With football and netball put on hold due to the recent lockdown in Victoria, The News’ sports team has decided to rate how sides in Murray Football Netball League have performed so far in 2021.
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Barooga
FootballGrade: C-
Touted as a top-four outfit over summer, the Hawks have just two wins to their name and sit ninth on the ladder.
There is still plenty of time for Barooga to bounce back and make finals — they sit two games out of contention — this season.
Gun recruit and AFL talent Jackson Trengove has battled injury, but Riley Gow has been one standout player.
NetballGrade: C
A couple of wins for the Hawks this campaign, but they haven't got the job done against those higher on the ladder.
Only a couple of upsets away from climbing the ladder.
Cobram
FootballGrade: A-
Tipped to occupy the bottom half of the ladder, Cobram has proved it has what it takes to be a team to beat this year.
The Tigers knocked off top-four outfit Mulwala and almost dethroned Nathalia earlier in the campaign — all while blooding more than half-a-dozen first-gamers.
Darcy McCormack has been a shining light up forward, while the likes of Tyron Baden, Adam De Cicco and Ben Ryan have been consistent performers.
NetballGrade: D
The Tigers have struggled on the netball court and a lack of senior sides has severely impacted their A-grade outfit.
Now is a great time to start blooding their talented juniors coming through the ranks.
Congupna
FootballGrade: B
The Road is 4-0 when playing teams ranked below it, and 0-3 against higher-ranked teams — they have held serve, but are yet to find a break. But at 4-3, Congupna is well on track to return to finals, particularly if it kicks on in the back half of the year. Glenn Boyd's 32 goals in five games — including 13 against Echuca United — have caught the eye.
NetballGrade: D
Hasn't been easy, but The Road broke through for their first win in round six to hit the week off 1-6. They've found it tough to stay with the competition's elite.
Denilquin
FootballGrade: C
Nothing if not inconsistent, the Rams have shown glimpses of brilliance, but have served up some inexcusable performances, particularly an 89-point drubbing at home to Congupna. But no team has pushed premiership favourite Tongala any closer — the Rams lost by five in what was probably their best show of the season. Todd Gallagher, Brayden Hall and John Anstee look to be battling out the best-and-fairest.
NetballGrade: A
You can't ask for anything more than seven games and seven wins. The Rams have already secured statement wins against Rumbalara and Tongala and the only disappointment of the season would be they don't play other undefeated side Nathalia until round 16.
Echuca United
FootballGrade: D
Might not be a bad time for the Eagles to have a week off; it's looming as quite a long season. Haven't lost by less than 52 points yet, a far cry from the impressive campaign in 2019 where they dished out floggings for fun. Some of the United youngsters have impressed and will get good a run through the entire campaign now with finals off the cards.
NetballGrade: C.
A totally different side to the one that broke through for the premiership in 2019, and it's having totally different results. Is just 1-5, has only beaten fellow battler Congupna and has been outscored by 128 goals in the five losses.
Finley
FootballGrade: D
Earned a nice win in round two against Numurkah and things looked to be heading up, but it's been all pain since with five consecutive losses at an average of 97.4 points. Scoring has been one of a few problems, with Ed Barlow's eight goals in six games leading the way. Fraser Hawkins has been great as one of the side's shining lights.
NetballGrade: C
Took care of Congupna as well as, importantly, Barooga, a close rival in the race for sixth. Will certainly need to work on consistency as it has found it tough to stay in games against the elite.
Moama
FootballGrade: C
A 2-6 record isn't ideal, but the Magpies have taken a few steps forward. They've beaten the sides ranked below them, pushed Rumbalara and Nathalia all the way and found some handy inclusions to help their push back to the competition's top half. They've lost four straight, however, without scoring more than 52 points in any of those games, so a week off to find their energy once more might be a good thing.
NetballGrade: B.
At 5-3 the Magpies are comfortably on track to make finals and with some slight improvements could even make a grand final. Lost by a single goal to Nathalia and seven goals to Deniliquin, showing they're not far off the best in the game.
Mulwala
FootballGrade: B
The Lions seem to finish top four every season and they're looking good to do it again, 5-2 and fourth after seven rounds. A midfield boasting Bodhi Butts and the in-form Jackson Gash is always going to be tough to stop, but Mulwala looks strong across the field with Harrison Crossley (15 goals in seven games) the leading goal-kicker. Have lost their past two matches to Cobram and Tongala by more than 100 points combined, showing they're still slightly below that top echelon.
NetballGrade: C
They're in the mix in sixth and at 3-3. They've won all games against those ranked lower and lost all to the higher-ranked teams, but even if they continue that finals will be on the cards.
Nathalia
FootballGrade: A
If there was ever a year to put the premiership-winning machine on notice, perhaps this is it. The Purples lost their first game, but have won six straight since, although two wins came by less than a goal, and the loss was a humbling at the hands of Tongala, the likely grand final challenger. You shouldn't ever doubt them, but certainly interestingly poised.
NetballGrade: A+
The new-look team is playing with spice, undefeated at 6-0 and on top of the ladder. Has outscored its opponents by 129 goals, just destructive form really which has been headlined by the likes of Tamara Skinner. Finals can't come soon enough for this side.
Numurkah
FootballGrade: C.
An odd sort of 3-4 start where Numurkah's form has been super hard to predict. It has lost to Finley and Deniliquin and also pushed Nathalia within three points. Sitting eighth, if the Blues find even a degree of consistency they can still play finals.
NetballGrade: N/A.
No A-grade side.
Rumbalara
FootballGrade: B
Right in the mix and playing attractive footy equals an impressive start to the year from Rumba. And the 4-3 record could be even better; it lost by six points to Numurkah and one point to Congupna in results that easily could have gone the other way. Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson has looked the goods with a cool 26 goals.
NetballGrade: B .
A 5-1 start is great, but Rumba's A-grade netballers have high standards. The 15-goal loss to Deniliquin can certainly be filed under “eye-catching”, but this is clearly still one of the competition's best sides.
Tongala
FootballGrade: A+
If there is one word to describe Tongala it would be clinical.
The only unbeaten outfit in the competition and it has been super impressive from its seven games.
When they have played NT products Darren Ewing (28 goals) and Cam Ilett have been classy operators, while Jack Hammond is a consistent performer.
Could this be the year that Tonny goes all the way?
NetballGrade: B
A 4-3 record has Tongala well placed after two months of the campaign.
The Blues will play finals, but the question mark is whether they can rise higher than fifth and collect some big scalps along the way.
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