Accurate predictions or clueless outlooks? You be the judge.

How many of you have spent this week on the VAFA’s Ladder Predictor? 

Don’t lie to yourself either. We all have been. There are 10 William Buck Premier matches remaining in the home and away season for 2022, five of them this weekend that are salivating. 

And, we are ever so closer than we were at the start of the season to knowing the makeup of the top two, the top four and the relegation zone. 

This weekend pins four of the top five against one-another. A team gunning for nine wins in a row plus a fight to stave off relegation. Sometimes I wish there were five of me, so I could be at every ground. 

Where I will be is at Elsternwick Park for the RSN Carnival Match of the Day. Old Melburnians welcome Old Xaverians to VAFA HQ. If the match follows the path of their Round 3 encounter we’re set for another grandstand finish on Saturday afternoon. 

It’s a must win game for both sides. Old Xaverians must win to equal the 11 wins Old Melburnians are on. The percentage gap is significant, it will catapult them into the top four. Old Melburnians must win to stay in the top two with Old Brighton to come in the final round. This has all the machinations of a “killa-dilla” as the great Kevin Bartlett would say. 

How can Old Xaverians counter the influence of Nick De Steiger in the ruck? Can Josh Freezer quell the influence of the X-factor Xavier Richards? Which Xav’s defender stops Jackson Paine?

My ladder predictor has me leaning the way of Old Xaverians this weekend. But by the same margin as Round 3, 1 point. If you’re not there on Saturday, tune in to hear all the action. 

St Kevin’s have one hand on the minor Premiership, they’re one win away from it. They won’t want to let up with a fortnight to go before September. Old Brighton are no easybeats at any point of the season, at any ground. 

What can Greg Hutchison conjure up amongst his troops? They must win themselves to not only stay alive in the race for the top two, but to keep their season going. A slip up here, an Old Xaverians and Collegians win and they’re potentially going into Round 18 in fifth spot. 

The last four matches between these two sides have been absolute belters. Tight, contested, hard footy. Which the Tonners relish. Final margins have been 4 points, 3 points, 3 points and 3 points. 3-1 is the head-to-head battle in favour of Old Brighton.

Does past history count for anything on Saturday, can they bust open the St Kevin’s press? If Will Lewis plays, does he get off the chain? How do you stop the Kings of T H King? 

The ladder predictor would like to pick Old Brighton to completely throw chaos into the mix. But, St Kevin’s at home by (the average margin) 3 points on Saturday is the box I’ve ticked.

Collegians are looking at nine on the trot at the Harry Trott this Saturday. St Bernard’s awaits them. The Snowdogs were the team that felt the wrath of Collegians when this run started. Wouldn’t Paul Groves love to walk off Albert Park being the man who stopped it. 

Last week, may have been the cattle prod the purple army needed. Coming away winners over University Blues by a point. It took a Dave Mirra masterclass to get them home but there were periods where they looked flat, out on their feet and Blues a step ahead. 

Jared Rivers would’ve been laser focused at training this week. All the hard work to get to this point counts for nothing if they let it slip on Saturday. 

The Snowdogs have debuted two under 19’s in recent weeks, young boys getting a taste of senior footy and what’s expected at the level. It will hold them in good stead for the future. For now, the dominance of the Collegians midfield on Saturday will be too strong in my view. Kenny Ong, Sam Hibbins, Viv Michie, and perhaps, the best kept secret in footy – Freddie Sullivan. 

The percentage could become a factor. On my ladder predictor, it is. They need to win, and win big. 

Caulfield Grammarians will play William Buck Premier in 2023. They’re two games clear and percentage of relegation. University Blues however, must win. To shut out any noise if Old Trinity are to be successful over Old Scotch. The Fields have salvaged four wins this season from a very much up and down year. 

Injuries to key players, inaccuracy in front of goal. An indifferent bounce of the ball throughout moments in games. It just hasn’t rolled out the way we all were hoping in the pre-season. Uni Blues have had their own, well publicised battles. 

Internally, the vibe within the group is still upbeat. Despite the shattering finish to the game last weekend, they were up for the fight and were bitterly disappointed to come off the ground with a loss. Two games to go, against Caulfield they can shut the door on relegation completely. Then, they can potentially end Old Xaverians season in Round 18. 

My ladder predictor has the Blues winning this in their final home game for the year. Give the faithful something to smile about as they finish out 2022. 

The only spot that is fully locked on my ladder predictor, and the OrthoSport Victoria ladder is Old Scotch. No matter what results happen with the Cardinals in the next fortnight, they can’t move from sixth spot on the table. 

Does that mean Old Trinity has even more of a chance on Saturday? Jamie Cassidy-McNamara, in his debut season as coach of the T’s has seen it all. The highs of upset victories and a regulation one too, the lows of losses in close proximity and significant blowouts. He’s even experienced a lightning strike and a game cancelled at half-time. 

Each week, he’s fronted up with a smile on his face, a new theme for his troops and still at Round 17, they’re mathematically alive to be playing in William Buck Premier in 2023. 

In saying all of that my ladder predictor is leaning the way of Mark Gnatt’s troops and the Cardinals. What they’ve produced has been nothing short of sensational this year. If they finish the season with a 9-9 record, in sixth spot, while disappointing I’m sure internally that they’re not playing finals, it’s a progression from 2021 that many outside the club probably didn’t see coming. 

My ladder predictor has been locked in for Round 17. If it falls the way I’m thinking, we are set up for one helluva finish to the home and away season. But, it’s almost easier to pick 9 winners in the AFL, than it is to pick the 5 in William Buck Premier. 

No matter what happens, and which way it goes, we’re just going to enjoy every second of it.