The team who have shined in the first half of the year in local footy

We’re at the halfway mark of the season in local footy and some teams have shined this year. We recognise those in our list of those who have impressed.

Marong has been one of the most impressive teams this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Every year there are teams who rise, sides who fall or clubs which

It’s the natural progression as everyone chases premiership glory.

This year plenty of teams have impressed, either making rapid rises up the ladder or taking the next step to become premiership contenders.

This list recognises those teams.

Allansford, Warrnambool

An injection of youth has seen the Cats rise up the ladder to become a legitimate premiership team. The team has lost once all season and broke an eight-year drought of wins against Merrivale earlier this year. It shapes up well for the team in the second-half of the season.

Birchip-Watchem, North Central

Led by former VFL best-and-fairest winner Nicholas Rippon, the Bulls have returned to the top of the competition in the middle of the year. Birchip-Watchem has the best attack, scoring almost 200 more points than their next rival. The team is unbeaten in eight matches and has the leading goalscorer in the competition with Ben Edwards kicking 49 goals.

Cardross, Millewa

The Millewa competition has been dominated by one club over the past few years with Bambill winning the last three premierships. Cardross is providing a stern test this season, winning seven of eight matches and beating Bambill by eight points in round six. The Lions have the best defence in the league and the second best attack. On track to win their first premiership in 52 years.

Cora Lynn has been one of the most impressive teams this year in country footy. Picture: Rob Gardiner.

Cora Lynn, West Gippsland

Led by former VFL premiership midfielder James Munro, the Cobras have gone from playing finals last year to premiership contenders. The team has won seven games out of nine. When you add leading goalkicker Nathan Gardner, who has 52 goals, the team is every chance contending at the pointy end.

Dartmoor, South West

The junior club of AFL star Jeremy Cameron is flying this year and on track to play finals. The team won their first eight games before being beaten by Cavendish last round. The Giants are chasing their first premiership since 2017.

Daylesford, Central Highlands

It took the Bulldogs just three games to beat their win-loss record from last year. Now, Daylesford is eyeing premiership glory for the first time since 2012. Led by former Geelong player Jordan Schroder and Victorian cricketer Travis Dean, along with a few players coming back home, the team has gone from a bottom-four team to a side capable of giving any team a contest.

Finley, Murray

Last year, the team missed finals on percentage but look certain to be one of the major players in the premiership race. The signing of former Carlton and GWS midfielder Mark Whiley has helped the club rise up the ladder as well as other recruits. The team is currently 8-2 and sitting second on the ladder. A first premiership since 1988 can happen.

Fish Creek, Mid Gippsland

It’s been an outstanding first half of the year for the Kangaroos. In the off-season, the team lost their club rooms after a massive fire. It’s galvanised the team and the reigning premiers have lost one game. It will be one of the best stories of the year if Fish Creek win their 38th senior premiership after the adversity the club has had.

Goorambat, Ovens and King

Last year, the team only won four games to finish towards the bottom. This year, the Bats have already beaten that mark, winning five to put themselves in the finals race. Led by new coach Ben Wapling the team is putting themselves in the hunt tonah l play finals.

Imperials, Sunraysia

The club has gone from bottom to top in the space of half a season and are a genuine premiership threat. It’s been done off the back of not only recruiting former Essendon player Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti but a couple of players from Queensland as well. McDonald-Tipungwuti has kicked 20 goals in nine games as the team has won seven games.

Laharum, Horsham

A team who has gone from almost merging to becoming a side to beat this year. Last year the team didn’t win a game and almost merged with Taylors Lake in the competition but a resilient committee fought on to give it one more crack, with some help from others. It’s worked with the team ending its 24-game winless streak and winning five games this year. Now, the team is on track to play finals for the first time since the Covid pandemic.

Lorne, Colac

Led by former Carlton player Ed Curnow, Lorne has been the team to beat all season in Colac. The team in unbeaten in 10 matches and knocked off last year’s premier in round eight by two points. An off-season of recruiting, headlined by Curnow, has paid dividends early.

Lucknow, East Gippsland

Last year the team missed the finals by one game. This year the team is on top and one game away from securing the same amount of wins as last year. It’s been a fair effort from the Magpies to bounce back, led by the return of some players in the off-season.

Marong Panthers and Corey Gregg have won their past 40 matches in the Loddon Valley league. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Marong, Loddon Valley

Most people might be questioning why the Panthers are in this list but there’s a good reason for it. In the off-season the team lost it’s leading goalkicker Brandyn Grenfell while others in the competition recruited to get better. The result? Marong is still unbeaten and has the best defence in the league.

Natte Bealiba, Maryborough Castlemaine

It’s been five years since the club won their last flag and this year the team is every chance of adding a third title in the competition. The team is unbeaten and has the second-best attack and the best defence.

Nilma Darnum, Ellinbank

The club made famous by Nathan Buckley last year, in the Carlton Draft, has had their best season in years, off the back of a recruiting spree started when the former Collingwood and Brisbane great came to the club. And it’s worked. The team has won four matches out of 10, which is more than their last three years combined in seniors as a club.

North Albury coach Tim Broomhead. Picture: Tim Petts (supplied)

North Albury, Ovens and Murray

Led by former Collingwood player Tim Broomhead the Hoppers have been one of the teams of the year in the Ovens and Murray for their rise up the ladder. The team is currently second with seven wins and three losses.

Nyah Nyah West, Central Murray

An off-season recruiting spree, which included leading goalkicker Brandyn Grenfell, has seen the Demons rise to the top in the Central Murray league. The team has lost one game all season. Grenfell is also leading the goalkicking. It’s been a great start but the Demons will be well aware that in a competitive competition their top spot is nothing to take for granted.

Penshurst, Mininera

Been one of the most dominant sides in country footy. Penshurst is unbeaten in eight games in the Mininera league and has been ruthless in defence and attack. The side is averaging 162 points per game and has conceded, on average, just 30. The performances have been led by Josh Rentsch who has come to the club from the SANFL. With the club celebrating its 150th anniversary it might be a massive year for the club.

Rochester, Goulburn Valley

In the club’s 150th year celebrations, the Tigers are flying, only losing two games this year. The club recruited well in the off-season, getting Ryan O’Keefe and Mitch Trewella from Kangaroo Flat in the Bendigo league and a few others.

Rushworth, Kyabram

The best team this year in country footy who has come back from recess. Not many would have expected Rushworth to win three games out of eight this year, especially after winning once in 2022. It’s been a remarkable turnaround by the club and the team is even in the hunt for finals.

Shepparton, Goulburn Valley

The frontrunner in the competition until last weekend, losing to Echuca. A focus in the off-season of getting former players to the club, including Joel Brett, Luke Smith, Liam Duguid and others has paid dividends with the team 8-1 after nine rounds. With Echuca flexing their muscles in recent weeks and Rochester being very competitive, time will tell if the Bears can bounce back to premiership glory for the first time since 2018.

Southern Mallee Thunder's Brad Lowe and Jake Garvey celebrate a goal against Warrack Eagles earlier this season. Picture: Georgia Hallam

Southern Mallee Thunder, Wimmera

It’s always hard merging teams but to merge two into one from four original clubs and do it the way the Thunder has done is impressive. And the team is every chance of winning a premiership this year in the Wimmera league, for the first time. The team has won six games out of seven and only lost to Ararat in round two.

South Warrnambool, Hampden

One of only a handful of sides in country footy who remain unbeaten this year. In a year where other sides were looking to rise to the top, the Roosters remain the team to beat, winning their first 10 matches this year. Led by Carlton VFL player Archie Stevens and Myles McCluggage, the brother of Brisbane player Hugh, the team has continued to show the form which led them to last year’s premiership. When you add the leading goalkicker in the competition, Shannon Beks with 36, it’s easy to see why South Warrnambool have been good this year.

Stawell, Wimmera

In its 150th year, Warriors are one of the teams to beat in the Wimmera league. The side has won all but two games and for a period of time was on top of the ladder. The rise has been led by a recruiting spree at the end of last year, which included the signing of former Port Adelaide player Marlon Motlop.

Sunbury and Harrison Minton-Connell have been one of the best teams in Ballarat this year. Picture: Hamish Blair

Sunbury, Ballarat

Coached by former AFL player and Sunbury junior, Matthew White, the team is on track to not just make finals but play a major part in them. The team has lost one game all season and beaten last year’s grand finalists in Darley and North Ballarat. The team has currently the second and third leading goalkickers in the competition in Jake Sutton and Mitch McLean and the second best defence in the league.

Swifts, Horsham

Last year the club almost merged with another entity despite making the finals in the Horsham league. This year the team is on another level, winning seven out of eight games. The only loss came against the juggernaut of the competition, Harrow Balmoral, by 25 points in round five. On track to be a major player in the finals.

Wickliffe/Lake Bolac, Mininera

The preliminary finalists from last year have overcome that despair to be one of the teams to beat this year. The team are 8-0 alongside Penshurst in the competition with both set to face each other in round 10. The team is on track for their second premiership in six years.

Wodonga Bulldogs, Ovens and Murray

Led by former Seymour player Jack O’Sullivan, who is now coach, the Bulldogs have been one of the teams of the year and are on track to play finals again. Impressively, the team has beaten the Wangaratta Rovers, Wangaratta Magpies and Albury this year. Can the Doggies make an impact in finals?

Woodside, North Gippsland

Last year’s grand finalists have been the benchmark in the competition, winning all eight matches and beating last year’s premiers, Traralgon Tyers United, in round one. The team is chasing its first premiership in the competition since the club was started in 2008.