By KEVIN HILLIER - Division 1 Seniors
WE head into the second-half of the season with a lot of questions still hanging over all Division 1 teams.
There is the obvious questions, are Hoppers the real deal? Are Deer Park good enough to win four flags in a row? Is the premiership a two horse race? I will leave you to ponder those over the next few weeks, because that is when the answers might magically appear.
I would rather concentrate on last weekend and this coming round because they will both have a big bearing on what happens in September.
Spotswood showed class, guts, skill and mental toughness in beating Werribee Districts last Saturday, and in the process stamped themselves as serious contenders for the 2016 flag.
The loss to Wyndhamvale a few weeks back has poked the bear, and a proud club like Spotswood has responded in the best possible manner.
The bye this week will be welcomed by everyone at the club, as they continue to come to terms with the untimely passing of Ben Kelly.
Like everyone else who had dealings with Ben, I was shocked and saddened by the news. My thoughts go to his young family and his friends. Ben was a very good footballer but more importantly he was a quality bloke, who will be sadly missed. RIP Ben Kelly.
Steve Thom made an interesting observation last Saturday night during our interview with Deer Park coach Marc Bullen.
Steve believes their season is just starting now, and they are well placed for a tilt at a fourth flag.
The Lions have yet to field their best side, and no doubt that will take some juggling with the points system, but if they all come to play, and the chemistry is right, watch out.
It is still hard to read Altona and Werribee Districts, but they may sort each other out when they clash this weekend.
Their best is good enough to beat anyone in the competition, but both struggle to produce it week in week out.
Any slim chance of sneaking into the top two by the end of the season may hinge on the result this weekend.
Wyndhamvale notched up its second win by downing Sunshine last week in a strong second-half display, highlighted by the Graham Brothers.
Chris kicked five goals and Brian ran amok all day.
The Falcons have the chance to add to its scalps when it heads to Parsons Reserve this Saturday.
Albion dropped their bundle last week after almost beating Spotswood the week before. No doubt there will have been some soul searching this week, and you can expect a better performance from the Cats.
Hoppers Crossing come off the bye and face St. Albans, who have made inconsistency their consistent problem this season.
They seem to have a lot of honorable losses the Saints, and I think they will have another this weekend.
Last Modified on 14/06/2016 13:31