As the Peter Jackson VFL top eight teams commence their quest for premiership glory this weekend, seven clubs are already looking ahead to 2016. Let’s take a look at how the season panned out for them.
NORTH BALLARAT (9th, 8-10)
Leading goalkicker: Andrew Hooper (36)
Leading stat winners: Kicks – Nick Rippon (238) / Handballs – Nick Rippon (208) / Marks – Tony Lockyer (108)
Predicted B&F: Nick Rippon / Myles Sewell
The Roosters moved towards life without Gerard FitzGerald and the partial alignment with North Melbourne in 2016 with an up-and-down season. They suffered some big losses in the early and middle parts of the year on the way to a 3-10 record, but then won five straight matches – including an impressive come-from-behind victory over Collingwood at Victoria Park – to farewell ‘Fitzy’ in style. Myles Sewell returned to the club in a co-captaincy role and enjoyed a typically prolific season, while Andrew Hooper was dynamic as a small forward after crossing from the SANFL. In addition, the continued development of young local talent such as Nick Rippon and Tony Lockyer will help set North Ballarat up for its new era as a standalone club.
PORT MELBOURNE (10th, 7-11)
Leading goalkicker: Jordan Lisle (42)
Leading stat winners: Kicks – Damian Mascitti (271) / Handballs – Toby Pinwill (249) / Marks – Jordan Lisle (118)
Predicted B&F: Toby Pinwill / Nathan Batsanis
The story of the Borough’s season revolved around injuries to key players. Chris Cain, James Magner, Josh Scipione, Leigh Osborne and Hugh Sandilands among others all missed significant chunks of the season, adding to a void of experience left by departing champions such as John Baird, Sam Pleming and Shane Valenti. But while last year’s minor premiers missed the finals for the first time since 2006, there were certainly positives to come out of 2015. Forward Blake Pearson and ruckman Sam Gilmore look to be players of the future, off-season forward line recruits Jordan Lisle and Khan Haretuku proved a handful for opposition defences, and new captain Toby Pinwill gathered the ball at will. But ultimately, a seven-match losing streak between Rounds 11 and 18 cruelled a season that started brightly.
GEELONG (11th, 7-11)
Leading goalkicker: Shane Kersten (13)
Leading stat winners: Tom Ruggles (243) / Handballs – Brenton Rees (164) / Marks – Tom Ruggles (96)
Predicted B&F: Tom Ruggles
It was a year of transition at both AFL and VFL level for Geelong. Paul Hood took over the VFL coaching reins from Matthew Knights and the combination of Ryan Williams, Ben Raidme, Jackson Hollmer and Jackson Sheringham replaced the retired Dom Gleeson as co-captains. As a result of the AFL Cats giving more games to developing players, the depth of the VFL team suffered. However, the performances of young potential AFL stars such as Jarrad Jansen, Jake Kolodjashnij and Dean Gore, and the stability provided by VFL regulars such as Tom Ruggles, Brenton Rees and Matt Farrelly produced some spectacular results, including two defeats of Werribee – one time in Round 13 through a thrilling Shane Kersten goal on the final siren.
COBURG (12th, 7-11)
Leading goalkicker: Daniel Younan (24)
Leading stat winners: Kicks – Ozgur Uysal (287) / Handballs – Daniel Venditti (230) / Marks – Cale Morton (109)
Predicted B&F: Daniel Venditti / Ozgur Uysal
The Lions farewelled their seven-year captain Nick Carnell with a year in which finals action was still on the cards ahead of Round 19. However, a hard-fought loss to the Casey Scorpions ended their hopes and saw the immediate retirement of Carnell. The club is well-placed for life without him though, with the likes of Daniel Venditti and Ben Clifton ready to step up and fill the void after outstanding seasons. Ex-AFL player Cale Morton made an impact in his first year at Coburg, Josh Cauchi impressed straight out of the TAC Cup and key-position player Michael Hartley has developed into a possible AFL draftee. The signs are good ahead of a third season as a standalone club, no more evident than in an upset 48-point victory over Footscray in Round 15.
RICHMOND (13th, 5-13)
Leading goalkicker: Liam McBean (42)
Leading stat winners: Kicks – Matt Dea (195) / Handballs – Matt Thomas (180) / Marks – Matt Dea (94)
Predicted B&F: Jaryd Cachia / Matt Thomas
The Tigers again finished outside the top eight in their second year as a VFL club. Several young AFL-listed players such as Jason Castagna, Matt McDonough and Matt Arnot took regular opportunities to develop their games, while Liam McBean was a joint-winner of the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal after a stellar season in front of the big sticks. New recruit and captain Jaryd Cachia won plenty of contested ball in the midfield, while experienced campaigners Nick Wynne and James Wall helped provide the backbone for a youthful team. The clear highlight of 2015 was a stunning final-quarter comeback victory over Port Melbourne at Punt Road Oval in Round 14.
NORTHERN BLUES (14th, 4-14)
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Watson / Blaine Johnson (27)
Leading stat winners: Kicks – Tom Fields (228) / Handballs – Brad Walsh (191) / Marks – Tom Wilson (89)
Predicted B&F: Brad Walsh
Northern’s year was a reflection of Carlton’s poor season at AFL level. As injuries and poor form opened the door for developing AFL-listed players to move up to the elite level, the VFL Blues suffered. 2015 started brightly though, with a one-point loss to Williamstown in Round 1 soon followed by six-point win against Sandringham in Round 3. However, an upset four-point victory over Werribee in Round 10 soon gave way to an eight–match losing streak to round out the season. The positives included consistent good form from AFL-listed youngsters such as Brad Walsh, Blaine Johnson and Tom Fields, as well as the emergence of American project player Alex Aurrichio, who established himself as the club’s ruckman across 11 matches.
FRANKSTON (15th, 0-18)
Leading goalkicker: Nathan Gardiner (26)
Leading stat winners: Kicks – Josh Tynan (228) / Handballs – Ben Cavarra (161) / Marks – Corey Buchan (96)
Predicted B&F: Ben Cavarra / Jason Pongracic
It’s fair to say it wasn’t the perfect start to Patrick Hill’s time as a senior coach with the Dolphins. Hill oversaw a fruitless campaign in terms of wins, but showed Frankston is still a fruitful breeding ground for potential top-end talent and was recently rewarded with a two-year contract extension. Youngsters Ben Cavarra, Jason Pongracic and Josh Tynan enjoyed stellar seasons, captain Shane Hockey was again important in the midfield and the club’s relationship with the Dandenong Stingrays was strengthened through regular appearances from Daniel Capiron, Harrison Prior and Jayden Bubb.
Last Modified on 03/09/2015 10:22
