As we approach the halfway mark of the season in our Division 1 Men's competition, the intensity and competitiveness on the court is there for all to see. With no team remaining undefeated, and each team securing at least one victory, the playoff race is wide open! To demonstrate the competitiveness of this Division, it was timely that bottom-placed Warrnambool clinched a significant victory on the road against second-placed Whittlesea over the weekend, shaking up the standings and adding to the excitement of the season.
At the top of the tree, sit the RMIT Redbacks. After finishing as the runners-up in 2023, RMIT entered this season with a target on their back, as all teams aimed to dethrone them following the promotion of Shepparton & Pakenham to the Championship Division. Despite facing a setback in round 5 with a defeat at the hands of Altona, the Redbacks have demonstrated their resilience by returning to the winners list after their bye weekend.
Daniel Steen and Zachary Coleman-Bock have been instrumental in leading RMIT's scoring charge. Particularly noteworthy is Coleman-Bock's impressive performance, averaging 19 points, 10 steals, and influencing shots on the defensive end, just as he did for years in the Youth divisions for Nunawading. They’re on top for a reason, and they have every right to hold favourtism for the Division 1 Men’s title in 2024. Importantly they rolled arguably the top contenders to date in Bulleen (8 points) and Whittlesea (13 points).
Whittlesea were literally the kings of Division 2 in 2023 until Grand Final Day (losing to Altona), but their roster was one we tipped could transition to Division 1 with length, size and speed, and they’ve done exactly that. Whittlesea currently sit in second spot on the ladder with a 7-2 record and whilst the loss to Warrnambool demonstrates just how good this competition is, aside from that, it is only RMIT they’ve fallen victim too. Will the defence of the Pacers need to mature to win the big games? They were unable to contain the offensive power of the Redbacks giving up 112 points!
Meekness Payne has emerged as an intimidating force, ranking third in the league for scoring with an average of 26.11 points per game, alongside an impressive 8.33 rebounds. His teammate, Patrick Green, provides valuable support, averaging just over 16 points and 6 rebounds per game, contributing significantly to Whittlesea's success.
The upcoming fixtures, including matches against RMIT (twice), Bulleen, and a grand final rematch with Altona, present formidable challenges and will determine whether Whittlesea are the real deal in Division 1 or not. The Pacer pack will attend in big numbers to help their boys over the line and the Stables remain a tough place for visitors to play!
Bulleen entered 2024 with some impressive recruits to add to their core. Is Matt Fennell the MVP favourite for Division 1? He has been a standout for the Boomers, averaging an impressive 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.14 steals per game, meanwhile, import Kraig Shields is making significant contributions, currently averaging a double-double with 16.4 points and 11.3 rebounds.
With a final five for playoffs, and Bulleen having played two games less than the top two teams; they have a chance to get one foot into the playoffs before the halfway mark of the season with several games against mid-table and high contending teams. There are no easy games in this competition but with Gippsland twice, Whittlesea and Warrandyte in the next few weeks, it will either separate Bulleen from the chaff, or put them right in amongst the fight for playoff spots.
After splitting their opening round 1-1, Gippsland United faced a challenging period enduring a three-game losing streak against RMIT, Altona, and Bulleen, with a combined margin of just 8 points! Concerns arise when analyzing their roster depth, as Gippsland appears to rely on a rotation of only about eight players. This could pose challenges, particularly during critical moments late in games. The question arises: can this United team maintain their resilience and competitiveness to secure victories when it matters most?
Import player Jalin Wimberly has emerged as a standout performer for Gippsland, leading the team in scoring with an average of almost 21 points per game, but also collecting more than 5 rebounds per game. Contributions from players like Ben Barlow and off-season recruit Joel Winderlich, both averaging double digits in scoring and 6-7 rebounds each, have been crucial for United.
Chelsea completes the top 5 teams in the competition, currently positioning them for a playoff berth if playoffs were to begin next week. This is a significant improvement from their ninth-place finish in the 2023 season, where they secured only 7 wins. With 4 wins already under their belt and 10 more games on the horizon, the Gulls are poised to surpass their previous season's record. We need to see a little defence to consider Chelsea a genuine contender though! Despite the ability to score 134 in a game (regular game time), they rank 8th in the league for points against (95.4ppg) and in games they’ve lost, that number balloons to more than 104ppg!
Terrandus Smith, a notable off-season acquisition, has been a standout for the Gulls, leading the league in scoring with an impressive average of 31 points per game, alongside 8 rebounds, which poses a significant challenge for opponents. Additionally, Aaron Frost has been a double-double machine, contributing more than 18 points and 16 rebounds per game. Together, Smith and Frost form a formidable duo, automatically making the Gulls a tough prospect every week.
Altona, just outside the top five but with a game in hand, places them within reach of the best. The victory over RMIT, the only team to do so thus far, highlights the potential. Impressively, six players are currently averaging double digits in scoring, led by Samson Rocker and Brian Adams with 18 points per game each.
With a second-place ranking in team scoring per game (96ppg), the Gators possess formidable offensive firepower, making them a team to watch closely, but like the boys from Chelsea, the Gators rank 7th in the competition for points against, giving up more than 95ppg. We’re not saying it can’t happen but choosing to go into a head-to-head offensive battle in playoffs against RMIT and others, will be tough; as will playing against mature groups with some defensive mindsets such as the Boomers.
Currently sitting in seventh is the Venom of Warrandyte. Despite the preseason anticipation surrounding their offseason recruitment, Warrandyte has struggled to find cohesion, managing only two wins thus far. Tristan Forsyth has emerged as a standout performer, leading the team with impressive averages of 26 points and almost 15 rebounds per game. 3 of the 5 losses have been in single digits. That on its own doesn’t mean you deserve to be in playoffs, but it does indicate a 2-5 record could be misleading. A couple heavy losses to top of the table teams hurt, but if they can turn around some of these mid-table close losses the Venom will find themselves back in the five. The win over Coburg may have set the arrow in the right direction! Nothing comes easy in Division 1 Men and with matches against Altona, RMIT, Bulleen and Gippsland before Kings Birthday – it is time to turn it on Warrandyte!
Coburg is another team that has managed only two wins this season. The ‘hot and cold’ Giants have shown an ability to compete against tough opponents, when playing at their best. They have secured wins against Altona and Gippsland United, and have challenged formidable teams like RMIT, losing by just 3 points. Romaric Zaire has been instrumental in leading the Giants, averaging 14.5 points and 8.25 rebounds per game. Despite their current standing, Coburg’s ‘hot’ is very good and is a team capable of giving even the best teams in the competition a run for their money; just leave the ‘cold’ off please Giants!
The Warrnambool Seahawks are experiencing a challenging season, having secured only one win thus far. However, their recent victory over the Whittlesea Pacers on their home court provides a glimmer of hope. Any other season, this Seahawks lineup would be mid-table, but the standard has lifted, and the young lineup will be learning lots along this journey.
Import player Kester Ofoegbu has been a standout performer for Warrnambool, boasting impressive averages of 25.44 points, 8.11 rebounds, 3.33 assists, and 3.22 steals per game. He receives valuable support from teammates Riley Nicolson and Oliver Bidmade in the scoring department.
We suggested the 2024 Division 1 Men's competition as one of the most talent-packed seasons in recent memory, and it has certainly lived up to that expectation. From the very first round, there has been close finish after close finish. Whether it is a clash between first and ninth or third and fourth place, every game demands respect. Underestimating any opponent could significantly impact a team's chances of making it to the playoffs with head-to-head likely to play a role in determining playoff qualifications and positions.
Turn up ready to go or suffer the consequences in Division 1 Men!
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