by The Bedge » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:32 pm
Zartan's Mid Year Review - Pulteney
A Grade
Won - 9
Lost - 0
Percentage - 70.76%
Position - 1st
Players Used - 32
Run Home: H - H - A - H - A - A - H - A - H
Most Goals - Josh Giddings (30 goals)
Most Valuable - Shane Cooke
Pulteney have returned to Division 6 this season after a difficult year in Division 5 in 2016, and have wasted no time in making their intentions clear. Ruthless, strong, fit and uncompromising the Blues have destroyed all in their path over the opening half to sit 9-0 at the halfway mark.
Josh Giddings has led the way up forward with 30 majors so far, but Sheldon Currie (22 goals), Daniel Nicholson (19 goals) Shane Cooke (16 goals) have shown that the Blues are not a one man band up forward. Infact of the 32 players to suit up in the 1s this season, only 7x players have failed to kick a goal - 3x of those only played the one game, while others are key defenders.
It would be easy to assume Josh Giddings or ball magnet Dalton Tucker are the most valuable, but i've gone with Shane Cooke. Rated amongst the best on 4 occasions this season, Cooke has also hit the scoreboard with regularity, kicking 16 goals. The output of Hayden Cleveland can not be overlooked either, with the number one ruckman being the major reason the elite midfield brigade are able to win as many clearances at stoppages as they do.
A team full of high quality players. A backline that refuses to allow scores kicked, and arguably the best midfield group that we have seen in this division for a while, the Blues look irresistible and impossible to stop.
A favorable draw which has them home 3 out of the next 4 weeks, with the away game at Houghton will consolidate top 2 position before a more testing month towards the seasons end should ensure they wind up and hit finals full of run and playing their best football.
Rating: A+
B Grade
Won - 8
Lost - 1
Percentage - 81.41%
Position - 2nd
Players Used - 52
Run Home: H - H - A - H - A - A - H - A - H
Most Goals - Matt Barmby (28 goals)
Most Valuable - Mitch Gurnett
Last years Division 5R premiers, and Grand Finalist the past two seasons, the Blues have set about going on their quest to back to back titles in emphatic fashion so far this year to turn at 8-1. Only 10 seconds, a brain fade and inaccurate kicking has stopped the Blues from matching the A grade in maintaining a perfect start to the year.
Matt Barmby has relished in his opportunity in the B grade. With Nicholson going to the A grade, Barmby has become the main point up forward, and hasn't disappointed - kicking 28 goals so far this season. Lachlan Cook has kicked 13 goals, while Adam Van Den Munckhof and Mitch Gurnett also have double figure goals.
A regular in the A grade during 2015, Mitch Gurnett has shown he is a class above, with the powerful midfielder kicking 10 goals and being among the best on 4 occasions this season to be the most valuable for the Blues. Premiership players Fraser Porteous, Lachlan Cook and Andrew Kimber are amongst others who continue to bolster the B grade, while Daniel Ball and Alex Prior are having break out seasons.
Super fit, well disciplined and sound structures, it's easy to see why Pulteney are proving far too strong in D6R. They'll take some beating over the back half, and would expect they'll join the A grade and enjoy a week off to start the finals, before launching an assault on back to back flags.
Rating: A+
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