At the half way mark of the season the undefeated Neerim South has firmed as flag favourite.
The Cats along with Catani and Ellinbank who are the big improvers this season and Warragul Industrials are all in the mix for a double chance come finals time while Buln Buln, Longwarry and Nilma Darnum look set to fight it out for fifth position and a finals appearance that comes with it.
BULN BULN – (5th with 4 wins & 5 losses)
The Lyrebirds are on the right path but struggle to kick match winning scores. Coach and ruckman Matt Gray has led by example while Trent Baker and Darcy Brown who have both returned to the club have featured prominently. Buln Buln will do well if it can make the finals but whether it does or not - the future looks bright with Jack Nuttall, Sam Langford, Shaun Beecroft, Brandon Allen, Jack Martyn and Jake Pierrehumbert all shaping as good long term prospects. Another young gun Hayden Baker (12 goals) and equal leading goal kicker with Jack Nuttall has sustained a serious season ending injury and everybody connected with the league wish Hayden a swift and full recovery.
CATANI – (2nd with 8 wins & 1 loss)
With eight consecutive victories the Blues are a genuine force and have legitimate flag aspirations. The arrival of Paul Pattison and Dale Johnson has eased the dependence on Antonio Benvenuto and Tanny Rodda around the packs while Brett and James Williams and Brayden Kennedy are all tracking nicely in and around the midfield. If Catani is to go all the way it will need a few more forwards to step up to support Owen Fitzpatrick (35 goals) and Ryan Eaton (20) who are the only Blues to have kicked more than 10 goals this season.
ELLINBANK – (3rd with 7 wins & 2 losses)
The Eagles have outstripped the expectations of most. With over half a dozen well performed new recruits led by new coach Ben Wragg, half forwards Jackson and Cam Parker, tough utility Keegan Bott and wingman Tim Mashado it has taken on a new look and boasts far more experience, flexibility and run in 2017. The return of consistent defender Andrew Quirk and veteran midfielder Daniel Barrand is a further bonus. Sean Phelan (15 goals) has been lively and Matt Barrand (23) the leading goal kicker. On exposed form it should stay in contention for a double chance and showed enough against Neerim South in round 7 to suggest its premiership chances cannot be dismissed.
LANG LANG – ( 9th with 1 win & 8 losses)
The Tigers lack firepower. Defender Will McGindle has shown to be a vastly improved player, half back Dylan Sutton has offered plenty of resistance, young ruck Joe Dalgleish looks to have a bright future and assistant coach Rohan Bleekers has given his all around the stoppages. Lang Lang has badly missed dual best and fairest Aaron Creasey who has been sidelined all season and Sean Dwyer who has only played one game having joined the Casey Demons where he has played a number of games at VFL senior level.
LONGWARRY – (6th with 4 wins & 5 losses)
The Crows will consider themselves unlucky having suffered two controversial last kick defeats. Nonetheless should it have won those games with the exception of last week it has not played at a level that warrants it to be in double chance contention however snatching fifth position is a strong possibility as it will likely go in favourites at least four if not five times in the last eight rounds. Youngsters Kane Oldham and Riley Rundell have provided good midfield pace to support Pakenham recruit Corey Lenders, Ben Cuckson and Ken Towt have shown versatility and coach Daniel Fry (20 goals) good leadership and is a formidable target up forward.
NEERIM SOUTH – (1st with 9 wins & 0 losses)
In most circles the Cats are touted as premiership favourites and rightly so. It has pretty much crushed all comers kicks big scores and displays the tightest back six. On ballers Jackson Ward and Kody Wilson are the prime movers and their presence has allowed Chris Urie to play forward more often where he has steered through 29 goals and is second at the club to Tyssen Morrow on the goal kicking table who has 51 majors to lead the league. Coach Allan Chandler has proved handy around the big sticks with 17 goals, central defender Calum Shiels has offered good rebound and youngsters Tyler Pratt, Aiden Dibsdale and Harrison George all look quality players in the making.
NILMA DARNUM – (7th with 4 wins & 5 losses)
The season brought little reward until three consecutive victories has put its finals prospects back on track. The club was rocked a few weeks ago when four key players Harley Parker, Rhys Chalkley, Lai Leaunoa and Jarred Stewart departed without notice. Ben Campbell (18 goals) has been the pick of the forwards while Josh Deschepper (13) has been more than handy. Nick Wilcox, Luke Lange and Jean Bezzene are the pick of the midfielders while veteran Nick Murray has been reliable in defence. The Darno’s round 12 clash against Longwarry may define whether it stays in contention with the top five.
NYORA – (8th with 2 wins & 7 losses)
The Saints should not be underestimated against any team if it plays to the best of its ability however it has often mixed its form by the week if not by the quarter. Ruckman Nick Carrigy has been the heartbeat of the side with Dylan and Jesse Heylen and Tim Burns all pitching in with consistent efforts and IIan Osman steering through 25 goals. Experienced pair Aiden Cumberland and Chris Hodges continue to play good football.
POOWONG – (10th with 0 wins & 9 losses)
Similar to the last few seasons Poowong is still stranded at the foot of the table but it is certainly a better team than last year. It has been unlucky not to have won a game as it has lost three matches by nine points or less. Devon Meadows recruit Chris Doria has provided a good forward target, Tom Wyatt and Jack Hazendonk plenty of midfield run and down back the experience of Jaemeel Kneckt, Tim Hancock and Gavin Notman have done well in the face of adversity.
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS – (4th with 6 wins & 3 losses)
Like last season the Dusties again appear to have an over reliance on Shane Brewster, Tye Holland and Tyson Bale. It has failed to beat the top three sides but on the positive side with versatile talls Johnny Ikupu and Ben Northover and the class of Josh Peterson combined with the upward scope of youngsters Will Gibson, Joel Paredes, Josh Seri, Travis Ogden and Jackson Kos it can improve and is still well and truly a top three chance and an outside flag prospect especially if 2007 Geelong premiership player Nathan Ablett puts on a Dusties jumper as expected.
Last Modified on 21/06/2017 14:06
