With all Peter Jackson VFL teams having played at least 11 games, the field of contenders has turned for home in the run to the finals.
We look at each club’s stats leaders, formline and stand-out players during the season so far and also outlines their remaining fixtures.
BOX HILL HAWKS (9th, 5-6, 102.9%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Teia Miles (15) / Kicks – David Mirra (196) / Marks – Mirra (84) / Handballs – Brendan Whitecross (99)
Formline: Last year’s runners-up started the season in typical fashion with four straight wins, including triumphs over Sandringham (37 points) and Williamstown (15). However, since being sunk by a late Aaron Black goal against Werribee in Round 6, the Hawks have dropped six of their last seven games.
Stand-outs: Box Hill’s top-end has taken a hit due to injuries at AFL level forcing the next generation to step up, but that has created opportunities for the likes of VFL-listed forwards Pat Lawlor (12 goals), Chris Jones (11) and Jake Summers (10), while Liam Kidd, Julian Soccio and Jordan Walker have also broken into the senior team. Captain David Mirra remains a rock in the back line, while ex-North Melbourne defender Max Warren has made an impact in his first season at the club.
The run home: Essendon (A) / Richmond (A) / Footscray (A) / Werribee (H) / Sandringham (A) / Collingwood (H) / Casey Scorpions (H) – every game crucial.
CASEY SCORPIONS (1st, 9-2, 158.5%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Liam Hulett (19) / Kicks – Dean Terlich (129) / Marks – Terlich (55) / Handballs – James Munro (135)
Formline: Casey’s VFL-listed and AFL-listed players have clicked in Justin Plapp’s second season as coach, losing only to Williamstown by 44 points in Round 3 and Collingwood by 40 points in Round 10. The Scorpions notched victories over strong teams Sandringham (31 points), the Box Hill Hawks (seven) and Port Melbourne (35) to highlight their credentials.
Stand-outs: Casey has clearly benefited from increased competition for spots in aligned club Melbourne’s AFL team, but several of its VFL-listed players have shone too. Tim Smith has kicked 18 goals as part of a potent forward line and captain Jack Hutchins has been resolute in defence alongside highly-rated tall Declan Keilty, while smaller types James Munro, Angus Scott and Paul Pattison are enjoying career-best seasons.
The run home: Footscray (A) / Sandringham (H) / Coburg (A) / Essendon (H) / Werribee (H) / Geelong (A) / Box Hill Hawks (A) – top-two finish on cards.
COBURG (10th, 5-8, 96.5%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Ahmed Saad (35) / Kicks – Ozgur Uysal (172) / Marks – Peter McEvoy (68) / Handballs – Uysal (175)
Formline: Coburg’s young list has shown signs of rapid improvement in 2016. The Lions started the season 0-5, but four of those losses were by 10 points or less. Since then, they’ve won five of their past eight games – including victories over Essendon (31 points) and Footscray (12) – and are still in contention for a finals spot.
Stand-outs: It has all started with Tom Goodwin in the ruck. His bullocking work has helped the likes of Robbie Fox, Liam Hunt, Ozgur Uysal, Ben Allan and Nathan Thomas find plenty of the ball and pump it into a forward line of varied, potent options. Off-season recruit Ahmed Saad leads the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal race with 35 goals, while Dan Younan (21) and Lech Featherstone (20) aren’t far behind. The recent season-ending injury to tall forward Peter McEvoy will hurt though.
The run home: Williamstown (A) / BYE / Casey Scorpions (H) / Collingwood (A) / Frankston (A) / BYE / Richmond (A) – tough ask to play finals.
COLLINGWOOD (4th, 9-3, 103.2%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Travis Cloke, Jordan Collopy, Lachlan Ferguson (9) / Kicks – Jordan Kelly (168) / Marks – Kelly (73) / Handballs – Rupert Wills (99)
Formline: Collingwood’s season looked to be on life support at 2-3 following losses to Essendon by 85 points in Round 3 and Sandringham by 67 points in Round 5. However, coach Dale Tapping has helped inspire seven straight victories since then, including the scalps of Williamstown (five points) and the Casey Scorpions (40).
Stand-outs: Ex-AFL defender Jordan Kelly has proven an inspired off-season recruit providing drive and sure ball use off half back, while VFL-listed regulars Jack Hellier and Ben Moloney continue to do the hard stuff. Young ruckman Lachlan Howe has contributed at stoppages, while the Magpies will be rapt to have exposed the likes of Matthew Smith, Jackson Viola, Dale Hinkley, Marty Hore and Angelo Rambaldi to regular VFL football.
The run home: Frankston (A) / BYE / Geelong (H) / Coburg (H) / Port Melbourne (H) / Box Hill Hawks (A) / Footscray (A) – top-four finish on cards.
ESSENDON (8th, 6-6, 113.7%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Jack Langford (15) / Kicks – Ben McNiece (130) / Marks – Josh Freezer (57) / Handballs – Dan Coghlan (102)
Formline: Essendon hasn’t won or lost more than two matches in a row at any point. At their best, the Bombers defeated Collingwood by 85 points in Round 3 and staged a memorable comeback to topple Werribee by 13 points in Round 11, but they’ve also kicked themselves out of winnable games against Sandringham and Port Melbourne.
Stand-outs: In a tough year for the club, Essendon’s VFL team has provided AFL-listed talent such as Aaron Francis, Mason Redman and Yestin Eades with positive starts to their senior careers. Of the VFL-listers, Aaron Heppell has emerged as a gritty lock-down defender and Bruno Laguda and Nash Holmes have made an impact as the 23rd player. Ben McNiece has established himself in the side, while captain Dan Coghlan keeps on keeping on.
The run home: Box Hill Hawks (H) / Geelong (A) / BYE / Casey Scorpions (A) / Williamstown (H) / North Ballarat (A) / Northern Blues (H) – next month key to finals hopes.
FOOTSCRAY (6th, 7-5, 101.2%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Shaun Wyatt (15) / Kicks – Jordan Russell (197) / Marks – Russell (80) / Handballs – Lukas Webb (120)
Formline: Footscray’s form has been hard to read. While the Bulldogs have defeated Port Melbourne (19 points), Essendon (19) and Geelong (seven), they’ve been handsomely beaten by Richmond, Werribee and Williamstown, lost to Coburg by 12 points and scraped past Frankston thanks to a big final-term comeback.
Stand-outs: Captain Jordan Russell has led from the front (or from the back) this season, the defender relishing his role as an on-field coach to the young AFL-listed Bulldogs. The depth of that talent has been evident for years now, but Footscray’s VFL-listed talent also runs deep. Josh Wallis and Shaun Wyatt have been revelations in front of goal, while Lauchlan Dalgleish, Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith and Brad Olsson have made an impact in their first year at the club.
The run home: Casey Scorpions (H) / Northern Blues (A) / Box Hill Hawks (H) / Williamstown (A) / BYE / Werribee (A) / Collingwood (H) – top-four looks unlikely.
FRANKSTON (14th, 2-10, 64.0%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Nathan Gardiner (15) / Kicks – Corey Buchan (176) / Marks – Buchan (76) / Handballs – Jordan Pollard (146)
Formline: Frankston broke a run of 24 consecutive losses with a memorable 13-point triumph over Richmond in Round 3. The Dolphins backed that up with a five-point defeat of Coburg two weeks later, but have since lost seven straight games.
Stand-outs: Five of Frankston’s off-season recruits – Ryan Exon, Andrew McInnes, Michael Sikora, Lucas Walmsley and Clay McCartney – have established themselves in the senior team and made a real impact. The more recent signing of the in-form Jackson Sketcher further shows the Dolphins are heading in the right direction. Usual suspects Ben Cavarra, Brandon Wood and Corey Buchan have continued to find plenty of the ball.
The run home: Collingwood (H) / BYE / Richmond (A) / Geelong (A) / Coburg (H) / Port Melbourne (H) / North Ballarat (A) – some winnable games remaining.
GEELONG (7th, 6-5, 127.0%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Mitch Clark, Timm House (10) / Kicks – James Tsitas (124) / Marks – Tom Stewart (72) / Handballs – Tom Atkins (118)
Formline: The Cats hadn’t won or lost more than two games in a row before notching a third straight victory against the Northern Blues last week. Their form is building following a two-point loss to Sandringham, seven-point loss to Footscray and triumphs over the Box Hill Hawks and Williamstown in recent weeks.
Stand-outs: A range of Geelong locals have stepped up to put the region’s VFL team in finals contention. James Tsitas has returned to his hometown from North Ballarat and starred, while local league products Sam McLachlan and Tom Stewart have transitioned seamlessly to the higher level. Will Sexton has emerged from the Geelong Falcons program ready for senior football and big forward Timm House has booted 10 goals in his first five VFL games.
The run home: Werribee (H) / Essendon (H) / Collingwood (A) / Frankston (H) / Richmond (A) / Casey Scorpions (H) / Port Melbourne (A) – last two could make or break.
NORTH BALLARAT (15th, 2-10, 53.8%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Sam Hooper (15) / Kicks – Nick Rippon (156) / Marks – Rowan Marshall (65) / Handballs – Rippon (146)
Formline: It’s been a tough first year in the coach’s seat for Marc Greig, with a thrilling six-point win against Coburg in Round 1 followed by eight straight losses. A seven-point victory over Frankston in Round 12 broke that run but the Roosters are still sitting on the bottom of the ladder.
Stand-outs: Experienced campaigners Nick Rippon, Luke Kiel and Lachie George have steadied the ship for a particularly young squad, while club champion Orren Stephenson’s tutelage of developing ruckman Rowan Marshall is paying off. The North Ballarat Rebels production line keeps producing for the region’s VFL team, with Tom Schnerring enjoying a break-out year and 2015 TAC Cup graduates Matt Johnston, Tom Templeton and Josh Webster making an immediate impact.
The run home: Northern Blues (H) / Werribee (A) / Port Melbourne (A) / Sandringham (H) / BYE / Essendon (H) / Frankston (H) – no favours for cellar dwellers.
NORTHERN BLUES (12th, 4-8, 71.7%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Kristian Jaksch (19) / Kicks – Matthew Dick (164) / Marks – Dick (65) / Handballs – Hisham Kerbatieh (116)
Formline: Northern’s finest moment was its 36-point defeat of the Box Hill Hawks in Round 10, while the Blues have also accounted for Geelong and got within 20 points of Port Melbourne and Collingwood twice. However, losses of over 100 points to the Casey Scorpions and Williamstown in Rounds 5 and 6 were harsh reality checks.
Stand-outs: New captain Tom Wilson has been one of Northern’s best-performed VFL-listed players along with dynamic small forward Tim Totevski since he returned from a serious knee injury. The pleasant surprises have been 19-year-olds Tim Jones and Hisham Kerbatieh, a welcome look at Northern’s new generation since senior leaders Brent Bransgrove and Kieran McGuinness had their seasons ended by injury early on.
The run home: North Ballarat (A) / Footscray (H) / Werribee (A) / Richmond (H) / BYE / Williamstown (H) / Essendon (A) – could take some bigger scalps.
PORT MELBOURNE (5th, 8-4, 106.7%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Hugh Sandilands (17) / Kicks – Damian Mascitti (222) / Marks – Khan Haretuku (69) / Handballs – Tom O’Sullivan (171)
Formline: Port Melbourne has won four straight games in tight circumstances to emerge as a top-four contender in the last month. The question mark on the Borough’s formline is that it hasn’t yet defeated a team above it on the ladder, losing to Collingwood (24 points), Williamstown (seven) and the Casey Scorpions (35).
Stand-outs: Port has built a core that has played every match together in 2016, including Khan Haretuku, Luke Tynan, Damian Mascitti, Hugh Sandilands, Mack Rivett and Tom O’Sullivan. The most promising sign is off-season recruits Brody Mihocek, Sam Crocker and Josh Tynan are also amongst that group to have played all games. Jordan Lisle’s continuing return to full fitness and Sam Dwyer’s eventual recovery from a serious hamstring injury makes the Borough an even more imposing prospect.
The run home: Sandringham (A) / Williamstown (H) / North Ballarat (H) / BYE / Collingwood (A) / Frankston (A) / Geelong (H) – next two will test credentials.
RICHMOND (13th, 3-9, 90.8%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Liam McBean (19) / Kicks – Sam Darley (180) / Marks – Ryan Gale (52) / Handballs – Adam Marcon (146)
Formline: It’s been a season of high highs and low lows for new coach Craig McRae’s Tigers. Capable of defeating Footscray by 52 points in Round 2 and getting within two points of the ladder-leading Casey Scorpions in Round 13, Richmond has also suffered disappointing losses to Frankston (13 points) and Coburg (33).
Stand-outs: The VFL-listed experience Richmond added over the off-season has provided exactly what the club would have wanted, with ball-winners Jacob Ballard, Tom Couch and captain Sam Darley regularly among the best players. Ryan Gale has consistently provided leadership down back, while the Tigers would be rapt to have unearthed youngsters Tom Silvestro and Daniel Coffield as 23rd players.
The run home: BYE / Box Hill Hawks (H) / Frankston (H) / Northern (A) / Geelong (H) / Sandringham (A) / Coburg (H) – some winnable games remaining.
SANDRINGHAM (3rd, 9-2, 135.2%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Trent Dennis-Lane (21) / Kicks – Eli Templeton (148) / Marks – Templeton (59) / Handballs – Templeton (114)
Formline: Sandringham has showed last year’s rise under coach Paul Hudson was no fluke, looking primed to secure another finals double-chance. The Zebras have won nine of their last 10 games after losing to the Box Hill Hawks by 37 points in Round 1, including their last six since being humbled by the Casey Scorpions by 31 points in Round 6.
Stand-outs: Sandringham lost several match-winners over the off-season but a handful of young St Kilda ball-winners have stepped up and dominated the stats sheet. New captain Trent Dennis-Lane, Myke Cook and Tom Simpkin have provided the VFL-listed backbone, while the Zebras have seen hard-nut Kade Answerth seamlessly transition to senior football, Elliot Le Grice flourish in defence and Joe Fisscher emerge as a goalkicking option.
The run home: Port Melbourne (H) / Casey Scorpions (A) / Williamstown (H) / North Ballarat (A) / Box Hill Hawks (H) / Richmond (H) / Werribee (A) – some tests ahead.
WERRIBEE (11th, 4-7, 89.3%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Aaron Black (21) / Kicks – Matt Hanson (116) / Marks – Black, Lachlan Hansen (45) / Handballs – Ryan Clarke (140)
Formline: Werribee started the season with three wins, but comprehensive losses to top-four sides Williamstown (74 points), Sandringham (37) and Collingwood (29) in three of the next four rounds set the Tigers on a downhill slide in which they’ve dropped six straight games.
Stand-outs: When aligned AFL club North Melbourne was undefeated and injury-free earlier in 2016, a bevy of talented young Kangaroos formed Werribee’s core. More recently, a greater burden has been placed on the likes of Matt Hanson, Scott Sherlock and captain Michael Sodomaco. Untried youngsters Nick Meredith and Ethan Petterwood have also stepped up and impressed, while Tom Gribble has been a welcome return after missing all of 2015 through injury.
The run home: Geelong (A) / North Ballarat (H) / Northern Blues (H) / Box Hill Hawks (A) / Casey Scorpions (A) / Footscray (H) / Sandringham (H) – a tough final month.
WILLIAMSTOWN (2nd, 9-3, 152.8%)
Stats leaders: Goals – Sam Dunell (24) / Kicks – Michael Gibbons (216) / Marks – Dunell (83) / Handballs – Ben Jolley (172)
Formline: The reigning premiers are on track for another top-four finish, demonstrating their mix of grit and class in big victories over the Casey Scorpions (44 points), Werribee (74) and Footscray (72). Their losses came against the Box Hill Hawks by 15 points in Round 2, Collingwood by five points in Round 7 and Geelong by 16 points in Round 12.
Stand-outs: Williamstown’s star power has been on show again. Michael Gibbons has elevated himself into the competition’s midfield elite alongside evergreen captain Ben Jolley, who is winning as much of the ball as ever. Willie Wheeler and ruckman Nick Meese make up the club’s imposing first-choice stoppage crew, while Sam Dunell (24 goals), Dylan Conway (23) and Ayce Cordy (22) have consistently finished off their teammates’ work in front of goal.
The run home: Coburg (H) / Port Melbourne (A) / Sandringham (A) / Footscray (H) / Essendon (A) / Northern Blues (A) / BYE – big top-two fancies.
* Photo: Casey Scorpions' Jack Hutchins (left), Williamstown's Ben Jolley (centre) and Collingwood's Jordan Kelly (right)
Last Modified on 15/07/2016 15:55
