By Callum Ludwig
With the ladder shaping up in all three divisions, which are nearing the halfway point of the Outer East football season, the league takes a break for King’s Birthday.
In Premier Division, Wandin are the top dogs, undefeated after seven games with the bye to follow the enforced break.
Wandin has been a high-scoring outfit, notching over 100 points on four occasions and only missing out on cracking a ton by 7 and 4 points in Rounds 5 and 6. The scoring prowess is also seen in the leading goalkicker’s charts, with four of the top 10 donning the Dogs colours: Aaron Mullett (equal 1st), Clinton Johnson (4th), Connor Smith and Tom Merlino (both equal 8th).
Reigning Premiers Narre Warren sits in second, with their only loss coming against Wandin. Will Howe is once again spearheading the Magpies, also tied at the top of the goalkicking charts with 26 for the season so far having also had the bye. Narre has shown no mercy for weaker sides this year, with margins of 70, 145 and 58 against the three bottom sides thus far.
Only percentage separates the impressive Upwey-Tecoma, last year’s grand finalist Woori Yallock and newcomers Gembrook-Cockatoo taking up third, fourth and fifth respectively.
All three sides have been a great value for spectators, each playing in three games decided by less than a goal.
Glenn Costas (5 times in best), Andrew Bartils (4 times in best) and Daniel Waters (16 goals) have been the best performers for the Tigers from Tecoma way, while their Woori Yallock counterparts have been able to turn to Luke Boontjes, Kody Busoli (both 5 times in best) and Zach Monkhorst (11 goals) for inspiration.
For the Brookers, Aaron Firrito has been scintillating (6 times in best) and Myles Wareham’s goalkicking form has translated to the top division (4 times in best, 23 goals).
Pakenham and Monbulk have two wins apiece but have shown impressive signs with Pakenham’s upset win over Upwey-Tecoma and Monbulk holding Gembrook-Cockatoo goalless for two quarters in a narrow loss two positives.
Mt Evelyn and Olinda-Ferny Creek hold the bottom two spots with only a solitary win, with the Rovers beating their nearest ladder rival in the game between the two and the Bloods buoyed by the return of Matt Scharenberg snatching a one-goal win over Gembrook-Cockatoo before the break.
Following the King’s Birthday weekend break, Woori Yallock will welcome Mt Evelyn, Narre Warren will take on Upwey-Tecoma, Pakenham will host Gembrook-Cockatoo and it’s a local rivalry as Monbulk head up to Olinda-Ferny Creek. Wandin will wait and watch on as they have the bye.
