By Christian Burgess – Premier C Scribe
Mazenod: Currently hold top spot by four points over Caulfield and have looked the in-form side majority of the season. Despite their slip up to Kew in round 13, the Nodders are likely to enter the finals race with only two losses to their name. The Nodders strength is that they are one of only two sides to have four or more players to kick over 15 goals this season, exemplifying their depth of quality.
KP: Ben Phibbs & Stephen Welsford. Phibbs deserves more credit than he has recieved over the year. Welsford is continually a consistent performer for the top side. Mazenod do not look like giving up that top spot with their run home including two of the bottom three teams.
Run Home:
Caulfield: Last round the Fields gave up top spot and now sit four points above third position. Peninsula are the only side who could take away their double chance with their percentage only split by 0.05 (Peninsula’s favour).
KP: Louis O’Keefe and William Barker have both performed strongly this season, and will be relied on to continue their form come September. All sides entering finals would want the right preparation in their last three rounds, however with a double chance on the line, Caulfield will have to beat two of the top four sides.
Run Home:
Peninsula: Will determine their hopes for a double chance when they come up against Caulfield this weekend, with the winner likely to hold onto second place.
KP: Stu Grigg & Stefan Barbour both play influential, yet different roles. The Pirates will look to Grigg (2014 Premier C Team of The Year) for his Travis Boak-esque leadership and Barbour to continue his stellar season in front of goals. Similar to the Fields, The Pirates need to play two of the top four sides before finals.
Run Home:
Old Ivanhoe Grammarians: They look a certainty to play finals and need to win just one of their final three games to guarantee their spot. Facing a tough run home with two of the top three teams, they will be perfectly prepared for finals actions.
KP: Sam Wilcox & Matthew Ferguson. Wilcox’s run and carry has been electrifying and his pace come September weather will play a pivotal role. Ferguson has valuable finals experience and surrounded by the star studded line up, could be their biggest asset.
Run Home:
Williamstown CYMS: Have endured a mixed season in 2016, captured best in their previous four rounds where they lost three games yet beat Caulfield, knocking them off the top of the ladder. Mathematically can still make finals, but need a lot to go wrong for Old Ivanhoe and the Cy’s need to win all of their last three games.
KP: Young gun Thomas Gill’s influence as a swing man who can play from ruck to key positions will set up the future for the CY’s in their last three games.
Run Home:
Kew: Found themselves around the middle of the pack for most of the season, without being a threat to Old Ivanhoe and never looked like being relegated. With the young list that they have and a season of Premier C under their belt, I expect them to be a threat in 2017.
KP: Michael Henderson and Andrew Brazzale. Both men bleed the Kew colours and will not leave the club wondering come seasons end.
Run Home:
Old Camberwell: Currently four points clear of relegation and have the best percentage of the bottom four teams. The Wellers have now won three consecutive games including wins against two teams above them. However they do face a tough run home playing two of the top four sides in the coming weeks.
KP: Thomas Kanz & Phillip Bennet. Kanz has been the clubs single source of goals regularly & the ever reliable Bennett has controlled the backline standing up on big occasions.
Run Home:
Marcellin: Many would picked Marcellin to finish in the top four again but it has been an unpredictable season. Apart from their round 13, 90 point loss to the Pirates, Marcellin have rarely been embarrassed, being competitive in most of their outings. Their recent form suggests they should be further from relegation, losing only one of their last five games. Including a 100+ point victory and a draw with Old Ivanhoe.
KP: Jeremiah Antypas & James Robertson. Two young guns of the competition – Antypas has been a shining light as he leads the club goal kicking by nine goals and sits seventh in the league, shows very promising signs of a successful career ahead. Robertson has been the most consistent performer of the season, he is one of three players to be in the best 11 times for the season, leading all others.
With their current form, I expect them to win two of their last three games and escape relegation.
Run Home:
Oakleigh: Find themselves in ninth position only two points behind Marcellin. Their last win was in round 12 where they beat Kew convincingly in a huge 100 point turnaround from round 1. The Krusher’s recent form would suggest that it will be difficult to fight off relegation, playing the two ladder leaders within their last three games.
KP: Dermot Cleary & Aaron Cloke. The veteran in Cleary just continues his good form and often is the difference between a win or loss for the Krushers. Cloke is their main forward target and when he is on, he is incredibly hard to stop.
Run Home:
Ormond: Now a game and a half behind 8th spot and could quite possibly be rebuilding and returning to chase the missed Premiership in Division 1 next season. Although, of the current bottom three sides, the Monders have the best run home, giving them every chance to fight another year in Premier C.
KP: Luke Gogis & Robert Chisholm. Rising Star nominee and Rep deputy captain, young Gogis will be pivotal as the games become tougher during the last three H&A matches. Chisholm has to be commended for kicking 29 goals for the bottom side.
Run Home:
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