With no Outer East Football Netball in the region over the weekend, it’s time to look back at what has transpired so far in Premier Division, team-by-team.
OFFICER
Ladder position: 7th
Win-loss record: 4-4
Leading goalkicker: Mark Seedsman (15)
Individuals Impressing: Jake Gains, Brenton Hillard, Brent Moloney, Zach Charles, Joshua Westra
Points per game: 55.3 (10th)
Points against per game: 76 (6th)
Big games to come: R13 v Mt Evelyn (H), R15 v Pakenham (H), R17 v Upwey Tecoma (H)
Predicted finish: 6th
If there was an award for ‘surprise packet of the year’ in 2024, Officer would win hands-down.
Many questions their legitimacy or place in the competition’s top division in 2024, having missed finals in Division One in 2023 and benefiting immensely from the competition’s structure review, in re-joining the top flight without the credentials of Emerald and Berwick Springs, who played off for the Division One flag.
But here they are, sitting just outside the top six on percentage through eight weeks, and with scalps against three 2023 Premier Division sides already under their belt, in Pakenham, Mt Evelyn and Gembrook Cockatoo.
And they’ve done it with defence, locking sides down and restricting their ability to score.
Only once have they conceded a score above 100 points, when they ran into the Narre Warren buzz-saw in round four, the same number of occasions for Olinda Ferny Creek, Wandin and Upwey Tecoma – all in the top six.
Joshua Westra has delighted the coaching staff with his capacity to hold down a key position post in the back half of the ground, and big bodies in the midfield, such as recruit of the year contender Brenton Hillard, Omar Ashkar and Brent Moloney, are winning their share of the ball in the middle, giving forwards the first opportunity.
The entries inside 50 remain an issue, hence the low scoring output.
Too few times does the ball a target going inside the Officer forward 50, to the immense frustration of onlookers, and forwards.
When they have, however, accuracy has deserted them – on four occasions they’ve kicked more behinds than goals.
Tight wins against Gembrook Cockatoo, Emerald and Pakenham each reflect an ability to identify moments in games and alter their approach when required, all while building chemistry and trust in one-another and the game plan under Daniel Charles.
A second clash against Monbulk awaits in the final round, as does its first contest with Berwick Springs for the season in round 10, but return contests against all three of Narre Warren, Wandin and Woori Yallock will be tough outings.
Like Pakenham, wins against sides in their portion of the ladder will be crucial in differentiating themselves from the field.
Unlike Pakenham, those wins are already on the board.
Finals or not, optimism abounds at Starling Road at what the club has achieved in the last 24 months since a horror period in the club’s history saw it plummet out Premier Division.
Westra and Zach Charles headline a young crop brimming with talent, including key forward Riley Wierzbicki, Antonio Quach Tyler Canute, Bowen Johnston, Jeremy Valentine and more that, if they stick together, can expect to play a lot of serious football together in the blue and white jumper.
Supported by senior leaders like Moloney, Hillard, Kyle Hagger and Jake Gains, the Kangaroos appear on the right path.
Gains’ height, versatility and mobility makes him the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, and is making an early run at the Shane Smith medal through eight weeks.
Round four’s dismal showing against Narre Warren was a reminder of where they need to get to, but as Charles will remind them time and time again, they’re on a journey – the destination will come in time.
