We’re now halfway through the home-and-away rounds of the 2015 Peter Jackson VFL season, so let’s take stock of where each club is at and what’s ahead for them in the run to the finals.
The race for the top 8 spots is going to be as close as ever, with just two games separating first to ninth on the ladder.
We look at how clubs have performed till Round 10:
Box Hill Hawks (1st, 7-1, 140.1%)
Leading goalkicker: Sam Grimley (21)
Leading stats: Kicks – David Mirra (140) / Handballs – Alex Woodward (103) / Marks – David Mirra (70)
Most times in best players: Jonathan Simpkin, Sam Collins, Tom Gordon (4)
Injury concerns: Ayden Kennedy has been the main out this season for the Hawks, with his knee injury carrying over from the 2014 finals.
Box Hill has only lost to Werribee at home in Round 4 and heads into the second half of the season on the back of strong wins over traditional powerhouses Port Melbourne and Williamstown. With a relatively kind draw to come, the Hawks are well placed to again finish at the pointy end of the ladder in 2015.
Casey Scorpions (8th, 5-4, 107.1%)
Leading goalkicker: Max Gawn (8)
Leading stats: Kicks – Dean Terlich (101) / Handballs – Aidan Riley (92) / Marks – Evan Panozza (46)
Most times in best players: Viv Michie (4)
Injury concerns: Have had a good run with injuries of late, with limited long term injuries.
The Scorpions have had an up-and-down season under new coach Justin Plapp, never winning or losing more than two matches in a row. They’ve made travelling to Casey Fields a difficult assignment for opponents though, winning four of five games there. A tough final five rounds means Casey could be battling hard to keep its place in the top eight.
Coburg (12th, 3-6, 79.3%)
Leading goalkicker: Daniel Younan (15)
Leading stats: Kicks – Cale Morton (139) / Handballs – Daniel Venditti (121) / Marks – Cale Morton (58)
Most times in best players: Daniel Venditti (8)
Injury concerns: Depth is being tested with Richard Bamblett (leg) and Liam Hunt (knee) still on the sidelines for at least a month.
Despite their 3-6 record, the Lions have played some good football against some of the better clubs in the league this season. Having defeated Richmond, Frankston and the Northern Blues, Coburg has also gotten within 20 points of Box Hill and 26 points of Essendon, and only been blown out of the water by Williamstown in Round 6 by 78 points.
Collingwood (9th, 5-3, 103.9%)
Leading goalkicker: Michael Still (17)
Leading stats: Kicks – Ryan Pendlebury (88) / Handballs – Ben Moloney (60) / Marks – Jonathon Marsh (43)
Most times in best players: Ben Moloney (5)
Injury concerns: Michael Still will be a key out in the second half of the season with a hamstring injury – is the clubs leading goal kicker.
The Magpies recovered from two poor losses to North Ballarat and Essendon to start the season with four straight wins, including three thrillers by less than nine points. Collingwood’s last match, a strong win against Werribee, was just its second for 2015 at Victoria Park, but with seven of the last 10 matches at their home base, the Pies could be well placed to slip into the finals.
Essendon (2nd, 6-3, 138.2%)
Leading goalkicker: Kyle Hardingham (13)
Leading stats: Kicks – Nick O’Brien (161) / Handballs – Nick O’Brien (107) / Marks – Ariel Steinberg (82)
Most times in best players: Ariel Steinberg, Nick O’Brien (6)
Injury concerns: Shoulder injuries aplenty at the Bombers, with Kyle Hardingham, Sam Heavyside and Jydon Neagle on the sidelines, along with Josh Freezer (hand).
After a tough 23-point loss to Box Hill at home in Round 5, the Bombers have emerged as a top-four threat in 2015, winning four straight matches. The last two of those victories were by 92 points against Geelong and 94 points against Frankston, boosting Essendon’s percentage considerably. Port Melbourne and Williamstown in the next two weeks will be a test of their credentials.
Footscray (7th, 5-3, 143.2%)
Leading goalkicker: Jack Redpath (18)
Leading stats: Kicks – Shane Biggs (108) / Handballs – Brent Prismall (112) / Marks – Jordan Russell (54)
Most times in best players: Brent Prismall, Jack Redpath, Lachie Hunter (4)
Injury concerns: Anthony Barry has been the main player on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
The 2014 premiers have had a stuttering start under new coach Ash Hansen, losing two of the first three games – including to Box Hill by 13 points in the Grand Final rematch – before thrashing Geelong, North Ballarat and Frankston in percentage-boosting wins. But a comprehensive loss at home to Williamstown in Round 8 might have the Bulldogs questioning how their title defence is tracking.
Frankston (15th, 0-9, 53.9%)
Leading goalkicker: Nathan Gardiner (16)
Leading stats: Kicks – Josh Tynan (114) / Handballs – Brandon Wood (97) / Marks – Corey Buchan (49)
Most times in best players: Ben Cavarra (6)
Injury concerns: Chris Irving was the big preseason loss with a knee injury, now captain Shane Hockey has suffered a wrist injury.
It hasn’t been the best start to Patrick Hill’s time in charge of the club, with the winless Dolphins conceding over 80 points in every game this season. While Frankston got within 16 points of Coburg and 18 points of the Northern Blues, perhaps their most impressive performance was a 31-point loss to Port Melbourne in Round 10.
Geelong (10th, 4-5, 87.5%)
Leading goalkicker: Simon Close (11)
Leading stats: Kicks – Tom Ruggles (109) / Handballs – Brenton Rees (84) / Marks – Cameron Tudor (47)
Most times in best players: Jake Kolodjashnij (5)
Injury concerns: Co-captain Ryan Williams is due to return in coming weeks from an ankle injury.
It was a bright start to Paul Hood’s first year at the helm of Geelong with victories over Werribee and Richmond in the opening two rounds, before the Cats lost five straight matches – including three by nine points or less. Things have improved since then with two more wins, but some difficult assignments in the latter half of the season means Geelong face a battle to crack into the top eight.
North Ballarat (13th, 3-7, 64.0%)
Leading goalkicker: Andrew Hooper (18)
Leading stats: Kicks – Nick Rippon (136) / Handballs – Myles Sewell (108) / Marks – Luke Kiel (53)
Most times in best players: Luke Kiel, Myles Sewell, Nick Rippon (6)
Injury concerns: A calf injury to Orren Stephenson has been the big concern over recent weeks, along with an ankle injury to Liam Hoy and co-captain Matt Austin also on the sidelines through illness.
The Roosters have struggled at times in a season that marks the end of an era, with the partial alignment with North Melbourne finishing and Gerard FitzGerald leaving at the close of 2015. Some huge defeats to strong teams have been balanced by three fighting victories over Collingwood, the Northern Blues and Casey, but it’s difficult to see North Ballarat making an impact in September.
Northern Blues (11th, 3-6, 92.9%)
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Watson (19)
Leading stats: Kicks – Tom Fields (131) / Handballs – Brad Walsh (96) / Marks – Kieran McGuinness (59)
Most times in best players: Brad Walsh, Kieran McGuinness, Nick Graham, Nick Holman (5)
Injury concerns: Ryan Tester is recovering from a back injury, with Cameron Conlon due to return soon from a knee injury.
The Blues have found themselves in some tense situations on the field in 2015, playing in five matches decided by eight points or less (for two wins and three losses). Their ability to stay competitive hasn’t wavered all season, with a biggest losing margin of 28 points against Box Hill in Round 7. With a relatively favourable draw to come, Northern would fancy its chances of challenging for a top-eight spot.
Port Melbourne (6th, 6-3, 111.1%)
Leading goalkicker: Blake Pearson (20)
Leading stats: Kicks – Tom Langford (130) / Handballs – Tom O’Sullivan (125) / Marks – Jordan Lisle (58)
Most times in best players: Nathan Batsanis (6)
Injury concerns: Chris Cain (foot), Shannen Lange (hamstring) and James Magner (wrist) have depleted the Port midfield over the last month.
Despite sitting in sixth position with three losses to their name, the Borough boys have only been comprehensively outplayed by Box Hill to the tune of 55 points in Round 8. A memorable two-point win over Williamstown and tight losses to Werribee (12 points) and Sandringham (seven) indicate Port Melbourne will be once again in the thick of the September action.
Richmond (14th, 2-7, 90.6%)
Leading goalkicker: Liam McBean (15)
Leading stats: Kicks – Nick Wynne (111) / Handballs – Jaryd Cachia (110) / Marks – Nick Wynne (46)
Most times in best players: Jaryd Cachia (6)
Injury concerns: Jake Aarts (back) and Rian McGough (hamstring) are set to return from injury in coming weeks.
2015 hasn’t panned out well for the Tigers since they flogged North Ballarat by 82 points in Round 4 to start the season 2-2. Five straight losses – including two heartbreakers, by three points to Collingwood and two points to Footscray – have since put their hopes to play finals in severe jeopardy.
Sandringham (4th, 6-3, 113.4%)
Leading goalkicker: Mitch Brown (13)
Leading stats: Kicks – Clint Jones (140) / Handballs – Clint Jones (124) / Marks – Mitch Brown (66)
Most times in best players: Mitch Brown (6)
Injury concerns: Cam Banfield is out for the season with a knee injury, and Taylor Grace is on the sidelines with a foot injury.
The Zebras have looked invigorated under new coach Paul Hudson in 2015, winning memorably against Essendon by one point in Round 1 and by seven points against Port Melbourne in Round 9. Comfortable losses to Williamstown and Box Hill indicate Sandringham still has a way to go to match it with the absolute best, but the club is certainly heading upwards.
Werribee (5th, 6-4, 112.4%)
Leading goalkicker: Majak Daw (24)
Leading stats: Kicks – Matt Hanson (148) / Handballs – Isaac Conway (94) / Marks – Will Fordham (51)
Most times in best players: Matt Hanson (8)
Injury concerns: An ankle injury to Tom Gribble has kept him on the sidelines with captain Michael Sodomaco just returning from injury.
After losing to Geelong in Round 1, Werribee went on a winning spree, knocking off Port Melbourne, Williamstown and Box Hill en route to five consecutive victories. Things have slowed for the Tigers in their last four matches, defeated comfortably by Sandringham and Collingwood, and losing a tight one last round to the Northern Blues – costly considering Werribee faces current top-eight teams in the final six rounds of the season.
Williamstown (3rd, 6-3, 128.9%)
Leading goalkicker: Sam Dunell (18)
Leading stats: Kicks – Mitch Banner (148) / Handballs – Ben Jolley (127) / Marks – Sam Dunell (64)
Most times in best players: Ben Jolley, Nick Meese, Peter Faulks, Sam Dunell (5)
Injury concerns: Jack Dorgan had impressed in the midfield early in the season, but will miss rest of season with an ACL injury. Jake Owen is set to return from an elbow injury in coming weeks.
Box Hill has been the only team to truly humble the Seagulls in 2015, victorious by 62 points in a top-of-the-table battle last round. Williamstown’s only other losses have come by two points to both Port Melbourne and Werribee, indicating the traditionally strong Seagulls will be around when the whips are cracking once again.
COMING UP: Find out the leading stats winners this season in the VFL this Friday when we list the leaders in each area.
Last Modified on 25/06/2015 12:54
