NYORA – Position 1st (End of H&A) Last Year 8th (4 wins) -PREMIERS
Players used 30 – The number of players to play all H&A games – 7
Leading goalkicker Ben Schultz (52) at end of H&A season.
The Saints were the yardstick over the home and away season and deserved premiers. It did beat Longwarry and the runners up three times over the course of the season. It continually proved the naysayers wrong. Rosebud recruits Ben Schultz, Ryan Spooner and Rhys Bancroft all proved astute gains. Dylan Heylen reinforced he was among the elite midfielders in the league and IIan Osman (52 goals) proved elusive across the forward line. Played as tight knit unit all over the field all season.
LONGWARRY – Position 2nd Last Year 6th (8 wins) – RUNNERS UP
Players used 29 – The number of players to play all games – 9
Leading goalkicker Daniel Fry (76)
Were very unlucky to lose the grand final. It frittered away chances in the first half when it should have put the game out of Nyora’s reach. The Crows showed balance and pace through the middle. Fry with 76 goals was complemented well by Braydon McHugh (49) and Corey Lenders (34). Pakenham recruit and former Catani ruck rover Russell Lehman (equal Alf Walton medallist for league best & fairest) was a star, ruckman Nick Redley prominent, Danny Wells, Riley and Brody Rundell and Kane Oldham all key midfield drivers and the defence led by Aaron Serong, Ken Towt and Cole Cook seldom beaten.
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS =Position 3rd Last Year Runners Up (14 wins)
Players used 32 – The number of players to play all 9 games – 5
Leading goalkicker Shane Brewster (57)
Such was their consistency it was equal top on the quarter by quarter ladder. Never say die rover Tyson Bale won the Lang Lang Golf Club MVP award and regular ball winners Shane Brewster, Tye Holland and Mick Ablett all excelled as usual. Recruit Steve Ballingall proved handy and Travis Ogden shapes as a future start. Bunyip recruit Jack Blakey (33 goals) along with his former Bulldog team mate Mitch Davies also proved valuable acquisitions.
CATANI – Position 4th Last Year Premiers (15 wins)
Players used 34– The number of players to play all games – 7
Leading goalkicker Owen Fitzpatrick (67)
The Blues mixed their form. Last season’s League medallist Paul Pattinson and rugged ruck rover Nick Visser were outstanding but it badly missed Antonio Benvenuto. Owen Fitzpatrick notched his 1000th senior goal in round 8 and young ruck Jackson Caddy looks a terrific prospect.
POOWONG – Position 5th Last Year 10th (1 win)
Players used 30 – The number of players to play all games – 6
Leading goalkicker Jack Hazendonk (31)
The Magpies were big improvers this season. On baller Jack Hazendonk (equal Alf Walton medallist for league best and fairest) and recruits Chris Robinson and Jayden Sullivan were outstanding. Youngster Jai Newcombe emerged as a player to watch. On return to the club tall forward Trevor Hooker (27 goals) gave a good account of himself. Tim Hancock led a disciplined and under rated backline.
ELLINBANK – Position 6th Last Year 4th (12 wins)
Players used 41 – The number of players to play all games – 1
Leading goalkicker Shaun Phelan (30)
Injuries and ordinary form contributed to not making the top five this year. Coach Ben Wragg and Doveton ruck recruit Frank D’Agostino were stand outs. The versatile Mark Vassett played a big hand and Shaun Phelan dangerous around goal. The Bankers lacked pace and run through the middle to compete with the top sides.
BULN BULN – Position 7th Last Year 5th (10 wins)
Players used 33 – The number of players to play all games – 5
Leading goalkicker Bryce Monahan (27)
Got to admire its competitiveness. It made all rivals earn their goals. The Lyrebirds have plenty of upward scope. The younger brigade led by Tom Axford, Jake Pierrehumbert, Brandon Allen, Jake Baker and Isaac Lalor have all shown heaps of promise. Coach Matt Gray and vice-captain Jimmy Taylor led by example. Considering the quality of the departures over summer it earned a pass mark this year.
NILMA DARNUM – Position 8th Last Year 7th (6 wins)
Players used 34 – The number of players to play all games – 6
Leading goalkicker Mitchell Dance (41)
The Bombers started the season well with three wins in the opening month but could only manage one more win. It did lose a lot of close games. St Marys Salesian recruit Mitchell Dance proved a good target, the Campbells Ben, Tom and Nathan all offered strong performances and veteran recruit Chris Larosa was more than handy midfield.
NEERIM SOUTH – Position 9th Last Year 3rd but 1st in Home & Away season
Players used 42 – The number of players to play all games – 2
Leading goalkicker Aaron Fawcett (11)
Having lost three quarters of its preliminary final team from last year it was always going to struggle. The Cats gave a debut to well over a dozen players this season. To win three games has exceeded what most thought. Nathan Bayne and Jack Ward were super consistent and Aaron Fawcett also instrumental in providing their competitiveness in most games.
LANG LANG – Position 10th Last Year 9th (3 wins)
Players used 38 – The number of players to play all games – 2
Leading goalkicker Ben Barwick (12)
It was undermanned and outclassed in the midfield and did not have a key forward target. Troy McPherson and Josh Brown battled against the odds and so too veteran utility Stuart Casey.
Last Modified on 12/10/2018 13:29
