With a hectic playing schedule in prospect prior to the Christmas break, the two-conference system that applies in DIVISION ONE is beginning to show trends that may – barring major surprises and form reversals – be giving us some inkling of post-season prospects for Summer League.
But it is a funny old game, as they say. We should expect the unexpected.
Blackburn (9-2) assumed leadership of the East Group with an emphatic win over West Group pacemaker Geelong (8-3), which holds a slender break over Essendon (7-4) after the Bombers dealt a narrow loss in its crossover clash with Melbourne (8-2-1).
Lurking behind the Orioles and Demons is Cheltenham (7-3-1), which shook off a gallant Sunshine (1-9), for the Eagles to remain sixth in the West Group only marginally behind Doncaster (2-9) after the Dragons copped a narrow loss at the hands of Sandringham (4-6).
Third in the west, Newport (5-5) posted a cricket score against Upwey Ferntree Gully (4-7) – whose form has been inconsistent – while Preston (4-7) broke through against an evenly-matched eastern opponent in Waverley Wildcats (4-6).
Of the two conferences, there is considerably less separation in the eastern group, where all six clubs still have at least some chance of a top-two finish. In the western group, Doncaster and Sunshine have fallen off the pace and will be striving for a momentum shift with a couple of wins before the break.
Division One and Division Two have midweek games scheduled for this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.