With the first half of the Heathcote, Murray, and Picola league football-netball seasons at the half-way mark, and the Goulburn Valley League not far behind, Riverine Herald sport journalist’s Josh Huntly and Bransen Gibson run the rule over each clubs’ 2022 campaign so far.
Football
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Echuca: A+
Echuca has put early-season controversy behind them to sit first on the GVL ladder, unbeaten on-field this season to take premiership favouritism.
The Murray Bombers are currently on a seven-game winning streak, boasting match-winners across the park and comfortable wins against four of the current GVL top six.
Ladder: (1st, 7-1)
Echuca United: D-
The Eagles have shown flashes of improved football as they continue their rebuild, but a slew of heavy defeats in recent weeks have left them rooted to the bottom of the ladder.
Facing up against the MFL top five in the first five round didn’t help the Eagles’ cause, and United will be aiming for at least one win before the season is out. - JH
Ladder: (12th, 0-9)
Tongala: B
Tongala has had a mid-season wobble of back-to-back losses after spending three years on the winner’s list, slightly affecting their mark.
But with the talent on hand it would be a brave pundit to write off the Blues’ flag aspirations, especially with one loss coming against red-hot premiership favourite Cobram. - JH
Ladder: (4th, 7-2)
Mathoura: D
Losing two-thirds of a senior squad would upend most clubs, such is the case at Mathoura who holds a 1-8 record at the half-way point of the Picola season.
With 12 players under the age of 18 toiling away under new coach Stan Gilday, however, the Timbercutters will put this season down to a learning experience, with a focus on being competitive Mathoura’s focus from here. - JH
Ladder: (13th, 1-8)
Rochester: B-
It has been an interesting year for the Tigers. They sit third on the ladder and have just two losses against their name.
But with five wins coming against the bottom five sides and another coming from Echuca’s round one penalty, their win-loss total of 6-2 is slightly misleading.
The Tigers have been doing well so far, but their toughest tests are still to come. - BG
Ladder: (3rd, 6-2)
Leitchville Gunbower: C
The Bombers opened the season with their first win since 2019, but a plethora of injuries has derailed their hopes for a competitive season.
LG would have been hoping for more than one win at the half-way point of the season, but given the number of players they have been missing it is hard to mark them too harshly.
Ladder: (8th, 1-7)
Lockington Bamawm United: B+
LBU have been good this season, but they haven’t been the same dominant side we saw in 2021.
The Cats may have only lost just one game this season, but with some close calls in other results and room for improvement, a B+ seems fair for what they have shown so far.
Ladder: (2nd, 7-1)
Moama: B+
The Magpies have been one of the top sides in the MFL this season. At 7-2, the Magpies are enjoying being back in finals contention.
It has been a very good year for the Pies so far, but losses to other top sides in Mulwala and Tongala mean they can’t quite earn a top grade.
Ladder: (3rd, 7-2)
Picola United: C+
It has been a mixed season for United so far. While they have some good wins on the board, they also have some underwhelming losses to go alongside them.
The Blues have five wins to their name so far, but with just one of those victories coming against a side in the top half of the table, it is hard to give them a mark above average.
Ladder: (8th, 5-3)
Netball
Echuca: A
Echuca sits second at the half-way mark of the season, with their only blemish coming against the ladder-leading Seymour.
The Murray Bombers have a chance to stamp their authority on the competition in the coming weeks with a slew of top six encounters to come in the second half of the season.
Ladder: (2nd, 7-1)
Echuca United: C-
Tenth place probably doesn’t reflect the Eagles’ form recently; a gritty win over Finley, a narrow defeat to Nathalia, and an abandoned clash against Congupna capping off a strange mid-season period.
However, while the Eagles best netball can push the higher-ranked sides, their mark has been affected a slow start to the season, which sees them sitting three games adrift of the top six.
Ladder: (10th, 2-6)
Tongala: B
Tongala has been flirting with the dark horse tag for a season-and-a-half now, currently sitting in fourth spot.
But while the Blues have the form and the squad to challenge come finals time, they’re still seeking a top-six scalp to show the league they mean business; two narrow defeats to Nathalia and Moama shows they can threaten, however.
Ladder (4th, 7-2)
Mathoura: D
Mathoura has the sole win to their name, but a pair of forfeitures has the Timbercutter’s holding a 3-6 record and still in the finals hunt.
An interrupted pre-season has compounded some of Mathoura’s heavier defeats, and with upcoming clashes against sides in the top half, the ‘Cutters will need their best netball to challenge for finals.
Ladder: (11th, 3-6)
Rochester: C
The Tigerettes sit ninth at the halfway mark, but have challenged several of the top sides in the GVL with a slick brand of netball.
A young side with plenty of promise, Rochester sits just two games outside the top six, and if a few close results had gone their way would be sitting higher on the standings.
Ladder: (9th, 2-5)
Leitchville Gunbower: C-
The Bombers have improved on last season, already boasting more wins (two) than they had in 2021.
But while LG have been better this year, the Bombers have suffered some heavy defeats alongside their two wins. LG are still in the mix for finals, but haven’t earned a higher grade just yet.
Ladder: (7th, 2-6)
Lockington Bamawm United: B+
It has been an exciting and promising season for LBU on the netball court, with the Cats already exceeding expectations.
LBU won their first game since 2019 and now has three wins on the board — their most since 2017. The Cats have been more than competitive in 2022 and are well and truly in the race for finals.
Ladder: (5th, 3-5)
Moama: B
The Magpies have had a strong start to the season and six-game winning streak has them comfortably in the MNL’s top six.
But defeats to other top sides Rumbalara and Nathalia mean Moama can’t quite lay claim to a higher grade. The Pies finished fourth last season but sit in fifth so far.
Ladder: (5th, 6-3)
Picola United: C+
The Blues have had a solid, if not amazing, season so far. They have five wins on the board in 2022, but just only one of those has been against a side above them on the ladder.
United is certainly in the mix for finals and they sit sixth on the ladder, but haven’t set the court on fire yet this season.
Ladder: (6th, 5-3)