FRIDAY PREVIEW - With Shaun Kelly
Nothing like a break, is there? It’s the return to normal procedure after the break, though, that can define a person’s state of mind. There’s two ways to approach it – be downcast, glum and give the impression that there’s no place you’d rather be than still on the break, or spring back into routine, having been refreshed by the chance to re-charge your batteries. So where am I today after having a break from writing the main body of the Friday Preview last week? Probably more of the latter – whilst I’m not completely refreshed thanks to a full-time job that is draining more of my attention than it should, I’m looking forward to jumping head-first into the next 5,000-odd words and looking at all of the happenings in the Eastern Football League for this weekend, as the horizon again draws closer and the countdown to the finals starts to turn from months to weeks.
DIVISION ONE – Round Fifteen
Scoresby vs Noble Park – Scoresby Reserve
There’s no doubt in my mind that Scoresby have been, to date, the standout team in division one this season. There’s also no doubt in my mind that the next fortnight constitutes a mini-finals series for the Magpies, as they strive to maintain their top ranking in the Eastern Football League’s top flight. The Magpies returned to the winners’ list last weekend with a hard-fought victory over East Burwood to maintain a two-game buffer at the top of the ladder over Noble Park and Balwyn, but the Magpies now face both the Bulls and Tigers over the next fortnight. You would think that one win would lock them in for top two, and two wins would guarantee the minor premiership, but there’s some work to be done to get there. The Magpies haven’t exactly had the radar working all that well in front of goal over the past fortnight, with their last two weeks netting a combined scoreline of 22.39, with almost identical scores in both their loss to Vermont a fortnight ago and last week’s win against the Rams (and Marc Williams was responsible for seven of those twenty-two goals). You want to talk goals, though, and you’re talking Bulls at the moment, who’s mammoth 124 point victory over East Ringwood marked their sixth successive win last Saturday, booting 31 goals in the process – an even more impressive feat when you consider that Lachlan Delahunty finally cracked it for a gig with the Bendigo Bombers last weekend (and kicked a couple, too!). Tory Dickson slotted a lazy eleven to take him to seventy-one, and almost assuredly the Alltrophies division one goalkicking title, and big Dan Kennedy not only added five goals in his return to the senior side since mid-May, but reportedly decided that he couldn’t think of a way to top that performance, and promptly hung the boots up!! You’d question the timing of DK’s retirement with only four weeks to go, but we all know when our body tells us enough’s enough, so if the rumours are true, then more power to Kennedy for going out on top.
I saw this game last time around at the Bullring, which was the game where Scoresby really announced themselves as a powerhouse this season, and pressured the Bulls across the whole ground all day whilst having the game to run hard offensively as well. There were a few elements that day, though, that won’t feature in tomorrow’s game. A Bulls midfield bereft of their skipper is one – Craig Anderson didn’t play in the earlier game against the Magpies, but he is in scintillating form at the moment. Chris Hoegel played his one and only game in black and white at the Bullring, kicking six goals, and there’s good mail floating around that Adam Parker, who was brilliant for Scoresby earlier this season, and Pat Tomkins, who held Dickson to just three goals in round seven, are both out of the side with injury. Slack is being picked up for the Magpies though, as Ben Wilson has been in great defensive form this season, and David Marcius and Joel Cross make a more than adequate one-two punch through the Scoresby midfield. So why am I leaning towards NOBLE PARK this weekend? Take respect out of the equation this time around, as the Magpies have more than proven themselves. Take ability out as well, as Scoresby already have one-up against the Bulls. Anderson makes a huge difference to that Noble Park midfield, Andrew McConnell and Stuart Cleeve has stepped into the side to add some real tall timber to the Bulls spine and ensure that Luke Van Rheenan and James Powell can’t double-team Glen Manson all day, and Parker and Tomkins are two huge losses. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to be wrong, but I like the Bulls in this one tomorrow as they make their own claims towards direct qualification to the second semi-final.
In other division one games this weekend…
The oldest rivalry in the Eastern Football League takes place again tomorrow at Terrara Road, as Vermont and East Burwood clash in what should be an absolute belter. These two sides have faced off 106 times, including finals, in the history of the EFL, with the ledger sitting at 62-41-3 in favour of the Eagles (and the three at the end are draws, for those wondering). And whilst they’ll be favourites to notch win number 63 tomorrow, Vermont can’t rest on the laurels of their impressive last fortnight, as the Rams have proven more than once this season that they are more than capable of matching it with the more fancied sides. A loss tomorrow will effectively end the Rams finals chances, and it will put a decent-sized dampener in the hopes of the Eagles competing in their 24th consecutive division one finals series. One feels, though, that the last fortnight may have awoken a sleeping giant, and that VERMONT are starting to sniff those familiar scents of September and rising to the challenge.
Blackburn’s season seems to be slipping away fast at the moment, and after their loss to Balwyn last weekend they still sit one and a half wins away from the top five. A victory tomorrow at home against Knox is absolutely crucial to the Burners’ finals chances, and they showed some signs against Balwyn last week that they’re not that far off the mark, especially with Kris Barlow and Graeme Johns returning to the side for their first senior games in quite a spell last weekend. Knox almost put an end to Vermont’s finals hopes last weekend after leading at every change, but much like their round seven game against Blackburn, they couldn’t hold on and had relinquished the lead by game’s end. With fellow cellar-dwellars East Ringwood and Lilydale facing each other this weekend, a win is crucial for Knox’s chances of survival in division one this season, but BLACKBURN know that a loss tomorrow spells the end of their season, and should have too much class for the Falcons tomorrow.
Scoresby/Noble isn’t the only top five match in division one this weekend, as Norwood travel to Croydon tomorrow clinging to fifth spot after salvaging a draw from their trip to Lilydale last weekend after being down at every change. They face a Croydon side that’s in a fair vein of form as well, having won their last four games to have climbed as high as fourth on the division one ladder, and who sit just one game behind the Bulls and Tigers in the double-chance positions. As I write this, the soundtrack to accompany the clicking of the keyboard has been a steady half-hour of showers outside my Mooroolbark abode, which means that if this sort of thing continues over the next twenty-four or so hours, then Croydon Oval will be at its full winter beauty for this game! This shouldn’t worry Norwood so much though, as Mullum Reserve has been a touch heavy this winter, and as such the Norsemen should have some grounding on running through heavy grounds. I’m torn a little bit with my tip here, as the Norsemen have been in great form this season and I was hugely impressed watching a different Croydon a few weeks ago, but it’s the BLUES who curry my favour tomorrow, as that ever-present wooden chariot starts to return to it’s full glory.
Noble Park aren’t the only side that have fixations on trying to knock Scoresby off the top of the ladder, as Balwyn are making no secrets at the moment about the fact that they have pole position firmly in their sights, and judging by the way they went about their business out at Blackburn last weekend, the Tigers are starting to approach some really decent nick again. That makes for a difficult assignment for South Croydon tomorrow, as they make their first ever trip to SEN Park knowing that they haven’t garnered much attention in the talk about relegation at the moment, but that a loss tomorrow, coupled with one of the Falcons or Roos (or possibly both) taking home some premiership points this weekend, could see them in a very wobbly spot once again. After watching BALWYN last weekend, I’m almost prepared to jump on board, as I like their mix of experience and youth, and they shouldn’t have too much trouble dispatching the Doggies tomorrow.
The final division one match of the round pits two sides with just six wins between them for the season in East Ringwood and Lilydale, but that certainly doesn’t lessen the importance of the match, as the winner will take a jump ahead in the relegation stakes this weekend – in fact, should it be a Lilydale win, the Falcons would take a quantum leap forward thanks to not having tasted defeat in the past fortnight thanks to holding on for a draw against Norwood last weekend courtesy of a few last quarter goals to youngster Ashraf Davies to help Lilydale back in front late in the game, before Norwood tied the scores again. Their third batch of premiership points in as many weeks would put the Falcons a game-and-a-half clear of the Roos with three to play, which would almost leave the Falcons safe in division one. Having Brendan Holowiuk back in the East Ringwood side for just his second senior game of the season last week gives another element to their forward line, and if Luke Vogels can return to pair “Hedgey”, then it could make for some interesting defensive match-ups for Lilydale coach Simon Rourke. In looking at form, you would have to plump with Lilydale, but something tells me that EAST RINGWOOD will be on tomorrow, and they are a huge chance to put some distance between themselves and the drop zone tomorrow.
DIVISION TWO – Round Fifteen
Ringwood vs Donvale – Jubilee Park
How difficult is it to pick a Match of the Round in division two at the momen? All five games this weekend will have a bearing on either the finals race or the relegation battle, with the chance of a couple of seasons coming to an end come tomorrow evening. Jubilee Park hosts arguably the most important of these five matches, though, as Ringwood and Donvale both try to climb out of the cellar and give themselves a buffer in the relegation battle. Donvale took a huge step last weekend as they gave the Waverley Blues their second successive two-point defeat, after drawing with them earlier in the season, and climbed off the bottom of the ladder in the process after Ringwood fell short in the last quarter against Bayswater last weekend. Last time around, this one turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax as the Vales absolutely pantsed the Redbacks at Donvale, however with this one being played at the home of the 2010 division three finals, which Ringwood know how to lock down so very well, this one could be a lot closer than last time. Eleven Donvale players shared twenty goals in their last meeting, with Jack Purcell leading the way as he has done almost all year, and he represents a huge task for Jamie Agius to undertake tomorrow, as two of the better young players in the division look set to lock horns. In fact, the large majority of both sides are made up of some of the best young talent going around (although if Wadey and Fish take their spots for the Vales tomorrow, it throws their average age waaaaaay out of the loop!!), which I’m sure the Radio Eastern team will look forward to covering as they cover this one LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on 98.1FM Radio Eastern from 1:00pm tomorrow. The fairytale result for this one tomorrow sees the Redbacks prevailing and setting up a huge run home for themselves, Donvale and Wantirna South to try and avoid dropping to division three, but despite the location, I can’t see it. DONVALE are by far and away the best four-win side going around, and should not only add to that tally tomorrow, but almost see themselves safe in division two for at least another year as a result!
In other division two matches this weekend…
Fourth spot seems to be the ladder position that everyone covets, but no-one wants to grab at the moment. It’s Doncaster East’s rung at the moment, but in many ways it’s only by default after not tasting victory in the last fortnight. The Waverley Blues sit just half a game behind them, and despite their last fortnight giving them a pair of heart-wrenching two-point losses, the fact remains that they’ve lost five of their last six, are looking extremely shaky and can’t seem to string four quarters together. In watching these two sides face off earlier this season, not a heck of a lot separated these two sides, and they seemed to match up really well against each other. It’s the DONCASTER EAST engine room that sways me ever so slightly, but I’m not all that convinced, especially seeing as neither side really know how to win at the moment.
What the struggles of the Lions and Blues have done, though, is that they’ve left the door to the finals open still for both Rowville and Mooroolbark, who are just one game out of fourth spot at the moment and are still well and truly alive in the race for the top four. Both have huge tasks up against them this weekend though, with both on the road against formidable opponents – Rowville travel out to Montrose, whose only loss in their last six games was by under a kick against a Bayswater side who have consecutively defeated every side in division two, and Mooroolbark travel out to take on the top-of-the-table Mulgrave. There’s some hope for the underdogs though, as Rowville finished over the top of the Mustangs last weekend in “Monster” Mynott’s first game as coach of the Rowville seniors since they knocked over North Ringwood in the last round of the 2007 division two season, and Mooroolbark will take some solace from matching the Lions for a half in their round six encounter. That’s the positives. Weigh them up, though, with the fact that Mulgrave have only lost one game at home for the season and that they keep finding ways to win when sides launch absolutely everything at them, the fact that Mooroolbark’s white shorts have helped them to victory only twice this season, the fact that Rowville have had the most points scored against them in division two this season and that Montrose, helped by Troy Simmonds helping to cut an absolute swathe through opposition backlines with the help of Schilling, Edwards, Doughty, Sheppard et al, are the highest scoring side in division two this season, and you’ll see that there’s a reason I’ve used the word “underdogs” above. Whilst I resist the temptation to pat myself on the back for knocking off two games in the one (albeit long) paragraph this week, which should help those who like to spend their Friday mornings counting words, I’m going to put the words MONTROSE and MULGRAVE in bold capitals, which will lock in a finals berth for the Demons and the double chance for the Lions, and end the finals hopes of the Hawks and Mustangs.
That leaves just one game to cover in division two this weekend, as local rivals Wantirna South and Bayswater clash at Walker Reserve, both with hugely different motivating factors heading into the game. After coming off a nine-game cycle where they have defeated every other division two side in a consecutive period, the Waters are absolutely flying and know that a win tomorrow would leave them at least three games ahead of Montrose with three to play and almost guaranteeing them two bites of the finals cherry, whilst the Devils know that a loss could set them well and truly on the way to the drop zone and raise the real possibility of the dreaded “double drop”, following in the footsteps of Mitcham and Bayswater themselves in the last six years. Despite the Devils being a much better side at home than away this year and really running the Waters to the final siren in round six, I can’t see the focused BAYSWATER losing this one, knowing that the double chance is the reward for them at the end of the day.
DIVISION THREE – Round Sixteen
Coldstream vs Upper Ferntree Gully, Coldstream Reserve
Very much the pick of the litter in division three this week, as Coldstream put their finals hopes on the line against the top of the ladder Upper Gully. Despite their stirring win against Boronia at Tormore Reserve last weekend, Coldstream would have been dismayed to find Doncaster and Warrandyte both staging late-game comebacks to maintain the status quo in the division three top four at the moment. With Warrandyte to enter tomorrow’s game against Kilsyth as heavy favourites, it’s quite conceivable that should Coldstream lose tomorrow that they would find themselves two games and a chunk of percentage out of fourth spot with two games to play, which, short of channeling the football gods that helped South Croydon leap into the division three top four in the 2005 season by making up some ten percentage points in the final round to knock Nunawading out of the finals, will likely have them watching on come late August once again. They’re going to have a hard time of it this weekend in facing Upper Gully, who, much like Bayswater in division two, have just finished a nine-game stretch where they have taken on, and defeated, all but Chirnside Park (they play them next week) in division three, punctuated by a 134 point drubbing of Kilsyth last weekend led by Matt Petracca’s nine goals, punching him up to seventy-one for the season, and Jay Sherlock’s five to give him a season total of fifty-six.
Tough numbers to compete against, I think you’ll agree, especially when the likes of Scotty Randle and Leigh Lawson pop up to kick multiples as well – it’s the kind of stuff that gives Coldstream defenders Tim Baker, Paul Wagner and Geoff De Visser sleepless Friday nights! Here’s my dream match-up for this one – five-time EFL best & fairest Matt Price (who could, very quietly, be on his way to number six this year) taking on Upper Gully’s Tim Riseley, who may not get the kudos of some of his counterparts, but could possibly be the toughest little nugget in division three, and with a fair amount of talent mixed in. The key for Coldstream tomorrow is to really lock down around the ball, and deny Upper Gully’s running players the footy, which will make it a lot harder to feed Petracca and Sherlock up forward. This kind of lock-down means that Coldstream coach Sean Ellis may have to have his half-forward flankers play some negative footy, as Tim Smith, Tate Hickleton and Shannon Graham love nothing more than setting up play off half-back through run-and-carry type of stuff. You can nearly bet that on his way out of Tormore Reserve last Saturday night, on his way to what has been seemingly his weekly position manning Browny’s seat in the Last Chance Saloon, Ellis would have mentioned something to Boronia coach Peter Bennet about making sure that the Hawks had a good preparation on the track this week, as if they can knock over Doncaster tomorrow, then even an unfavourable result tomorrow still has Coldstream still in the hunt for finals action. They may need this too, as whilst I believe that the Cougars will rise to the challenge tomorrow and take this one well into the last quarter, UPPER FERNTREE GULLY will be setting themselves to take this challenge, meet it head on, and lock in their double chance for the upcoming finals series with a win tomorrow.
In other division three matches this week…
Doncaster need to be right on top of their game tomorrow, as they face Boronia at Schramms Reserve for the first time since Round 3, 2005 in a game in which ladder positions don’t mean all that much – Doncaster sit third, but are wobbly, and whilst Boronia’s finals hopes ended last weekend, the Hawks, on their day, can match it with almost anyone. They’ll need to step it up through the midfield tomorrow, as Chris Annakis and Marc Peduto have been in cracking form of recent, with Josh Lumicisi slotting back into the side in recent weeks as well. DONCASTER know that a win tomorrow coupled with Upper Gully doing the business up at Coldstream sees their finals spot sewn up tomorrow (giving them the maximum advantage from the draw against Mitcham, as it would make them two-and-a-half games clear of fifth spot with two games to play), and this should see them withstand the Hawks challenge tomorrow and win.
The other team that Coldstream fans will be cheering on tomorrow is Kilsyth, as they take their turn in welcoming Warrandyte to Pinks Reserve tomorrow, in what is the Cougars’ absolute last chance at remaining in division three beyond August 14th of this year. Easier said than done, though, as Warrandyte took Mitcham to the cleaners last weekend, with “Magic Hands” Morello having a day out and the evergreen (read: oooooooold) Matt Wood proving that age shall not weary!! Bloods coach Michael Tout will be acutely aware of his surroundings tomorrow, knowing that they’ve got a couple of interesting assignments in the final two rounds, and he’d love nothing more than to have a two-game gap over Coldstream heading into their clash next weekend. That’s why WARRANDYTE will be pushing as hard as they can to try and not just win, but win well to get the extra percentage hit that could make all the difference in a couple of weeks’ time.
It’s not uncommon to see a Mitcham/North Ringwood clash taking place at this time of the year, as it has done quite often in recent years, however their recent late-season meetings in division two have taken on the mantle of relegation battles. It’s quite different, then, to have this as almost a dead rubber game this weekend – I say almost, as North Ringwood still have a great deal to play for, and could very well nail down at least a preliminary final berth with a win this weekend. Don’t think there’ll be that much in this one come final siren time, and at Walker Park, with Steve Doyle at one end of the ground and the big Wombat, Marcus Kenny, at the other, this could also be quite the shoot-out. NORTH RINGWOOD, though, should be too strong for the Tigers, however it will take them until late in the game to shake them off.
The last game of the round in division three could also be a very intriguing contest, as the Whitehorse Pioneers take the trip down the Maroondah Highway to take on Chirnside Park tomorrow in a game that will have no bearing on potential finalists or relegation, but will be a good old-fashioned contest for bragging rights! Chirnside Park will be eager to rebound at home tomorrow after a disappointing showing against North Ringwood last weekend, whilst Pioneers coach Tony Vitacca (who would be right up there in a vote for the trendiest coach in the EFL, although Balwyn’s Daniel Harford could give him a real run for his money after seeing some of the clobber he was sporting last weekend!) will be buoyed after his side’s second strong showing against probable finalists Doncaster for the season last weekend. It was the Pioneers whom CHIRNSIDE PARK brought up their first ever division three win against when they knocked them over by just one point in the corresponding clash earlier this year, and I believe that they’ll parlay the confidence gained in that game into their fifth victory of the season tomorrow.
DIVISION FOUR – Round Sixteen
Templestowe vs South Belgrave – Templestowe Reserve
Not only is this the only match in division four featuring two top-five sides facing off against each other this week, which in itself makes it the lay down misere for Match of the Round in division four this weekend, but there’s also a huge chance that history will be made at Templestowe Reserve tomorrow, as Dockers forward Paul Eccles enters the game on 99 goals for the season after a bag of ten in their 99-point drubbing of Heathmont last weekend, and seems almost a lock to be the first Eastern Football League player to bring up the three figures for season 2010 tomorrow (though look out for FTG Eagle colt player Michael Topp earlier in the day – he needs 9 to reach the 100 in the colts!). South Belgrave may have something to say about that though, as they enter this one not only in third spot after a morale-boosting thirty-nine point victory over Forest Hill last weekend, but because Saints coach Nick Cox, who kept in touch with Eccles’s exploits via 98.1FM Radio Eastern last Saturday afternoon given that he had nothing better to do whilst serving a week’s suspension (ruling him out of the coaches box as well as playing, as suspended players aren’t allowed to set foot on the playing arena), worded Todd Burley up late on Saturday night about Eccles’ situation and told him that he had the job to try and keep him goalless this week. Not an easy task, mind you, given that Eccles has recorded four double-figure goal hauls in his last five games, although all of those bags were against teams well and truly out of the finals race.
The impending milestone for “Ex” is overshadowing what is truly an important game for both sides tomorrow, as a Templestowe win will lock in their double chance and send South Belgrave likely towards an elimination encounter at East Burwood in the first week of finals, whilst a Saints win has them right in the box seat for a top-three finish of their own, given their half-game advantage over the Hawks and Zebras below them and matches against Surrey Park and Canterbury to finish the season. This is my billet for tomorrow, and not only am I looking forward to viewing the new facilities at Templestowe Reserve, catching up with some old mates on both sides and getting my first close-up look at both sides for the season, but also to see what should be an absolute cracking game, which has the chance to become a real shoot-out given the goalkicking capabilities of both sides. I like how South Belgrave have the defensive structures to match up on the Templestowe forwards – Burley will get Eccles, Dustin Apps will take Docker Matt Groat and his size 46 shorts, with skipper Robbie Cockerell or Callan Gatti to get the big job in minding the resting midfielder in the Dockers’ forward line – either Kane Maghamez or Ryan Bain. You’d think that Templestowe would be up for a day like tomorrow (although knowing John Brown, he’s a real chance to use Eccles as a decoy or loose across half-back early, knowing that all of the focus will be on him – or just as likely to tell his midfielders to get it straight to Ex from the opening bounce and get the ton out of the way in similar fashion to Balwyn’s Patrick Bowden a couple of seasons ago, who entered the final game of the season against East Ringwood on 99 goals and had the ton within twenty seconds of the opening bounce!!), although South Belgrave pulled their pants down something awful back in round eight, so it’s very much a toss-of-the-coin job, which comes down TEMPLESTOWE for mine!
In other division four matches tomorrow…
The other toss-of-the-coin match tomorrow will take place in Melbourne’s leafy inner eastern suburbs, as Canterbury play host to the Eastern Lions tomorrow as the Cobras shoot for the “best of the rest” title in division four this season. The Lions will give themselves a real chance to knock over the Cobras tomorrow (and if they do, Ange, make sure you have the phone close to you from about 6pm tomorrow night so that we make sure you are locked in for EFL Sunday the following morning!!), and if they can put them on the back foot early, then the Lions are every chance, but I feel that CANTERBURY will be too polished and too potent up forward for the Lions tomorrow, and will notch their seventh victory of the season.
Forest Hill have a pretty big game against Heathmont tomorrow, more so for their state of mind than anything else. The last fortnight hasn’t been pretty for the Zebras, as they’ve been knocked over in a fairly big way by both the Ferntree Gully Eagles and South Belgrave, two sides who they will come up against later this season should the Zebras have plans on progressing beyond the first week of the finals. If the Zebras lose tomorrow, then they can kiss a double chance goodbye – if they win, then they’re a chance still depending on results (ie. South Belgrave knocking over Tempy). The Jets, whilst outclassed against the Dockers last weekend, will give Forest Hill a run for their money tomorrow, especially with coach Steve Buckle giving the kids a taste of senior footy (could we see the EFL Media Team’s very own Dyson Baker work his way into the Heathmont seniors before the season’s over – could be a good way to persuade the powers-that-be into a radio game!!), however FOREST HILL should win this one, with their height and strength up forward a telling advantage.
The final two games of the round, unfortunately, could be one-sided contests, as the top of the ladder FERNTREE GULLY EAGLES travel out to Surrey Park, and Nunawading host the GLEN WAVERLEY HAWKS, who could have a field day on the small confines of Koonung Reserve. Both of the favourites should win very comfortably.
And so ends the Friday Preview for another week – a fraction over the prescribed word limit for the week, but hey, cut me some slack, I’m “first-up”, in racing parlance, after a spell!! Can’t wait to get out to Templestowe tomorrow to catch the big game between the Dockers and Saints, and I’ll have a direct line to the Radio Eastern commentary team so all of the Radio Eastern listeners all around the world (yes, that includes those streaming live here at www.efl.org.au) will know as soon as Paul Eccles kicks his hundredth goal – well, after I storm the ground to give big Ex a congratulatory hug and pose for a photo in the middle of the ground with Mark Randazzo anyway – and of course, we’ll have the entire wrap-up of the weekend’s action of EFL Sunday both on 98.1FM Radio Eastern and here on www.efl.org.au from 10:00am this Sunday morning. Time for me to continue with the mundane tasks that a Friday afternoon entails (and yep, I’m almost at the stage of using the Preview as a job-hunting tool!!) to enable me to get out to the footy tomorrow, so until then folks, stick a fork in me, as I am most definitely done!!
