EFL 2019: Mulgrave discusses its low player points average

This local footy club has used just four players worth more than one point under AFL Victoria’s player points system. It explains how it is operating at nearly half the points cap.

Adam Booth in the ruck for Mulgrave. Picture: Ashlee Bieniak

Mulgrave is again running its player points at the near minimum and will look to inject some new talent into the side next year.

The Lions have played just four players valued at more than one point this year and have averaged 24 player points per game — nearly half the allowed EFL cap of 47.

Lachlan Treloar (three), Nick Holding (two points), Ed Wilson (two) and Baden Nicholls (two) are the only players to have been valued more than one point.

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In two games this year Mulgrave has gone in with just one player worth more than one point.

The Lions last year averaged 25 player points a game.

President Ian Coleman said the club’s list was a mixture of juniors from nearby Glen Waverley Rovers and recruits who had been reduced to one point.

“We have brought a number of people from different clubs into our club but we’re very reliant on bringing people through the under-19s and Rovers,” Coleman said.

“While we’ve had some challenges on the ground in terms of getting some wins, we’re probably a very young side.”

Coleman also noted it was difficult to attract young talent.

Mulgrave-based junior club Northvale folded last year and many of the Lions senior players graduate from the Rovers.

“We’re really looking closely to the longer term but unfortunately, the demographic in this particular area around Mulgrave, Wheelers Hill, Glen Waverley, it’s older and a lot of teams are facing the challenges of not having access to players at that young end,” Coleman said.

“We’ve got a strong relationship with the Rovers and we’ll certainly continue to do that to bring players in at the bottom level and then certainly look at the upper end.”

Sam Trevethan hunts the ball for Mulgrave. Picture: Ashlee Bieniak

Mulgrave was relegated to Division 2 last year and with a 4-10 record this year it sits three games clear of the drop zone ahead of Scoresby.

Its average losing margin in its first three defeats was 65 points but the Lions have been more competitive than their four-win record would suggest.

They have challenged flag contenders Templestowe, Mitcham, Boronia, Ringwood and Heathmont but have had six defeats by less than 20 points.

Coleman said competing against clubs with a higher points value had been difficult but he had been surprised at the competitiveness of the competition.

“It probably shows out in our performance on the ground in that we are almost there but we’ve just missed out (on winning games),” he said.

“We’re probably demanding more of the players that have been with us for a while.

“We’ll look at the way we field (a side) next year and definitely we need to look at some other players or new players to come into the fold.”

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