By Nick Creely and Dave Nagel
The start of the 2017 football season has brought many shocks and surprises. Challengers have emerged, and some teams have crumbled under the expectation.
With local football leagues taking last weekend off due to interleague matches played across the state, the Journal has cast its eye over how the local sides are travelling in the first month of a long season.
Eastern Football League
Take away last weekend’s narrow defeat to Blackburn, and Noble Park have had a near faultless first month of the season. The Bulls are stacked with talent – the immediate impact of former AFL star James Gwilt has been enormous and the usual suspects in Kyle Martin and Tim Harper are in strong form. They sit 3-1 and fourth in one of the highest quality competitions in the state, and have set a perfect launching pad for a big season.
Rowville, however, has had its moments but is third last and with just one win on the board. Steven Georgious, Alex Frawley and Damian Garner are playing great football, but the rest must lift.
South East Football Netball League
Doveton and Hampton Park had contrasting preparations heading into the South East Football Netball League and the results of that groundwork are starting to show.
The Doves recruited heavily under new-coach Aaron Davey with Noble Park forward Taylor Joyce joining Alwyn Davey and Clayton McCartney on an impressive list of newcomers. The boys from Robinson Oval have had a steady start to the season, sitting third on the ladder after victories over Officer, Hampton Park and Pakenham. But the real test is about to come with upcoming games against top-three contenders Beaconsfield and Berwick. Russ Gabriel has been a man-mountain in the ruck – early favourite for a third Norm Walker Medal – while midfielder Michael ‘Pickles’ Henry and under-rated defenders Matt Jameson and Mitch Woolgar have also had fine starts to the season. Aaron Davey and former Hawthorn tall Jarrad Boumann will play their first game in the coming weeks.
Hampton Park was in serious danger of folding just weeks before the season but has shown true grit to bounce back and field two teams. Banking four points may be a rarity for the Redbacks this season but the development of players like Hayden Brough, Harrison Paul, CJ Layfield and Zac Hanlen will hold the club in good stead for many years to come.
Southern Football League
After many leans seasons in a row, Keysborough is finally emerging, and if its highly impressive 3-1 start to the Division 2 season is anything to go by, it could easily be thereabouts in finals action. They currently sit third on the table ahead of a crucial block of footy.
The other Division 2 side, Springvale Districts, is struggling with a 1-3 record, but has shown some promising signs and is playing a brand of footy not indicative of its eighth spot on the ladder. It pushed Chelsea Heights in Round 3 and is yet to be blown away in any games.
In Division 3, Hallam is looking primed for a major tilt in 2017, skipping to second on the ladder with a 3-1 record. The Hawks have been stingy in defence, giving up just 175 points so far (second in the competition), while also remaining a strong attacking threat.
The other side sitting inside the top four is Doveton Eagles, who are building nicely, and with a 3-1 record next to their name, would be pleased.
Endeavour Hills is also travelling well with a 3-1 record, but has conceded 304 points (ninth in the competition). The Eagles would be happy to be sitting fifth, but must rectify this issue.
Lyndale and Lyndhurst are both sitting 2-2 after similar starts to the year, with the Pumas’ 403 points (second in the competition), setting them apart from the exciting Lightning team.
Dandenong and Sandown are in a lot of trouble, both without a win so far, and putting together a combined 206 points, but the light is at the end of the tunnel for both young teams who are looking to build from the ground up.
