WITH seven-consecutive premierships between them, you would think power football sides Bridgewater and Wedderburn would eventually have to start coming back to the pack.
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But not this year, with a comparison of their numbers to this time 12 months ago showing just how much higher the Mean Machine in the Loddon Valley and the Redbacks in the North Central have raised the bar.
Based on a formula of comparing each team’s average for and against to the same amount of games last year and equating it to a goal per game difference - and it’s acknowledged it’s not an exact science - three-time defending premier Wedderburn’s numbers equate to a 12.1 goal a game improvement on this time last year.
And having won the past four LVFL flags, Bridgewater’s numbers after 12 matches have spiked 7.7 goals per game on 12 months ago.
On the flipside, the team whose numbers have slid the most is Carisbrook, which is -11.7 goals per game.
That’s not to say the Redbacks are struggling this season - they are third on the Maryborough-Castlemaine District ladder - but a reflection of just how strong they were last year.
• Biggest improvers:
Wedderburn: +12.1 goals.
Rovers: +10.4.
Birchip-Watchem: +10.0.
Mitiamo: + 9.9.
Bridgewater: + 7.7.
Mount Pleasant: +7.3.
Royal Park: +6.7.
L’ville-Gunbower: +6.6.
• Biggest sliders:
Carisbrook: -11.7 goals.
Donald: -10.7.
Heathcote: -10.2
Maldon: -10.0.
South Bendigo: -8.0.
Huntly: -7.5.
Calivil United: -7.3.
Inglewood: -7.3.
FULL LIST IN FRIDAY'S FOOTY FOCUS
