Take a look back on the Division 3 season that was.
PANTON HILL – PREMIER (16 wins, 2 losses)
Two dominant home and away seasons under Dean Haydock’s charge culminated in the 2013 Division 3 premiership for Panton Hill. With home ground Cracknell Reserve under redevelopment right throughout 2013, the Redbacks had no problem acclimatising to temporary home bases at Yarrambat War Memorial Park and Ben Frilay Oval. They won their final 12 games of the season, ending with a thrilling one-point win over Watsonia in the best Division 3 Grand Final played to date. The result provided the club its first premiership in 58 years, with its 1955 premiership won while playing in the former Panton Hill Football League. Veteran midfielder Abe Williams was best afield in the Grand Final win, but it was a group of youngsters who helped the club improve on its runner-up effort of 2012. Nathan Hendry, Tyler Scarce and Tim Duckworth all fitted well into life at Panton Hill and look to be the club’s future heading into Division 2. Despite finishing last season with more than 100 goals to his name, Joffa Byron’s move to defence was an inspired one. His drive off the backline further complemented the good work of Ben Strongman, Will Box and Jeremy Gercovich. Meantime, Jason Evans’ had a stellar finals series inside defensive 50m. Veterans Jarrod McGough and Nick Lowther had massive impacts in their first year at the club, while Ben Finnin became the fourth Redback in five seasons to top the competition goal kicking award.
Best and fairest: Nathan Hendry
Leading goal kicker: Ben Finnin (58 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Nathan Hendry (11 votes)
WATSONIA – RUNNER-UP (12 wins, 7 losses)
Despite falling agonisingly short of Panton Hill in the Grand Final, there is no doubt that Watsonia was the most improved side in the competition in 2013. With 21-year-old playing coach Lochie Dornauf at the helm, the Saints went from wooden spooner to runner-up in the space of just 12 months. Making their reversal in fortunes all the more remarkable was the fact they won just one game in 2012 – that being the season opener against Heidelberg West. In fact, prior to 2013, the Hawks were the only team Watsonia had beaten in its two season spell in Division 3. Dornauf’s impact on the playing field was immense and resulted in a runaway victory in the competition best and fairest award, finishing 10 votes clear of his closest rival. Up forward Jeremy Bennett, Brody Ricardi and Tom Walliss all had impressive seasons which earned them selection in the 2013 Division 3 Team of the Year, alongside Dornauf and ruckman Tony Hogg. Skipper Matt Crompton was as consistent as ever in the middle of the ground while the recruitment of Daley Bear helped strengthen the club’s defence. Watsonia claimed a number of impressive wins throughout the year, most notably its six-goal preliminary final win over Thomastown and a 78-point away win at Reservoir over the Queen’s Birthday weekend. It fought until the very end on Grand Final day and came from three-goals down in the last term to hit the front, before being denied late by Panton Hill.
Best and fairest: TBA
Leading goal kicker: Jeremy Bennett (52 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Lochie Dornauf (26 votes, winner)
THOMASTOWN – 3RD (11 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw)
Thomastown’s season ended with a disappointing preliminary final loss to Watsonia, but, for the greater part, 2013 will be looked back on as a successful year for the club. The Bears won 11 games in their first season in Division 3, just two wins less than they managed over a four-year period between 2009-2012. First-year coach Steve Krstevski was prepared to give many youngsters a chance to show their wares at senior level and the gamble paid immediate dividends. 23-year-old Tristain Harrower won the club best and fairest award from teenagers James Mercuri and Michael Di Battista. The Bears sat inside the top two on the ladder for the majority of the season, but ultimately it was three home and away losses to Watsonia which denied them a double chance in the finals series. At times Thomastown looked the side most capable of upsetting Panton Hill in September, as demonstrated by its 20-point win over the Redbacks in Round 7, but ultimately the young side lacked the consistency to play its best football each week. Despite not featuring in the Grand Final, the Bears did have some success in the finals series when they ran away with a five-goal win over Reservoir in the first semi final – the club’s first finals victory since winning the 2008 Division 2 Grand Final.
Best and fairest: Tristain Harrower
Leading goal kicker: Michael Khoury (49 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Michael Di Battista (14 votes)
RESERVOIR – 4TH (10 wins, 7 losses)
After reaching the preliminary final in 2012, Reservoir was never truly able to hit it straps in a 2013 season plagued by injuries to key players. Without key forward Toby O’Meara for the early part of the season, the Mustangs began the year with three consecutive victories. However after the bye, a big loss to Panton Hill in Round 5 threw their season into an inconsistent wave of ups and downs. They won just three of eight games after Round 3, with a further big loss to Watsonia and a surprise fadeout defeat at Parkside the biggest lows during that two-month period. Just as O’Meara returned to the frame, fellow forward Ashley Flavel succumbed to injury, playing just one of the club’s final seven home and away matches. Dallas King, who was recruited to help ease the load left on O’Meara and Flavel’s shoulders, spent half the season in the reserves, while defender Adam Meroli also missed the majority of the season with a variety of injuries. Adding to their woes, gun half back Jarrod Skinner played just seven games for the year. Despite luck seemingly being against them, the Mustangs reversed their form late in the year, winning four consecutive games between rounds 14-17 and headed into the finals series looking a genuine threat. They led Thomastown late in the third quarter of the first semi final but kicked only two of the final nine goals of the game to lose by 29 points. After a breakout season on the wing, Justin Kuchel tied for the club’s best and fairest with 2012 winner Cameron Rooney.
Best and fairest: Justin Kuchel and Cameron Rooney
Leading goal kicker: Toby O’Meara (38 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Ryan Docherty (8 votes)
ST MARY’S – 5TH (5 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw)
For the first time since its debut season in 2010, St Mary’s failed to play finals in Division 3. While the Burra played finals in 2012 on the back of only six wins in the regular, this year’s tally of five wins and a draw left them languishing more than four wins outside the top four. The fixture wasn’t kind to the Burra early in the year, losing to eventual top four sides Reservoir, Panton Hill and Thomastown in the opening three weeks of the season. However, things looked back on track by Round 7 when they won their next three games – which included a gripping 10-point win at Watsonia. Unfortunately, that win would by St Mary’s only victory against a top four side (although they did draw against Thomastown) as they won only two of their final 10 matches. Kicking a winning score was an issue right throughout the year, with the Burra averaging just 71 points per game. Dillan Ronalds was a standout and won both the club best and fairest and the Division 3 Coaches Player of the Year. Another positive was the amount of youngsters who got an opportunity at senior level. With the under-19s reaching the Division 2 Grand Final, expect a number of young guns to rise through the ranks in coming seasons. Following two years as coach, Brenton Kinnear stepped aside at season’s end.
Best and fairest: Dillan Ronalds
Leading goal kicker: Dillan Ronalds (31 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Michael Costanzo (9 votes)
PARKSIDE – 6TH (4 wins, 12 losses)
George Lattouf’s first year in charge of Parkside was a difficult one, with the side’s inconsistency making it the competition’s great enigma. The Devils began the season with a rousing victory over eventual premier Panton Hill, but were then trounced by Thomastown the following week. That disparity between performances over the opening fortnight would become the Devils’ only consistent trait over the season. Throughout the season the lost five games by more than nine goals, and were also the only team to lose to wooden spooner Heidelberg West. However, they also recorded some fine wins – most notably the aforementioned win over Panton Hill and a runaway win over Reservoir in which Darren Gresham booted 11 goals. He only played three games for the year because of TAC Cup with the Oakleigh Chargers, but Billy Hogan looks a star of the future if the Devils can retain his services. Two of the three matches he played in were wins, while the other was a gallant 14-point loss at Watsonia in Round 18 – a match the Saints had to win in order to secure a top two place. Again it was the Devils’ key quartet who led the way in 2013, with Darren Gresham and Andy Bennett securing selection in the Division 3 Team of the Year, while Shane McLaren and Brad Hockey regularly featured in the best.
Best and fairest: Michael Thompson
Leading goal kicker: Andy Bennett (29 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Darren Gresham (12 votes)
HEIDELBERG WEST – 7TH (1 win, 15 losses)
It was another challenging year for the boys from Heidelberg Park – winning just one game from 16 starts. However, despite the lob-sided win-loss tally, the Hawks’ final percentage of 55.44% showed they were competitive throughout the season. 25 points was their biggest loss from three outings against Reservoir, while they won three of four quarters in a close loss to Thomastown in Round 12. Remarkably, they booted 14.0 in that encounter. Coach Derek Shaw adopted a youth policy during his first season in charge and the positive results should be seen in years to come. Throughout the course of the year, Heidelberg West fielded 14 players under 21 years of age and nine under-19s got a taste of senior footy. 23-year-old Daniel Bailey claimed the best and fairest award from Aidan Young, while fellow youngsters James McLean-Brunton, Kane Moore and Brad Moore rounded out the top five. Kyl Ewart had an impressive season as a playing assistant after crossing from Macleod. He booted 40 goals, which included six hauls of four-goals or more. Given Watsonia’s meteoric rise from wooden spooner to Grand Finallist in the space of 12 months, the Hawks certainly have plenty to be positive about moving into next year.
Best and fairest: Dan Bailey
Leading goal kicker: Kyl Ewart (40 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: James McLean-Brunton (16 votes)
DIVISION 3 – SEASON WRAP
Grand Final
Panton Hill 13.9 (87) def Watsonia 13.8 (86)
Best and Fairest
1st. Lochie Dornauf (Watsonia) – 26 votes
2nd. James McLean-Brunton (Heidelberg West) – 16 votes
3rd. Michael Di Battista (Thomastown) – 14 votes
4th. Michael Manley (Thomastown) – 13 votes
5th. Darren Gresham (Parkside) – 12 votes
Leading Goal Kickers (home and away)
1st. Ben Finnin (Panton Hill) – 56 goals
2nd. Michael Khoury (Thomastown) – 47 goals
3rd. Jeremy Bennett (Watsonia) – 45 goals
4th. Brody Ricardi (Watsonia) – 44 goals
5th. Kyl Ewart (Heidelberg West) – 40 goals
Coaches Player of the Year
1st. Dillan Ronalds (St Mary’s) – 23 votes
2nd. Darren Gresham (Parkside) – 20 votes
3rd. Lochie Dornauf (Watsonia) – 17 votes
3rd. Shane McLaren (Parkside) – 17 votes
3rd. Aidan Young (Heidelberg West) – 17 votes
