North Old Boys-St Patrick’s look to lift to level set by VAFA Division 1 pacesetters Kew and Ormond

THE standard of Victorian Amateur Football Association Division 1 has lifted to another level this year, according to North Old Boys-St Patrick’s coach Ron Rooney.

VAFA Football: NOBS-St Pats V Therry Penola. Nobs no 75 (not in record)

THE standard of Victorian Amateur Football Association Division 1 has lifted to another level this year, according to North Old Boys-St Patrick’s coach Ron Rooney.

While grand finalists Therry Penola and Williamstown CYMS lost just four games between them last year, Rooney said ladder leaders Kew and Ormond had set a standard higher than anything his team encountered in 2014.

The greatest question that Rooney faces is whether his injury-riddled side can rise to the challenge set by the competition’s frontrunners over the remainder of the campaign.

“The top three especially have been very good this year,” Rooney said.

“Ormond that came down are undefeated and the two that came up — Kew and St Mary’s.

“We’ve battled all year with injuries. We’ve had at least five or six changes every week and they just can’t get any continuity.”

NOBS-St Pats entered last week’s VAFA bye with a 4-4 record, sitting fifth on the ladder behind Kew, Ormond, Old Geelong and St Mary’s Salesian.

“I think (Kew and Ormond) are better than even Therry and Williamstown last year,” Rooney said.

“The competition has really improved again to another level.”

Rooney said the club had set its sights on a finals finish at the start of the year.

“We thought the way we finished off last year ... we’d play finals,” he said.

“We had a pretty tough month, played the top three sides (but) the last couple of weeks we’ve started to get a bit of form back.”

He said Matthew Keown, Michael O’Donoghue and Lachlan Ezard had been NOBS-St Pats’ most reliable contributors.

Keown led the club’s goalkicking after eight rounds with 19 majors, with Chris Horsley and Chris Ford the only other players in double figures.

“When sides have got on top they really have smashed us,” Rooney said.

“Big quarters have really cost our percentage.”

NOBS-St Pats recorded its fifth win of the campaign on Saturday, defeating Prahran Assumption 16.5 (101) to 12.14 (86) at Toorak Park.