By Callum Ludwig
It’s heating up after seven rounds into Outer East Division One with premiership points split pretty evenly with all sides having played each other once.
Emerald has been the standout in the competition, unbeaten in six games. They have mixed big wins with steely resolve as they edge out their nearest rivals Berwick Spirngs by four points.
There has been a very solid contribution across the board from multiple players, with the Bombers not relying on a big star to win games. Josh Rich has featured in the best in four games and Adrian Russo, Steven Paull, Ethan Grose, Mitchell Gottschalk and Mitchell Thomas impressive on three occasions. Goalkicking responsibilities have also been largely shared around, with Callum White (17), David Johnson and Lachlan Hoye (16) featuring in the fifth and equal sixth in the league goalkicking respectively.
Sitting on four wins each is the recruitment masters Berwick Springs and a young and talented Healesville side.
The Titans will look to turn the tables in return fixtures against league-leaders Emerald after their close loss, while the Bloods will hope to beat Berwick Springs again and assert themselves as the top competition for the Bombers.
Narre Warren recruit Hayden Stagg has been in the best players four times while Ty Ellison outright held the leading goalkicker title for the league (22 goals) until Healesville’s livewire Sam Gebert bagged hauls of five and seven in recent weeks and shot up to join him. Eccentric hairstyle enthusiast Max Donegan and co-captain Nick Mende (5 times in best) have also been key players for Healesville.
Officer and Seville have a 50/50 record at this point in the season, with three wins and three losses. The Kangaroos got the best of the Blues when the two met with a 55-point win in Round 3, but stronger results for Seville and big wins and close losses for Officer since making this matchup one to watch in the future with both sides aiming to rise up the ladder. Brent Moloney (18 goals, 4 times in best), Anthony Bernardo (4 times in best) and Mark Seedsman (19 goals) have been the Roos key men, while new recruit Nathan Thompson (4 times in best) has added a lot for the Blues alongside stalwarts Jye Sciortino (4 times in best) and Domenic Aloi (12 goals, 3 times in best).
Belgrave and Hallam round out the foot of the table, with Belgrave picking up a drought-breaking 15-point win over Hallam, who is yet to win a game. Both sides may not hold out hope for finals this year but will keep building and aim to pick up results throughout the season. Belgrave’s Josh Wynen (6 times in best) and Hallam’s Harry Sharlassian ( 5 times in best) have been shining lights in the struggling sides, with the Magpies’ Kyle Nunn also fiding his way into the top 10 goalkickers wth 12 for the season so far.
After the break, Hallam host Berwick Springs, Officer open the gates for Emerald, Healesville take on Seville and Belgrave have the bye.
