STRATHMORE Community Bank Division 2 has had some early-season hiccups, but what we have coming up after the Queen's Birthday break is going to be spectacular.
The division is as open as it has ever been, with five clubs all well and truly in current premiership calculations.
While there is a clear favourite, the jostling for top four spots is going to prove fascinating in the second half of the season.
East Sunbury and Hadfield have both been patchy, but can still produce some quality footy when firing, while those at Keilor Park are staying upbeat despite being on the receiving end of weekly drubbings.
Here's a club-by-club look at how Division 2 is poised after eight rounds.
Click on the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two logo to view the current ladder.
Ladder Position:
1st at 7-0 (244.94)
Form:
W - vs Northern Saints
W - vs East Sunbury
BYE
W - @ Hadfield
W - vs Keilor Park
W - @ Jacana
W - @ Burnside Heights
W - vs Moonee Valley
Leading Goal Kickers:
28 - Lachlan Baddeley
27 - Joshua Burgess
27 - Michael Kilty
12 - Mitchell Streiff
11 - Bradley Slater
11 - Jared Pretty
Times Named in Best Players:
5 - Tierone Cuffe
4 - Brenton Sutherland
4 - David House
4 - Michael Kilty
3 - Josh Burgess
3 - Matt Quigley
3 - Mitchell Streiff
3 - Nathan Caldone
Remaining Draw:
vs Coburg Districts
@ Northern Saints
@ East Sunbury
vs Hadfield
BYE
BYE
@ Keilor Park
vs Burnside Heights
@ Coburg Districts
@ Moonee Valley
EDFL Media says:
No one truly knew what to expect from a club moving across from another league, but the sample size is now big enough to suggest the Sunbury Kangaroos are the team to beat. They're one win away from sweeping the entire division, which is somewhat scary to think about. The most impressive aspect of their game is their scoring power, with the Kangaroos currently providing three of the division's current top six leading goal kickers.
Ladder Position:
2nd at 6-1 (167.62)
Form:
W - @ Jacana
W - @ Moonee Valley
W - vs Coburg Districts
W - vs Northern Saints
BYE
W - @ Keilor Park
L - vs Sunbury Kangaroos
W - @ Hadfield
Leading Goal Kickers:
34 - Josh Covelli
27 - Anthony Fawcus
10 - Matthew Peterlechner
9 - Adam Sullivan
Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Josh Covelli
3 - Logan Clegg
No best players given in two games
Remaining Draw:
@ East Sunbury
BYE
vs Moonee Valley
@ Northern Saints
@ Coburg Districts
vs Keilor Park
BYE
@ Sunbury Kangaroos
vs East Sunbury
vs Hadfield
EDFL Media says:
The Bears have made a startling improvement, which is great for the competition. Josh Covelli is a wonderful asset to have inside forward 50 but the Bears' success could probably be more attributed to the likes of Anthony Fawcus, Logan Clegg and Adam Sullivan further up the ground. Burnside Heights is the real deal, as proven in its first three quarters against Sunbury in Round 7.
Ladder Position:
3rd at 5-2 (105.24)
Form:
L - @ Sunbury Kangaroos
W - vs Hadfield
W - vs Moonee Valley
L - @ Burnside Heights
BYE - (received forfeit from Jacana)
W - @ East Sunbury
W - vs Coburg Districts
BYE
Leading Goal Kickers:
16 - Zakaria Farah
14 - Mark Sabatino
11 - Jalen Oakley
8 - Tamer Abdallah
Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Aaron D'Cruz
4 - Peter Dispenzeri
4 - Tamer Abdallah
3 - Eliot Kako
3 - Mohamed Taleb
3 - Zakaria Farah
Remaining Draw:
@ Keilor Park
vs Sunbury Kangaroos
@ Hadfield
vs Burnside Heights
@ Moonee Valley
vs East Sunbury
BYE
@ Coburg Districts
vs Keilor Park
BYE
EDFL Media says:
The Northern Saints are happily flying under the radar. They remain the only team not to have faced Keilor Park and yet they still sit third on the table. Also, don't overlook the fact that the Saints are the only team in the division that have troubled both Sunbury and Burnside Heights so far this season.
Ladder Position:
4th at 4-3 (159.08)
Form:
W - @ East Sunbury
W - vs Jacana
L - @ Burnside Heights
BYE
W - vs Hadfield
L - @ Moonee Valley
L - @ Northern Saints
W - vs Keilor Park
Leading Goal Kickers:
21 - Matthew Vesnaver
16 - Tom Gleeson
14 - Jack Slavich
9 - Ricky McGill
Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Ben Fisher
3 - Sebastian Jansen
Remaining Draw:
@ Sunbury Kangaroos
vs East Sunbury
BYE
BYE
vs Burnside Heights
vs Moonee Valley
@ Hadfield
vs Northern Saints
vs Sunbury Kangaroos
@ Keilor Park
EDFL Media says:
The Lions have a been a little disappointing, but are still thereabouts. They haven't yet beaten a team above them on the ladder and are still working out their best 22. A work in progress for the time being.
Ladder Position:
5th at 4-3 (147.57)
Form:
BYE
L - vs Burnside Heights
L - @ Northern Saints
W - @ Jacana
W - vs East Sunbury
W - vs Coburg Districts
W - @ Keilor Park
L - @ Sunbury Kangaroos
Leading Goal Kickers:
35 - Rocky Ferraro
25 - Jordan Faba
11 - Cory McGrath
9 - Braden Padmore
9 - Richard Potter
Times Named in Best Players:
5 - Braden Padmore
5 - Cory McGrath
3 - Michael Bourke
3 - Zac Di Giuseppe
Remaining Draw:
vs Hadfield
BYE
@ Burnside Heights
BYE
vs Northern Saints
@ Coburg Districts
@ East Sunbury
vs Keilor Park
@ Hadfield
vs Sunbury Kangaroos
EDFL Media says:
A staggered start to the season may have cost Moonee Valley a higher spot on the ladder. They were very good in losses to Burnside Heights and the Northern Saints but had a big letdown last week at Sunbury. The top end of Moonee Valley's list is very good and if they have some luck on the injury front, then expect the Fog to emerge as a true contender later in the year.
Ladder Position:
6th at 2-4 (85.38)
Form:
L - vs Coburg Districts
L - @ Sunbury Kangaroos
W - @ Hadfield
W - vs Keilor Park
L - @ Moonee Valley
L - vs Northern Saints
BYE
BYE
Leading Goal Kickers:
11 - Tom Galea
8 - Kamen Ogilvie
7 - Callum Lever
Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Tom Cree
4 - Tom Godsell
3 - Callum Lever
3 - Kamen Ogilvie
3 - Shane Lindsay
3 - Tom Galea
3 - William Wright
Remaining Draw:
vs Burnside Heights
@ Coburg Districts
vs Sunbury Kangaroos
@ Keilor Park
vs Hadfield
@ Northern Saints
vs Moonee Valley
BYE
@ Burnside Heights
BYE
EDFL Media says:
Something's amiss at East Sunbury. They haven't even come close to the lofty heights of 2018 and are yet to convince us they're capable of having another crack at making it to Windy Hill for the big one. Perhaps having a three-week break before facing Burnside Heights in Round 8 will give coach Glenn Hopkins some time to push the reset button and load up for a big second half of the season.
Ladder Position:
7th at 2-5 (117.94)
Form:
W - @ Keilor Park
L - @ Northern Saints
L - vs East Sunbury
L - vs Sunbury Kangaroos
L - @ Coburg Districts
BYE
BYE - (received forfeit from Jacana)
L - vs Burnside Heights
Leading Goal Kickers:
12 - Zac Polizzi
11 - Daniel Midolo
9 - Brandon McRedmond
8 - Heath McKerchar
7 - Mohammed Saad
Times Named in Best Players:
6 - Zac Polizzi
4 - Brandon McRedmond
3 - Andrew Trende
3 - Ben Pretty
3 - Brett Pitts
3 - Ryan Potter
Remaining Draw:
@ Moonee Valley
vs Keilor Park
vs Northern Saints
@ Sunbury Kangaroos
@ East Sunbury
BYE
vs Coburg Districts
BYE
vs Moonee Valley
@ Burnside Heights
EDFL Media says:
Defensively, Hadfield has caused opposition clubs a lot of issues so far this season. The Hawks can just about keep up with anyone, but are lacking the ability to finish teams off. They have the ability to pick up some unexpected wins later in the year if they stay the course.
Ladder Position:
9th at 0-7 (8.35)
Currently below Jacana (8th) due to Round 3 loss
Form:
L - vs Hadfield
BYE
L - vs Jacana
L - @ East Sunbury
L - @ Sunbury Kangaroos
L - vs Burnside Heights
L - vs Moonee Valley
L - @ Coburg Districts
Leading Goal Kickers:
5 - Luke Furci
3 - Aiden Cassar
Times Named in Best Players:
3 - Jake Gatto
3 - Keti Maiava
3 - Noureddine Noor
Remaining Draw:
vs Northern Saints
@ Hadfield
BYE
vs East Sunbury
BYE
@ Burnside Heights
vs Sunbury Kangaroos
@ Moonee Valley
@ Northern Saints
vs Coburg Districts
EDFL Media says:
Do not get caught up in what is happening on the scoreboard each week, because 2019 was only about getting back out on the park for these Devils. Coach, John Mangos, has continually preached positivity around Keilor Park and that should remain the case through to Round 18.
