With the regular season over, we are taking a look at how the Senior football season sits for the run home. The finals series is still up in the air due to state government restrictions. Take a look at where the senior season sits, the leading players so far and just who are the contenders and how they got there in 2021.
THE CONTENDERS
Leongatha
It is familiar territory for Leongatha sitting top of the table and are the premiership favorites. Perhaps were underestimated at the start of the year with the big name recruits heading into Sale, Wonthaggi and Moe. The Parrots picked up a few handy players themselves and they have performed. Sitting with 9 wins from 10 games with the Power the only side to get the better of them in 2021. Jack Hume’s development has been a welcome surprise with the young forward kicking 23 goals including two bags of 6. Tom Marriott, Aaron Heppell, Van Der Plight and Jackson Harry have been among their consistent performers that see them sit top of the table.
Wonthaggi
What a year it has been for Wonthaggi. Many expected the Power to push into the top five from their sixth place finish in 2019 but few expected them to sit with just one loss in the second half of the year. Troy Harley and Jordan Staley have been a handful up forward kicking 37 goals in the 8 games they’ve played together in 2021. Their juniors have come through and taken on key roles while adding Jack and Jarryd Blair has helped on and off the field. They will be hoping to get a run at the finals series for the first time in six years.
Moe
The Lions were flying early but a few injuries saw them just slightly come back to the field. Their only two losses have come at the hands of Leongatha and Wonthaggi showing that they are a serious contender. Their recruits have stood up with Kristian Jacksh becoming a revelation kicking 36 goals and leading from the front while Declan Keilty is a lock for centre half back in the team of the year. The Lions will be hoping to get a finals series started with 2021 arguably their best chance in recent memory to break their senior flag drought.
Sale
The Magpies sit fourth and would they admit that they have been a step behind the top three so far. They have failed to beat any of the top 3 sides and scraped over the line twice against the Red Legs who sit in 9th on the table. Many expected them to challenge for the cup this year and they are still in a big chance but need their best players fit and firing. Shannen Lange has been instrumental while Jordan Dessent playing more permanent forward has seen positive results. If the finals get up they could be a danger side with most of their key players based in East Gippsland and available for a finals tilt.
Traralgon
The Maroons have been hard to judge this year but remain in the hunt. A disastrous start to 2021 saw them comfortably beaten at home against Leongatha. It took until round 4 before they showed what they were capable of but their plans of locking in a finals spot were slightly derailed with three consecutive losses to Sale, Wonthaggi and Morwell through the middle of the year. Matt Northe has been a standout while Jake Best has kicked 30 goals. Blooded plenty of young talent, the future is bright and they will be probably looking towards 2022 and beyond with their Thirds again looking a near certainty for the premiership flag.
Drouin
The Hawks have been there abouts again when it comes to a finals spot in 2021. Their percentage of 77 probably reflects where they are at with some heavy defeats littered through their wins. A standout win over Sale is their only victory against a top 5 side but have managed to get the job done against those below them. Ed Morris has been firing after a slow start while Tim Hancock could possibly be leading their best and fairest. Will find it tough to mount a finals charge due to the restrictions and their proximity to Metropolitan Melbourne meaning that key players have missed large amounts of training in conjunction with the abandoned games.
2021 Gippsland League SENIOR LADDER
POS
|
TEAM
|
P
|
W
|
L
|
D
|
FOR
|
AGST
|
%
|
PTS
|
1
|
Leongatha
|
10
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
948
|
443
|
214.00
|
36
|
2
|
Wonthaggi
|
10
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
873
|
476
|
183.40
|
36
|
3
|
Moe
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
0
|
847
|
490
|
172.86
|
32
|
4
|
Sale
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
745
|
579
|
128.67
|
28
|
5
|
Traralgon
|
10
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
733
|
697
|
105.16
|
20
|
6
|
Drouin
|
10
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
627
|
813
|
77.12
|
20
|
7
|
Maffra
|
10
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
519
|
707
|
73.41
|
12
|
8
|
Morwell
|
10
|
2
|
8
|
0
|
513
|
652
|
78.68
|
8
|
9
|
Bairnsdale
|
10
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
535
|
1026
|
52.14
|
4
|
10
|
Warragul
|
10
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
470
|
927
|
50.70
|
4
|
TROOD AWARD & RODDA MEDAL PREDICTIONS
Jarryd Blair – The catalyst behind the Power’s rise in 2021. The coach has led the way and will surely catch the eye of the umpires. Will have to battle brother Jack, Aiden Lindsay and Mitch Hayes for votes.
Shannen Lange – The MVP leader will surely go in as favourite to claim the Trood Award and Rodda medal. Lange had a great start to the season and has been Sale’s best in 2021. The Magpies have faltered in a few games but Lange has been a standout so far.
Aaron Heppell – The Parrot’s will again have players taking votes off each other but with 9 wins from 10 games there should be plenty of votes to go around. Heppell is an almost certainty for 2 best on grounds with bags of 6 against Drouin and 5 against Moe likely to bring votes.
Kristian Jaksch – Should be Moe’s best chance of claiming the medal. The big forward leads the JC Lawless award and could have kicked more. Likely to get a few best on grounds and would be locked in for votes in the Leongatha match after kicking 8 majors.
Tom Marriott – Always catches the eyes of the umpires. Marriott was best on ground in round 1 and hit form just before the last lockdown, should collect regular votes.
Matt Northe – Northe sits second in the MVP and like a lot of others on this list has games where you could ink in the three votes. His 40+ possession, 2 goal game against Bairnsdale and his 4 goal game against Drouin look likely for the midfielder.
Ben Willis – A surprise on this list? Surely not, Willis was one of the top 5 vote getters from the last decade and while the big Parrot will have plenty of players to contend with the umpires always seem to find somewhere on the vote card for B.Willis.
MVP Leaderboard
|
|
Team Name
|
Votes
|
Shannen
|
Lange
|
Sale
|
11
|
Matthew
|
Northe
|
Traralgon
|
10
|
Edward
|
Morris
|
Drouin
|
10
|
Tye
|
Hourigan
|
Traralgon
|
8
|
Aaron
|
Heppell
|
Leongatha
|
8
|
Declan
|
Keilty
|
Moe
|
8
|
Jackson
|
Harry
|
Leongatha
|
7
|
Jake
|
van der Pligt
|
Leongatha
|
6
|
James
|
Blaser
|
Moe
|
6
|
Jack
|
Blair
|
Wonthaggi
|
6
|
GOALKICKING Leaderboard
BEST PLAYER POINTS - Club weekly best players
|
|
|
Games
|
Goals
|
Times in best
|
Best player points
|
Simon
|
Deery
|
Bairnsdale
|
10
|
0
|
9
|
45
|
Sean
|
Masterson
|
Warragul
|
10
|
3
|
9
|
42
|
Samuel
|
Whibley
|
Warragul
|
10
|
1
|
8
|
38
|
Tye
|
Hourigan
|
Traralgon
|
10
|
0
|
8
|
38
|
Edward
|
Morris
|
Drouin
|
10
|
5
|
7
|
35
|
Matthew
|
Northe
|
Traralgon
|
10
|
16
|
8
|
32
|
Ed
|
Carr
|
Maffra
|
10
|
1
|
6
|
29
|
Declan
|
Keilty
|
Moe
|
9
|
5
|
7
|
27
|
Timothy
|
Hancock
|
Drouin
|
10
|
0
|
6
|
26
|
Danny
|
Butcher
|
Maffra
|
10
|
1
|
6
|
25
|
Last Modified on 27/08/2021 18:11