Mitch Wallis, Martin Gleeson, Luke Winter among leading performers after Round 2
It has been a strong start to the VAFA season. See which players have fired early.
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It has been a captivating start to the VAFA Premier Men’s season.
A standout team in the competition remains void while a number of sides look like they could contend for a top-four finals spot.
In terms of relegation, it is anyone’s guess after the first two rounds.
Here’s a look at some of the best performing players so far this season, supported by Premier Data statistics.
Aidan Franetic (Old Scotch)
A 22-possession game in Round 2 including 15 contested was a strong showing from Franetic. He also had five clearances in the match.
Alastair Richards (St Kevin’s)
A goal, 28 disposals and eight tackles was a top performance from Richards in Round 2. He also had five inside 50s and clearances in the match.
Alfred Jarnestrom (Old Brighton)
The Tonners number 77 has been influential in his first two outings this season with 28 possessions and a goal in the first game before picking up another 22 touches in Round 2 against Old Haileybury.
Ayce Cordy (University Blues)
The Blues skipper booted three goals in the wet in his first outing of the season. He also had 16 touches in the game with 13 contested. He backed it up in the derby with 23 touches and eight clearances.
Benjamin Hays (Old Scotch)
Hays gained 114 ranking points against Collegians in Round 2 for his 28 disposals including 11 contested, eight marks and five inside 50s and a goal.
Benjamin Harding (Old Melburnians)
Harding has had 36 and 29 disposal games to start the season. 20 of his 36 touches in Round 1 against University Blues were contested, and he kicked two goals and gathered 122 ranking points.
Brodie Tonkin (Old Melburnians)
Tonkin had a 25-disposal game in the first round which featured nine tacks and clearances as well as 10 contested possessions.
Campbell Moorfield (University Blacks)
Moorfield has had 50 touches and 23 rebounds from the first two games of the season. In the derby, he had the most ranking points for the Blacks with 177.
Dane Crognale (University Blues)
The Blues new recruit has had a flying start at University Oval. His Round 1 game against Old Melbournians featured a stunning 37 disposals including 34 contested. He also had 18 clearances on the day.
Eddie Ziebarth (University Blues)
Three goals, 39 touches and 16 inside 50s from the first two games has been a strong start to Ziebarth’s season. He has also laid 11 tackles.
Finn Campigli (Old Brighton)
Campigli has seven marks to go with both his first two matches this season. In the first game, he also picked up 26 possessions before getting 21 in Round 2. Campigli also kicked a goal in his first game of the season against University Blacks and had 107 ranking points.
Harry Hill (Old Brighton)
The reigning Premier best and fairest winner has started the 2023 campaign in fine form with 35 and 32-possession games. Nearly half of his touches have been contested and he has had six clearances in each game.
Hugh Sandilands (Caulfield Grammarians)
Three goals, 18 possessions and eight marks completed a solid game for Sandilands in the forward line against reigning premiers St Kevin’s in Round 2.
Jack Stephens (University Blues)
Stephens has had 25 and 16-disposal games to start the season. His first game also featured five marks and four inside 50s for 103 ranking points.
Jackson Paine (Old Melburnians)
Paine has started his season in style. He had 22 disposals, nine contested, two goals, nine tackles and eight clearances in the season opener against University Blues. He scored another two goals in Round 2 against Old Xaverians and had 15 touches in the match.
Jeremy Goddard (University Blues)
The midfielder picked up 20 disposals and a goal in the first game and backed it up with nine tackles and 16 possessions the following week.
Jim Bazzani (Collegians)
Bazzani picked up 27 disposals against Old Xaverians in Round 1. He had 23 touches and a goal in Round 2. He has had 12 of his possessions contested in both games as well as six clearances.
Jordan Kelly (Old Xaverians)
Kelly has had 19 and 20 possessions in his first two games this season. Almost half of his touches have been contested.
Josh Gasparini (Old Haileybury)
Gasparini picked up 24 touches including 14 contested in Round 2 against Old Brighton. He also had seven tackles and eight clearances in the match.
Joshua Steadman (University Blacks)
Steadman picked up 20 disposals and had eight clearances in his Round 1 game against Old Brighton.
Joshua Wallis (St Kevin’s)
The SKOB new recruit picked up 30 disposals in his second game and had six inside 50s and clearances.
Kenny Ong (Collegians)
A season opening match against Old Xaverians featuring 28 touches, including 18 contested, two goals and nine clearances was a top effort from the Lions midfielder. His contested possession were the most in the game as well as the 121 ranking points.
Luca McNab (Old Brighton)
A 27 possession game in the first round followed by 24 in Round 2 has been a fine start to McNab’s season. Notably, 39 of his 51 disposals have come by foot.
Luke McCleary (Collegians)
A 32-possession game on the weekend against Old Scotch featuring 28 kicks, eight marks and 11 rebounds was a top effort from McCleary for his first outing this season. He finished on 140 ranking points, the most in the game.
Luke Winter (St Kevin’s)
The midfielder had 29 disposals including 17 contested in Round 2. Winter also had nine inside 50s and clearances helping him reaching an impressive 147 ranking points. Stats weren’t recorded in the opening round.
Martin Gleeson (University Blues)
The Blues halfback has had a dominant start to the VAFA season. Gleeson picked up 26 touches in the first game against Old Melburnians before following it up with 33 touches in the Uni derby. The derby was the highlight of the two performances with the gun defender gaining a whopping 187 ranking points for his game which included 15 marks and 29 kicks.
Mitch Wallis (St Kevin’s)
The former AFL forward kicked three goals in his side’s win over Caulfield Grammarians in Round 2. Wallis also had 27 touches including 17 contested in the match.
Patrick Kerr (St Kevin’s)
The tall forward kicked three goals in Round 2 to go with his 19 disposals which included 10 contested touches.
Thomas Fisher (Old Brighton)
A Round 2 performance against Old Haileybury featuring 26 touches including 17 contested, 11 tackles and 11 clearances was a top effort that led to the most ranking points on the ground at 143. Fisher also picked up 20 touches in the first round.
Thomas O’Sullivan (Caulfield Grammarians)
O’Sullivan was the highest ranked Caulfield player in his side’s Round 2 match against St Kevin’s. He gained 31 disposals, 17 contested, and had 10 clearances in the match for 112 ranking points.
Thomas Yorgy (Old Brighton)
The Tonners midfielder had 36 disposals, 12 contested and eight marks in the opening round against University Blacks. His performances led to 122 ranking points, the most of any player in his team. He picked up another 22 touches the following week.
Tom Cutler (University Blues)
The former AFL footballer has started his VAFA campaign in style. Cutler had 26 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles in the first week and backed it up with 25 touches, a goal and six inside 50s in the second week.
Tyler Sellers (Old Scotch)
Sellers kicked three goals and had 18 possessions against Collegians in Round 2. 11 of his touches were contested in a brilliant display.
Vivian Michie (Collegians)
The Lions midfielder has started the season in fine form with 28 disposals in Round 1 before another 26 in Round 2 against Old Scotch at about 70 per cent efficiency. Michie has also pushed forward and kicked a goal in both games.
William Gower (Old Xaverians)
Gowers has started the season with five goals from two games. He has also taken nine marks.
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