By Tyler Lewis
The first half of the AFL Outer East season is complete and it’s now time to separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Pakenham has ridden the wave of momentum more than any club, Officer face an abrupt search for a coach, while all clubs bar Narre Warren itself are in pursuit of a method that will defeat these seemingly untouchable Magpies.
Division 1 tells a similar story; Seville appears impenetrable – despite losing its skipper and best player to a knee injury, but there are several sides waiting in a log jam behind the Blues for a moment of brief complacency.
Berwick Springs has shown glimpses of brilliance in its hunt for a maiden finals berth in its second season, while Gembrook Cockatoo – with the talent on its list – simply has to deliver when the whips are cracking.
So, here’s the bottom line…
PREMIER DIVISION
NARRE WARREN (1st):
Record: 7-0
Best win: Woori Yallock – 19.16 (130) to 7.12 (54)
Worst loss: Nil.
Bottom line: Like polarising Peaky Blinders character Tommy Shelby, only Narre Warren can kill Narre Warren. Complacency the only worry, but it’s a factor the Pies are onto early.
WANDIN (2nd):
Record: 5-2
Best win: Pakenham – 19.18 (132) to 15.11 (101)
Worst loss: Woori Yallock – 18.10 (118) to 19.20 (134)
Bottom line: The Dogs are beating sides below them, but 0-2 against the top three around them. We will find out if they’re the real deal in three weeks when they take on Woori Yallock again.
WOORI YALLOCK (3rd):
Record: 5-2
Best win: Wandin – 19.20 (134) to 18.10 (118)
Worst loss: Narre Warren – 7.12 (54) to 19.16 (130)
Bottom line: The Tigers need to believe they can win it… playing a loose defender in the first term against Narre Warren doesn’t look like they do.
MONBULK (4th):
Record: 4-3
Best win: Woori Yallock – 13.13 (91) to 13.6 (84)
Worst loss: Olinda Ferny Creek – 8.11 (59) to 9.7 (61)
Bottom line: Started slow, but was realistically the closest a side got to Narre Warren this year. Don’t sleep on the Hawks.
OLINDA FERNY CREEK (5th):
Record: 4-3
Best win: Monbulk – 9.7 (61) to 8.11 (59)
Worst Loss: Pakenham – 12.16 (88) to 13.12 (90)
Bottom line: Finals or bust for the Bloods.
PAKENHAM (6th):
Record: 4-3
Best win: Olinda Ferny Creek – 13.12 (90) to 12.16 (88)
Worst Loss: Wandin – 15.11 (101) to 19.18 (132)
Bottom line: Bigger grounds in finals will help the Lions, but they need to get there first. It should be an expectation, but the rehab room is reaching full capacity.
MT EVELYN (7th):
Record: 1-6
Best win: Upwey Tecoma – 21.3 (129) to 9.21 (75)
Worst Loss: Officer – 11.11 (77) to 17.9 (111)
Bottom line: Tough six weeks coming for the Rovers, but simply need to beat Upwey Tecoma in round 15 to stay in the top flight.
OFFICER (8th):
Record: 1-6
Best win: Mt Evelyn – 17.9 (111) to 11.11 (77)
Worst Loss: Upwey Tecoma – 10.6 (66) to 10.17 (77)
Bottom line: Roos need to stay in the top flight to lure a big coach and they should. Minimum of two wins to come in the run home to avoid a drop back down to Division 1.
UPWEY TECOMA (9th):
Record: 1-7
Best win: Officer 10.17 (77) to 10.6 (66)
Worst Loss: Narre Warren – 2.6 (18) to 22.18 (150)
Bottom line: Need to focus on the little wins for the rest of the year.
DIVISION 1:
SEVILLE (1st):
Record: 8-0
Best win: Emerald – 10.18 (78) to 5.9 (39)
Worst loss: Nil.
Bottom line: No O’Keefe, no worries. This side is ready for Premier Division football.
EMERALD (2nd):
Record: 6-1
Best win: Gembrook Cockatoo – 12.15 (87) to 11.19 (85)
Worst loss: Seville – 5.9 (39) to 10.18 (78)
Bottom line: Get to the big dance, because anything can happen.
GEMBROOK COCKATOO (3rd)
Record: 4-1-2
Best win: Healesville – 9.21 (75) to 5.3 (33)
Worst loss: Emerald – 11.19 (85) to 12.15 (87)
Bottom line: For the talent on this list, the Brookers need to start beating proper contenders.
HEALESVILLE (4th):
Record: 4-4
Best win: Berwick Springs – 13.2 (80) to 5.13 (43)
Worst loss: Berwick Springs – 11.11 (77) to 17.14 (116)
Bottom line: Need to find avenues to goal other than the boot of Max Donegan.
BERWICK SPRINGS (5th):
Record: 3-1-4
Best win: Healesville – 17.14 (116) to 11.11 (77)
Worst loss: Healesville – 5.13 (43) to 13.2 (80)
Bottom line: Harsh expectations on the Titans in their second year, but should play finals this year in such a small comp – Healesville the only side in the way.
YARRA GLEN (6th):
Record: 1-7
Best win: Belgrave – 9.20 (74) to 8.10 (58)
Worst loss: Berwick Springs – 2.6 (18) to 16.15 (111)
Bottom line: Competitive in most games, but will need to make some adjustments to stay that way in 2023.
BELGRAVE (7th):
Record: 0-8
Best win: Nil.
Worst loss: Seville – 3.1 (19) to 20.22 (142)
Bottom line: Have been much more competitive since the opening two rounds, but a trip down a division is well overdue.
