The Courier |
THE good, the bad and the ugly. Hopefully your club has achieved, or even exceeded, what it had hoped during the first half of the Central Highlands Football League season.
But the reality is that not all of the 18 senior teams are where they thought they’d be 10 rounds into the 2013 campaign.
Buninyong and Waubra simply couldn’t complain about their undefeated starts to the year, Learmonth has produced one of a few surprises, sitting in the eight, while Beaufort and Dunnstown are among those that have failed to set the competition alight.
Today, The Courier takes a neutral follower’s look at how each club has performed so far this season and gives each a rating out of 10.
It would be unfair, and somewhat naive, to suggest all clubs were expected to challenge for the premiership at the start of the season, so grading each on an outsider’s expectation is what has occurred.
A pass has been marked as a seven – specific to each club – and as you can see, there’s plenty that have not met that mark to date.
Lucky there’s still time to rectify the situation… well, for some.
BALLAN
TWELFTH – 3 wins, 7 losses
High point: While it wasn’t the Blues’ biggest victory of the year, a runaway 38-point win over Dunnstown in round nine brought more joy than the triumphs over Rokewood-Corindhap and Illabarook.
Low point: A 51-point loss to Creswick that followed back-to-back wins over the Grasshoppers and Bulldogs.
IT HAS been a difficult start to 2013 for the Blues, with five finalists from last season scheduled in the first 10 rounds.
The Blues have ensured they have beaten the teams that they did last year, while being competitive – at least for periods – in clashes with the top sides of the competition.
We should expect coach Darron Batties and the boys to finish the season well, particularly given several winnable matches in the run home.
VERDICT: 6.5/10
BEAUFORT
FIFTEENTH – 2 wins, 8 losses
High point: A gutsy one-goal win over Clunes – which had just beaten Hepburn – to get the season up and running in round six.
Low point: The start. Five-straight losses to open the campaign was a disastrous way to launch 2013.
IT’S hard to describe the Crows’ start to the season as anything other than disappointing.
There was a big turnover of personnel during the pre-season, and as it stands, things have been tough for coach Louis Franc.
Just two wins is well below where Beaufort would have expected to be at this stage of the year, and the only way is up.
VERDICT: 4/10
BUNGAREE
THIRD – 9 wins, 1 loss
High point: The gutsy round seven win over Daylesford, which reversed the preliminary final defeat from last year.
Low point: The loss to Springbank in round four is a defeat that still frustrates senior coach Greg Middleton.
THERE’S been plenty of injury hiccups for the Demons through the early part of season, but as an outsider, you’d hardly know.
Bungaree has enjoyed a cracking start to the campaign, which has included a win over reigning premiers Daylesford, to be in the box seat for back-to-back top four finishes.
There’s a few tough games in the run home, but the depth of the senior group should hold it in good stead for a crack at the flag.
VERDICT: 8/10
BUNINYONG
First – 10 wins, 0 losses
High point: Without a doubt the round six thumping of Daylesford in the grand final rematch on the Bulldogs’ home turf.
Low point: Has there been one? Hard to see it, but perhaps the hard-fought win over Learmonth, where the Bombers relied on a big last term to snatch the points.
THE pain of last year’s grand final defeat is driving the Buninyong group, and it’s producing the goods.
The Bombers look the real deal in 2013 and it’s going to take one hell of an effort to stop them going all the way.
Their depth, spirit and a priceless desire for success, with a list that has been topped-up from last year, is a formidable combination.
VERDICT: 9.5/10
CARNGHAM-LINTON
TENTH – 5 wins, 5 losses
High point: Last Saturday’s stirring 19-point win over Gordon in the first game back at Snake Valley in nine years.
Low point: An 86-point loss against Hepburn in a game that the Saints would have been really keen to show how far they’ve come.
CARNGHAM-LINTON has already eclipsed its four wins from last year and we’re only 10 rounds deep into the season.
It’s certainly a better-than-expected start from the Saints – at least from an outsider’s perspective – for new coach Jamie Briody and his charges.
The rest test will come in the charge to finals, where the Saints are aiming to become the first former Lexton Plains side to reach them.
VERDICT: 7.5/10
CLUNES
FOURTEENTH – 2 wins, 8 losses
High point: The upset win over Hepburn in round five has been the clear highlight of the Magpies’ campaign.
Low point: The inability to win a single match since that victory over the Burras has been a massive disappointment.
CLUNES coach Justin Johns has said it himself – perhaps the worst thing that the Magpies did was beat powerhouse Hepburn.
The Pies held so much promise following that win, and while they’ve been competitive in most games before and after, a return of two victories is not enough.
There’s been some gutsy efforts, but it looks as though finals will elude Clunes for another year.
VERDICT: 5/10
CRESWICK
SEVENTH – 6 wins, 4 losses
High point: The stunning 10-goal final term, which resulted in a come-from-behind win over Daylesford in round five.
Low point: Probably the narrow defeats in winnable clashes against Carngham-Linton and Learmonth, which could prove costly late in the season.
THE Wickers are probably about where we thought they’d be mid-way through the year, with a finals tilt well and truly on the cards.
Creswick doesn’t possess too many out-and-out stars, but the committed model under new coach Len Watson is getting results.
The interesting period comes in the next seven weeks with four 2012 finalists on the radar.
VERDICT: 6.5/10
DAYLESFORD
FIFTH – 7 wins, 3 losses
High point: The recent win over arch-rivals Hepburn, which was the Bulldogs’ fourth-straight triumph over their neighbours.
Low point: A 97-point mauling at the hands of Buninyong in a rematch of the 2012 grand final.
THERE’S certainly some concerns surrounding Daylesford’s defence of the premiership.
Despite a busy recruiting drive, the Bulldogs haven’t reached expectations, with crucial losses against Creswick, Buninyong and Bungaree in a three-match sequence threatening their top four chances.
We know to never write Daylesford off, but there’s certainly some improvement needed to challenge for another flag.
VERDICT: 5.5/10
DUNNSTOWN
SIXTEENTH – 1 win, 9 losses
High point: The one and only win of the season – against Beaufort in the opening round of the year.
Low point: Nobody expected the Towners to beat Daylesford in round eight, but a 135-point flogging, managing just two goals, shows where the group is at.
IT’S been a season to forget for Dunnstown, which is a long way off the mark.
The Towners have been competitive in several clashes with the sides around them, but a considerable distance from those up the ladder.
New coach Mick Taylor said bettering last year’s seven wins was a priority at season’s start, but you’d think that might be beyond the Towners now…
VERDICT: 3/10
GORDON
NINTH – 5 wins, 5 losses
High point: The 54-point win over Clunes in round seven secured back-to-back victories for the only time this season.
Low point: Last Saturday’s loss to Carngham-Linton, a game the Eagles should have arguably won but kicked a horrid 10.22 to lose by 19 points.
THERE’S a notion around the competition that Gordon is much better than the ninth position it finds itself in at present.
But the Eagles have been unable to string any momentum together and now face an uphill battle to secure a place in finals.
They’ve got the talent to be there at the business end, but it’s time to start putting that into results.
VERDICT: 6/10
HEPBURN
SIXTH – 7 wins, 3 losses
High point: The way the Burras bounced back following a surprise loss to Clunes in beating Springbank in round six.
Low point: That loss to Clunes, closely followed by yet another defeat to arch-rivals Daylesford.
IT’S certainly not the Hepburn of old.
The Burras have had a modest start to season 2013 – by their lofty standards – which has been characterised by a couple of comfortable defeats, a surprise loss and some hard-fought victories.
You’d be silly to rule Hepburn out of the premiership race, but it must lift to be a genuine challenger.
VERDICT: 5.5/10
ILLABROOK
EIGHTEENTH – 0 wins, 10 losses
High point: Hard to find, but there was glimpses in the hard-fought loss to Rokewood-Corindhap.
Low point: Also the Rokewood-Corindhap defeat. Was the Bulldogs’ big chance for a win, but they weren’t good enough.
THE hard slog in the Central Highlands continues for the Bulldogs, which have now gone 42 matches without a win.
Coach Rod Gladman was confident of a couple of triumphs this campaign, but you’d have to think it will be hard given the magnitude of the recent defeats.
VERDICT: 5/10
LEARMONTH
EIGHTH – 6 wins, 4 losses
High point: The come-from-behind six-point win over Creswick in round seven.
Low point: The round nine capitulation, 108-point loss against Bungaree, just a week after the Lakies pushed powerhouse Buninyong all the way.
THE arrival of coach John Northey has had a positive influence on the boys from Learmonth.
Six wins is two more than the side achieved last year and a genuine tilt at the finals appears on the cards.
Three big defeats against Daylesford, Waubra and Bungaree is the obvious concern, but to be even eyeing finals is a massive achievement for the group.
VERDICT: 8/10
NEWLYN
THIRTEENTH – 3 wins, 7 losses
High point: A thrilling one-point win over Clunes in round eight.
Low point: A 20-point loss to Skipton at the weekend – a team the Cats beat by more than 100 points in 2012.
CONSECUTIVE finals series are quickly slipping out of Newlyn’s grasp.
The Cats have struggled to find their form of 2012, and despite a favourable run home in the latter part of the season, they don’t appear to be playing the footy required to reach the top eight.
VERDICT: 4.5/10
ROKEWOOD-CORINDHAP
SEVENTEENTH, 1 win, 9 losses
High point: The hard-fought win over fellow strugglers Illabarook in round seven.
Low point: Two goal-less defeats against Daylesford (round three) and Bungaree (on Saturday).
THE season started with renewed optimism for the Rokewood-Corindhap boys, but it is quickly shaping as its worst in the Central Highlands so far.
The Grasshoppers have just the one win – over cellar-dwellers Illabarook – and have been uncompetitive in most other outings.
It’s destined to be another year to forget.
VERDICT: 4/10
SKIPTON
ELEVENTH – 5 wins, 5 losses
High point: Last Saturday’s 20-point win over 2012 finalists Newlyn kept the Emus’ top eight hopes alive.
Low point: Three-match stretch between rounds three and five where there was big losses to Creswick, Buninyong and Bungaree.
SKIPTON has travelled under the radar so far this season, but is one of a handful of teams still in the mix for a spot in the lower section of the eight.
The Emus – led by boom recruit Tyrone Ross – have already surpassed their win ratio from last year and can surely secure a few more in the run home.
Lifting and winning against the better sides is the next step forward.
VERDICT: 7.5/10
SPRINGBANK
Fourth – 8 wins, 2 losses
High point: The impressive four-goal win over Bungaree in round four, which inflicted the Demons’ only defeat of the season.
Low point: A disappointing display against Buninyong, which saw the ladder-leaders control the contest to win by 43 points in round three.
ONE of the big movers and shakers in the pre-season, Springbank will be pleased with what it has achieved from the opening 10 rounds.
The Tigers, which have missed the services of gun recruit Paul McMahon for much of the campaign, are a game clear inside the top four and look set for a genuine tilt at the finals.
Depth is good, morale is up and the winning culture is starting to rub off on those in yellow and black.
VERDICT: 8/10
WAUBRA
Second – 10 wins, 0 losses
High point: The blistering opening-round win over Hepburn, which signalled the Roos as a force in 2013.
Low point: Like Buninyong, it’s hard to find one, but possibly the round five win over Gordon, when the Roos fought hard to prevail by 20 points.
THE targeted recruiting effort has paid instant dividends for Waubra, which couldn’t have been more impressive through the first half of the year.
It started with a breath-taking win over Hepburn in round one and has continued with a minimum of fuss.
The Roos are yet to topple a major contender, but get their chance in the run home to finals and then on the big stage.
VERDICT: 9.5/10
