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READ MORE - SELECTION NIGHT - weekend football teams
1st - PYRAMID HILL
Record - 8-0
Percentage - 209.6%
Average for -112
Average against - 54
Attack rank - 1st
Defence rank - 2nd
Quarters won - 27 of 32
Avg. player points - 34.3
Players used - 31
Played every game - 10
Club best top five:
(based on weekly best players: 6 votes for being named best, 5 for second best and so on)
Scott Mann - 24
Adrian Holland - 19
James Sala - 17
Gavin James - 16
Billy Micevski - 15
Top goalkickers:
Braidy Dickens - 22
Bailey George - 19
Jack Woodward - 17
Billy Micevski - 15
Jake Willcocks - 10
The Bulldogs are experiencing one of country Victoria's longest premiership droughts that stretches back to 1950.
But could this finally be the year it comes to an end?
The Bulldogs begin the second half of the season undefeated under first-year coach Adrian McErvale.
Playing with far more attacking flair than last year as their increase in scoring from 72 points per game in 2018 to this season's 112 will attest.
The challenge from here for the Bulldogs is to ensure they haven't peaked too early and they maintain their lofty standards for when it matters most - September.
2nd - MITIAMO
Record - 7-1
Percentage - 195.2%
Average for - 102
Average against - 52
Attack rank - 2nd
Defence rank - 1st
Quarters won - 23 of 32
Avg. player points - 42.9
Players used - 30
Played every game - 10
Club best top five:
Terry Reeves - 31
Doug Thomas - 21
Jarryd Wiegard - 15
Ryan Wellington - 14
Ben Bacon - 13
Top goalkickers:
Ryan Wellington - 24
Tyrone Downie - 19
Justin Maddern - 18
Dylan Clohesy - 11
Tim Brooks - 7
Only blemish so far has been a 55-point loss to Pyramid Hill in round two.
The Superoos have won their other seven games by an average of 65 points.
Boast an envious array of key forward targets in Justin Maddern, co-coach Tyrone Downie, Ryan Wellington and Tim Brooks, but they also have the most stingiest defence in the competition that is conceding an average of just 52 points per game.
To put that into perspective, that currently ranks No.5 for the lowest points conceded per game in the LVFNL since 1980 behind only Bridgewater in 2014 (49); Bridgewater in 2015 (49); Bridgewater in 2016 (50); and Mitiamo in 1999 (51), which were all premiership years.
3rd - BL-SERPENTINE
Record - 5-3
Percentage - 99.3%
Average for - 76
Average against - 76
Attack rank - 7th
Defence rank - 4th
Quarters won - 15 of 32
Avg. player points - 37.9
Players used - 33
Played every game - 11
Club best top five:
Matthew Gibbs - 29
Nathan Twigg - 21
Oliver Leonard-Shannon - 20
Brodie Leonard-Shannon - 20
Josh Walsh - 12
Top goalkickers:
Harry Gadsden - 11
James Rippingale - 11
Cody Gunn - 10
Charlie Gadsden - 10
Andrew Gladman - 8
It has been a fluctuating first half of the season for the Bears, who won their first two games, then lost three on the trot and have since won their past three to climb to third position.
Unlike last year when they were chasing their tails following a 0-4 start, they have now got a solid platform in which to launch their bid for the double chance.
Recruit Matthew Gibbs has given the Bears plenty in the midfield and Nathan Twigg continues to develop as a quality young ruckman.
4th - MAIDEN GULLY YCW
Record - 4-4
Percentage - 93.8%
Average for - 81
Average against - 87
Attack rank - 3rd
Defence rank - 6th
Quarters won - 16 of 32
Avg. player points - 42.8
Players used - 35
Played every game - 10
Club best top five:
Brayden Aitken - 19
Dylan Morris - 18
Alex Pearson - 17
Nick Waterson - 15
Darby Graham - 14
Top goalkickers:
Brayden Aitken - 16
Luke Gray - 15
Wayne Mitrovic - 9
Nick Waterson - 7
Matt Gray - 7
The big question over the Eagles pre-season was how would they handle the increased expectation that came on the back of last year's preliminary final?
Sitting fourth on the ladder, so thereabouts, but could also be seen as a false economy given they are 0-4 against their fellow top five sides and were lucky to sneak over the line in two of their games against Marong (1 point) and Calivil United (2 points).
You'd expect some sort of response from the Eagles in Saturday's game against Mitiamo given coach Wayne Mitrovic's stinging assessment after last Saturday's loss to BL-Serpentine: "It was one of those days where you question how much your players want to be out there."
5th - BRIDGEWATER
Record - 4-4
Percentage - 85.4%
Average for - 79
Average against - 93
Attack rank - 4th
Defence rank - 8th
Quarters won - 12 of 32
Avg. player points - 40.4
Players used - 31
Played every game - 11
Club best top five:
Liam Jacques - 28
Darren Clutton - 16
Alex Powell - 14
Joseph Mayes - 12
Peter Rothacker - 12
Top goalkickers:
Alex Powell - 24
Darren Clutton - 16
Liam Jacques - 13
Archie Conway - 9
Tom McKinley - 5
Earmarked as a development year for the Mean Machine, yet it may also result in a return to the finals after last season's rare absence.
Had been third on the ladder at 4-2 before dropping past two games to Mitiamo (55 points) and arch-rival Newbridge (10 points).
Tall forward Alex Powell with 24 is the league's joint leading goalkicker alongside Mitiamo's Ryan Wellington and one of just five players in the competition to have kicked a goal in every game his team has played.
6th - NEWBRIDGE
Record - 3-5
Percentage - 103.2%
Average for - 76
Average against - 74
Attack rank - 6th
Defence rank - 3rd
Quarters won - 18 of 32
Avg. player points - 38.0
Players used - 33
Played every game - 8
Club best top five:
Chris McLean - 22
Tyler Romeril - 21
Jordan Gilboy - 18
Sam Kennedy - 17
William Daly - 15
Top goalkickers:
Chris Dixon - 14
Jordan Gilboy - 13
Cameron Rinaldi - 11
Sam Kennedy - 8
Ashley Mayo - 6
Last year's premiers have slipped back to the pack and have a fight on their hands now just to make finals.
Still have 15 of their 2018 premiership players on their list, but find themselves one game out of the top five with just three wins and yet to gather any momentum.
Backline holding up as the No.3 ranked defence, but the Maroons' scoring has dipped from 102 points per game last year down to 76.
7th - MARONG
Record - 3-5
Percentage - 86.6%
Average for - 75
Average against - 87
Attack rank - 8th
Defence rank - 7th
Quarters won - 11 of 32
Avg. player points - 44.3
Players used - 29
Played every game - 13
Club best top five:
Adam Ward - 27
Kyle Manley - 26
Nathan Fall - 12
Corbin Fleming - 11
Harry Graham - 10
Top goalkickers:
Nathan Devanny - 12
David Blume - 10
Kyle Manley - 8
Zach Turnbull - 8
Ben Gregg - 6
Positive signs early for the Panthers winning their first two games, but have gradually slipped down the ladder since, winning just one of their past six games.
Have been forced to play plenty of catch-up footy after trailing at quarter-time in each of their past six games and could sorely do with a key target up forward, with Nathan Devanny (four against Inglewood) the only player to have kicked more than three goals in a game so far.
8th - CALIVIL UNITED
Record - 2-6
Percentage - 90.4%
Average for - 76
Average against - 85
Attack rank - 5th
Defence rank - 5th
Quarters won - 15 of 32
Avg. player points - 44.0
Players used - 37
Played every game - 8
Club best top five:
Chris Sanders - 23
Jake Hall - 19
William Jeffs - 17
Sam Demeo - 16
Levi Moss - 13
Top goalkickers:
Chris Sanders - 18
Michael Cooke - 17
Jake Hall - 15
Levi Moss - 6
William Jeffs - 5
The Demons aren't normally associated with sitting second-last on the ladder at the halfway mark.
A 2-6 record is the club's worst to this stage of the season since 1995.
However, their 103-point belting of Inglewood last week might just be the kickstart the Demons need to make a charge in the second half of the season.
Particularly as there were also plenty of encouraging signs in the preceding three games against top five sides Pyramid Hill, Mitiamo and Maiden Gully YCW - albeit without getting the points.
9th - INGLEWOOD
Record - 0-8
Percentage - 41.3%
Average for - 50
Average against - 122
Attack rank - 9th
Defence rank - 9th
Quarters won - 5 of 32
Avg. player points - 42.1
Players used - 36
Played every game - 12
Club best top five:
Lachlan Sidebottom - 24
Brae Mensforth - 15
Chris McKay - 13
Samuel Barnes - 13
Alex Mitchell - 11
Top goalkickers:
Samuel Barnes - 11
Chris McKay - 7
Lachlan Sidebottom - 6
Daniel Lloyd - 6
Liam Drummond - 5
You could sense a genuine optimism at the start of the season at the Blues that this would be the season the tide finally started to turn.
Unfortunately, the first eight games have resulted in eight losses and yet another wooden spoon beckons.
Not helping their cause as the competition's worst converting team in front of goal at just 45.5 per cent.
Reserves and under-18s are tracking nicely though.
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