EFL mid-season report card and premiership predictions in each division
AT THE halfway mark of the season, we’ve taken a look at how each division is panning out in the Eastern Football League and made some premiership predictions.
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ALL eyes will be on Balwyn and Noble Park on Saturday when the two sides play a stand-alone Eastern Football League fixture.
The rest of the competition will observe a bye over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
The first half of the season has seen several contenders emerge, while the relegation battle is also taking shape in each division.
We’ve taken a look at the state of play in each competition and made some predictions.
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DIVISION 1
POWERHOUSE Vermont has again quickly established itself as the team to beat in Division 1 but can the Eagles overcome their grand final hoodoo?
Vermont has finished minor premier in the past two seasons but has ultimately been unfulfilled on grand final day.
The Eagles have already skipped out to a two-game advantage at the top of the ladder and appear destined to again the first week of finals off.
Doncaster has proven its finals credentials with wins against Blackburn and South Croydon, while the Bulldogs are hitting top form after a slow start to the season.
Rowville’s slip up against Noble Park last weekend has put the Hawks back in the pack with Blackburn on 5-3, while Balwyn, Norwood and North Ringwood each sit on 4-4 and could still stake a claim for finals.
At the other end of the table, Knox sits winless at the bottom of the table and needs to find at least two wins if it is to avoid relegation.
With two teams to be relegated as part of the competition restructure, the Round 12 fixture between Montrose and East Ringwood could have a big bearing on the other team that is demoted.
Premiership tip: Vermont
DIVISION 2
After a Round 1 hiccup against Mooroolbark, perennial Division 2 contender Doncaster East will again be figuring at the business end of the season.
But much like Vermont, the Lions may need to overcome some mental demons should they taste the ultimate success in 2018 after two grand final losses in the past three years.
The Lions are on a seven-game winning streak after their 21-point triumph over Lilydale, who will be gunning for a finals double chance after also starting the season 7-1.
Little separates the teams from third to sixth, with Upper Ferntree Gully, Park Orchards, Bayswater and Wantirna South set to battle it out for the remaining two finals spots.
A Division 3 club for the majority of the past 32 years, Upper Gully will be looking for its first Division 2 finals win for the first time in 40 years.
Croydon appears out of the finals race, while Mooroolbark, who came into the season with much optimism, sits just a game clear of the relegation zone ahead of Mitcham and winless Mulgrave.
Premiership tip: Doncaster East
DIVISION 3
KNOCKED out of the premiership race in the preliminary final in the past two years, Ringwood again appears destined to feature when the whips are cracking.
Captain Trent Farmer already has 40 goals after the first nine games and is on track to better last year’s total of 81 majors.
Daniel Atwell, Daniel Collier and Mitchell Jackson have also been among Ringwood’s most consistent performers, forming a dangerous midfield brigade.
The weekend’s win over Boronia has the Redbacks on track for a second consecutive minor premiership, with the Hawks a game clear of Scoresby and Heathmont.
The Basin is two games back in fifth and look the most likely to grab the final spot in the top five.
With six teams to drop out of Division 3 as part of the competition’s move to the five-tier model, much interest will surround the relegation battle in the second half of the season.
Waverley Blues, Templestowe, Donvale and Warrandyte are separated by a game and could each lay claims on the sixth position.
Premiership tip: Ringwood
DIVISION 4
POSSIBLY the most even of all the four divisions.
East Burwood sits a game clear at the top of the ladder to be the early pacesetter but could still miss out on a finals double chance.
After a 0-2 start to the season, Glen Waverley Hawks are starting to deliver on their pre-season optimism after stringing together seven consecutive wins.
Former St Kilda player Matthew Ferguson has 22 goals in his past three games, forming a dangerous union up forward with Adam Amin.
Whitehorse Pioneers made their premiership intentions clear after inflicting East Burwood’s first loss of the season in Round 9 and will also be contending.
For the third consecutive season, Forest Hill has started 6-3 to be again put itself in contention.
The Zebras have gone 7-2 in the second half of the season in the past two years and may need to replicate that performance if they are to send departing coach Martin Stillman out on the perfect note.
One of Kilsyth and Fair Park could yet grab a finals spot but it seems the top four is set.
Premiership tip: Forest Hill
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