EFL 2018: Vermont looking to reassert itself in the Eastern Football League premiership race

VERMONT’S drop off in form has thrown the Eastern Football League premiership race wide open, with the Eagles looking to reassert themselves as a flag fancy.

Liam Wale-Buxton has regularly been in Vermont’s best players this year. Picture: Valeriu Campan

VERMONT is in unfamiliar territory.

While the Eagles still hold down top position on the Eastern Football League Division 1 ladder, questions are being asked of their flag credentials.

SHARKS FIRM AS FLAG THREAT

TIGERS LOOK TO LIFT THEMSELVES OUT OF DROP ZONE

Without some key personnel, Vermont has a 1-3 record against top-five sides this year to leave the premiership race wide open between South Croydon, Doncaster, Rowville and Blackburn.

Vermont captain Lachie Johns conceded the Eagles were no longer the standout team in the competition.

“We probably hadn’t played a lot of the top teams early and we sort of maybe got a false sense of security there that maybe that was us again,” Johns said.

“The last five weeks has brought us back down to earth with that and I guess we’ve got a bit of a different view on it that we’ve had the last couple of years … the shoe is on the other foot where we are the hunting team again.

Jordan Collopy fires out a handball. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Teams probably see us as definitely gettable now and that is something we’ve got to change and I think that is probably going to spur us on now as well.”

Johns said it was “definitely fair enough” doubts had been raised on Vermont’s ability to contend for a third consecutive grand final.

“The past few weeks, everyone is starting to put questions up to us and all that sort of stuff but having said that, 14 rounds in sitting on top of the ladder, a lot of teams would be pretty envious of that sort of position,” he said.

“If you look at our last month of footy, it definitely hasn’t been impressive but I know speaking to a lot of the guys and a lot of the boys down at the club, we’ve definitely still got that drive.

“Obviously the last two years being so close, it’s definitely still a burning thing that everyone still wants to get up for and, like I said, the fact we have started doing an extra night a week and there has been pretty good buy-in with that, everyone is still on the same page.”

Among those on the sidelines are Johns himself, champion midfielder Adam Parker, spearhead Andrew Ainger and key defender Rory Lehmann.

Ainger and Parker could return after this weekend’s bye, while Johns and Lehmann are hoping to return before finals.

“We’re probably missing a bit of leadership out there at the moment just with a couple of the older guys out,” Johns said.

“The last few weeks haven’t been ideal but I think we’ve got a few players that will come back in over the next few weeks that will definitely help.”