio (23), Daniher (21), Bate (12)
Season So Far: IT’S been a roller-coaster ride for Essendon in its first season as a stand-alone club. The VFL Bombers took aim at former affiliate with a 90-point demolition to open the season, clipped North Ballarat by six goals and belted Sandringham by 10 goals. But, Essendon copped some of their own medicine when Casey thrashed them by 83-points and Geelong and Coburg easily accounted for them. In its losses against Box Hill Hawks, Port Melbourne and Collingwood the margin was less than two goals. If a couple of those narrow defeats had been turned into wins, Essendon would have been well satisfied with its first half. As it is Essendon has been able to groom emerging star Joe Daniher as well as provide healthy competition for those playing in the AFL.
Outlook: While Essendon needs to flip-flop its results from the first half, it is not out of the question as they have a favourable run home without having to confront Port Melbourne, Geelong and Williamstown. Its toughest assignments are road trips to Casey Fields and Werribee. Look for the Bombers to be flying home.
FRANKSTON
2013 Record: 13th, 2-7
2012 Record (same stage): 13th, 1-8
2012 Finish: 13th
Goal kickers: Lourey (30), Lloyd (17), Alwan (12)
Season So Far: After an extensive recruiting campaign that netted the Dolphins veteran Sandringham captain David Gallagher, proven goal kicker Michael Lourey, ex-Geelong forward Scott Simpson and a bunch of exciting, talented young players from community leagues, Frankston was expected to improve significantly this season. And, that’s exactly how it appeared as they defeated powerhouse Port Melbourne and the emerging Collingwood in successive weeks. Maybe the Dolphins got ahead of themselves and thought it was just going to happen. Whatever the reason, Frankston has lost its next six games and, worryingly for coach Simon Goosey, all have been by five goals plus. Geelong, Box Hill Hawks and Northern Blues really exposed the Dolphins’ weaknesses.
Outlook: There’s no doubt that Frankston is much better than its latest form suggests, but it’s little point looking a good team in the newspaper and not delivering when it comes game day. Frankston need to get back to the basics and reproducing that hard-nosed, tenacious football that’s made them hard to play against in the past. It would appear that finals are no longer part of the equation, but a pass mark for Frankston would be to win more games than it loses in the second half of the year.
Visit the website Friday for the remaining seven club reviews.
Photo: Jenny Owens
Last Modified on 20/06/2013 18:04