Reborn Cats are flying high

Ladder position: 1st

Best win: R2, LBU 17.11.113 def. Colbinabbin 11.11.77

Two wins to start the season off against White Hills (R14 match moved forward) and Heathcote meant LBU were already flying, but the victory against Colbinabbin represented an important win against a quality opposition.

Thomas Leech booted six goals while Patrick Gardiner had four, an early show of dominance from what could be the best forward combination in the competition.

Nathan Bacon was best on ground and suddenly the young Cats looked to be a force for the season.

Review: Kahl Oliver has started something really good with this football club.

Obviously they aren’t the side who won multiple premierships earlier in the decade, but so far there is a lot to like about this team.

The look to be threatening, so if this form can continue, maybe a flag is within reach.

Grade: A

ECHUCA UNITED

Record: 5-1

Ladder Position: 1st

Best win: R6, Echuca United 13.10.88 def. Cobram 7.11.53

Their most recent victory was easily their best for the season.

United went into the match having just suffered their first loss of the season and looking to prove they were as good as some people started to think they were.

The Eagles were ready to deliver.

Three goals from Josh Mellington, a best on performance from Charlie McLay and the debut of former Essendon gun Andrew Welsh had everyone at the Echuca South Recreation Reserve starting to believe the hype around their Eagles.

Review: Guy Campbell said he wanted his side to be a top three team in 2019.

After six rounds, the entire competition is starting to believe the hype.

The Eagles have the one loss to their name, but they have proved to be too much for any other opposition.

There are still things to improve on, but so far the signs are good.

Grade: A-

ECHUCA

Record: 5-1

Ladder position: 2nd

Best win: R5, Echuca 14.10.94 def. Benalla 3.9.27

Forwards may sell tickets, but it’s defence that wins a team premierships.

This victory against fellow top three fancy Benalla was a day for the men down back.

The new look unit, led by new recruit Peter Faulks and the best defender in the GVL to the interleague break in Cam Valentine, Echuca held the Saints goalless in the opening three quarters of the match.

Every line of the side played well on game day, but it was a day where the backline made it very clear they were going to be hard to get past this season.

Review: A year ago we were talking about how much there was to like about Echuca.

Now, we are more than convinced they are a serious premiership threat.

Kyabram remains the best team in the competition, but Echuca is easily second on the list.

There are now stars on every line, players who can genuinely change the direction of a game, while still expecting to get Andrew Walker and Ruory Kirkby back into the side in coming weeks.

They still have some ground to make up on Ky, but so did the Bears a year ago.

Grade: A-

TONGALA

Record: 3-3

Ladder position: 9th

Best win: R1, Tongala 16.12.108 def. Moama 15.10.100

The comeback of the season for the Blues.

Down by seven goals at the final change, this match was over.

Then came the late charge as the Blues stunned everyone in attendance — and probably themselves — to charge back and get the win.

It was a really strong showing of what this team was capable of when they played their best football.

A full game effort would have never put this in doubt, but the late showing was a solid message to the competition.

Review: There is a lot to like about Tongala this year.

Some of the quality of players they have brought in this year are making a noticeable difference in terms of skill and attack on the football.

When you think a year ago they were no where near the mark, the progress they have made so far this year is outstanding.

We hope to see it continue as the season goes on.

Grade: B

MATHOURA

Record: 2-3

Ladder position: 8th

Best win: Mathoura 11.4.70 def. Katunga 10.9.69

Stressful final stages of the match, with the Swans making a charge in the final quarter to cut the margin to just one point.

What is most important in this match was the Timbercutters did enough to hold on.

There is concern over the fact the Timbercutters have fade outs at periods of matches, the fact they hung on would give the side hope it can fix this issue.

Review: This Timbercutters side is definitely on the improve from the past few seasons.

In fact, if the season was stopped now, they would play finals which is very impressive.

But, they would be unlikely to do any damage if they did make the finals.

The fade outs are a serious concern and will take a lot of work to fix.

We want to see Mathoura succeed, but they still have a lot work to do.

Hopefully another 5-6 wins will come this season.

Grade: C+

LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER

Record: 2-3

Ladder position: 5th

Best win: R1, Leitchville-Gunbower 13.8.86 def. Mount Pleasant 10.12.72

A new look Bombers lineup, a new guernsey, but it seemed to be the same old Leitchville.

Tyler Jones looked the goods in his return to his home club with four goals, while seemingly all of his teammates did their jobs.

It wasn’t an absolutely dominant victory, but it was more than enough to fill the followers of the Bombers with hope that some off season losses weren’t going to impact the side too much.

Review: LG lost some serious talent back to Melbourne in the off-season, but there was still hope the Bombers would be at the top end of the ladder.

So far, it isn’t really working out that way.

And it’s not because of a lack of talent, more a lack of execution.

The Bombers goal kicking has been putrid at stages, even costing them a game against Elmore.

Skills are something which is easily fixed, but they need to get a move on to get better.

Grade: C

MOAMA

Record: 0-6.

Ladder position: 13th

Review: Moama are hesitant to call this year a rebuild.

We aren’t, it’s the simple reality of where they are.

Moama is rebuilding, there have been some positive signs in the way they have played so far and we think long term it is going to pay off.

But, we also have to deal with what we have seen in front of us.

And we can’t sugarcoat a start without a win.

Moama have been frustrating at patches, with a few minor implosions really hurting them.

You only need to look at round one — they lost an unloseable match.

A -5 record isn’t great, but it looks a lot better than 0-6.

It’s a shame, but Moama have been poor thus far.

Grade: D