Do we have a clear cut favourite in the race for the WRFL division 2 premiership?
Yarraville-Seddon might just have snuck in front at the weekend, moving a game clear on top of the ladder and securing the best record in blockbuster matches between the top three sides this season.
In contests between sides ranked first to third, the Eagles hold an impressive 3-1 record, while second-placed Caroline Springs (1-3) is on the losing side of the equation and third-placed North Footscray (2-2) is at break even.
In such a tight race for the double chance, Eagles coach Dean Callaway isn’t prepared to declare his side – 11-1 on the season – the front-runner just yet.
“We still see North Footscray as the side to beat,” he said.
What is certain is that Yarraville-Seddon comes to play in the big games. Its percentage of 203.2 is dwarfed by that of Caroline Springs (306.7) and North Footscray (282.6) because it does merely what it has to do to beat the lower
-ranked sides – then takes it up a notch when the blockbusters roll around. It bodes well for September’s big games.
Yarraville-Seddon learned from its first clash with North Footscray and turned the tables on them with a 38-point win at Hansen Reserve on Saturday.
The Eagles’ main focus was to cut off the supply chain to the Devils’ forwards.
“We put pressure on them around the stoppages and worked on stopping how easily they brought the ball into their attack last time,” Callaway said.
“They beat us at the stoppages in the first game; we beat them there this time.”
Yarraville-Seddon’s big men Mason Angove and Jesse Varsamakis, rotating between ruck and half forward, were outstanding.
Also in fine form for the Eagles are Macauley Goring and Lachie Longmire through the midfield.
Kevin Johnson might be only a teenager, but the half-back took no step backwards when he locked horns with North Footscray’s Tyson Bock.
“For an 18 year old, he’s got like a 25-year-old footy head on his shoulders,” Callaway said. “One on one, he does the right things, puts himself into position to receive the footy and isn’t afraid of taking on the big guys.”
Yarraville-Seddon will host bottom side West Footscray at the Yarraville Oval on Saturday. West Footscray lost to Albanvale by 81 points at Robert Bruce Oval last start.
