By Callum Ludwig
With the King’s Birthday public holiday giving all Outer East Premier Division sides a rest, let’s have a look at the Senior Football season so far.
With eight rounds played and 10 games to go, almost every side has faced off and the ladder is shaping up.
Two sides are sitting pretty on the top of the ladder having not yet lost a game; Narre Warren and Woori Yallock.
The Magpies take the top spot solely on their points differential, with last year’s losing grand finalist statistically the best offensive and defensive team in the competition this year, conceding only 363 points while piling on 949 of their own.
Will Howe has continued his strong form in the forward line from season’s past, kicking 35 goals for the season to sit three clear on top of the league’s goalkicking charts while he has also been ably supported by the Toner’s; Sam (29 goals) and Daniel (15).
Tom Toner, Kurt Mutimer and Howe have been among the most consistent performers, featuring among the best players five times each.
Woori Yallock’s return to winning ways under Brendan Donovan has also been spearheaded by the strong form of a forward, with Taylor Gibson’s haul of 32 goals the second-best in the league.
There’s plenty of positivity for the Tigers with the return of their netball program, improvement from the Reserves who have struggled in recent years and a very promising group of Under 18s players.
Blake Muir, Kane Thompson and Gibson have featured in the Tiger’s best on four occasions each, while Joshua Neal and Kynan French have hit the scoreboard with 20 and 12 goals respectively.
Reigning premiers Wandin has missed out on the four premiership points on only two occasions, losing only to the teams above after dropping away in the second half against the Magpies and being downed by two late goals from Kane Thompson when up against Woori Yallock.
Still a forward line including Aaron Mullett (21 goals), Clinton Johnson (20 goals) and Jordan Jaworski (14 goals) contains plenty of firepower in one of the league’s best attacking teams.
Captain Patty Bruzzese (7 times in best) remains inspirational while Chayce Black and Mullett (4 times) continue to stand out.
Two double-barrelled sides in the Hills occupy the next two spots on the ladder and with a 5-3 record: Olinda-Ferny Creek and Upwey-Tecoma.
The Tigers from Tecoma can call upon Daniel Waters (15 goals) and Nathan Waterman (11) for goals while Glenn Costas (6 times in best), Sam Wicks (5 times) and Lachlan Hughes (4 times) have been the top performers.
The Bloods have been led from the front by Matthew Scharenberg (7 times in best), Percy Hyett (6 times) and Francis Seal (5 times) while Mathieu Rosier (13), Scharenberg (12) and Lachlan Taylor (10) are in double-digits goals for the season.
Mt Evelyn and Officer have reached this point of the season with an even ledger, both recording four wins and four losses.
The Rovers’ Bayley Forbes (6 times in best), Matthew Gibbons, Jack Hourihan and Damion Kift (5 times) have been impressive while their scoring power has come from Callum Urquhart (15 goals), Matt Gordon (11) and Bailey Garbett (8).
The Kangaroos can count on Jake Gains (7 times in best), Brent Moloney and Zach Charles (5 times) to deliver the goods each week while Mark Seedsman (15 goals) and Riley Wierzbicki (10) have been the side’s sharpshooters in front of goal.
Pakenham and Gembrook-Cockatoo have managed to pick up multiple wins this season and hold the eighth and ninth spots respectively.
Rhys Clacy (6 times in best), Jake Thompson, Jai Rout and James Harrison (4 times) are who the Lions turn to on a regular basis while Rout (16 goals), Samuel Kors (12), Bailey Stiles and Thompson (9) are keeping goal umpires busy.
The Brookers have shared the responsibility with Benjamin Schultze, Michael Bourne, Caleb Marshall, Konner Allcott and Patrick Snoxell (all 4 times in best) each taking their opportunities to shine while Michael Firrito (11 goals) and Myles Wareham (10) have been far and away their key avenues to goal.
No side in Premier Division is without a win in this year’s competition with Monbulk, Emerald and Berwick Springs all picking up a solitary victory.
The Hawks’ Lochlan Beecroft (8 times in best) is the only player in the competition to feature in his side’s best players in every game, though he’s been ably supported by Joshua Spencer (7 times). Monbulk’s leading goalkicker is Ziggy Hatherley with 16.
The Bombers have been competitive after coming up from Division One with new recruit Ewan Wadsworth (5 times in best) and Steven Kapahnke (4 times) not struggling to mix it with the best while Jared Derksen (10 goals) and Ben Lewis (7) have kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Michael Misso (6 times in best) has been the standout for the Titans while Rhys Fletcher, Kayden Buselli, Matt Soutter-Smith and Luke Morrell have also been solid contributors. Berwick Springs has struggled to score strongly but not for want of trying from Jett Kearney and Kayden Buselli (8 goals).
Following the break, all sides will compete in Sockit2MND round:
Officer will host Monbulk
Mt Evelyn will welcome Narre Warren
Wandin will play Olinda-Ferny Creek at The Kennel
Gembrook-Cockatoo will take on the Tigers of an Upwey-Tecoma persuasion at home
The clash of the big cats will take place in Woori Yallock as the home side takes on the Lions from Pakenham
Berwick Springs will look to make the most of the home ground advantage to leapfrog Emerald on the ladder.
