Mid Year Review - CSB Mens

The Christmas break signifies the unofficial halfway point of the season, as the teams, players, clubs and officials press the pause button on their 2021/22 campaigns.

Throughout the early stages of the season, the premiership favorites have emerged from the pack, leading the charge into 2022.

While the favorites are now clear, the race to premiership success is very much wide open, and if this years results are anything to go by, there could still be a few surprises in store!

Fast finishes, individual brilliance and undeniable team chemistry, the opening rounds of the CSB Men’s season had it all. Let’s take a look at how things are travelling so far…

Championship Division

South Caulfield’s stranglehold on Championship Division hasn’t loosened, with the premiership favorites consistently showing their class throughout the early stages of this season.

If you are wanting to make a prediction on who will end the year on top of the podium, it’s hard to look past the current ladder leaders. Proven finals experience and momentum are pivotal components to any teams’ post season campaign, and with both in the arsenal, they could be hard to stop.

Bonbeach are so far living up to their early season promise and seem to be delivering in fundamental areas that has seen them lacking in previous years.

Situated behind the Sharks, Mordialloc have perhaps been the surprise packet of the division so far this season. Upon their return to the CSBs topflight, the bloodhounds have not looked out of place, and have answered any questions around the loss of key players with star recruits of their own.

Rounding out the top four is Beaumaris, and while last year’s Runners Up haven’t found their best form yet this season, they have still shown us what they are capable of in patches. With a slightly different team dynamic to last year, expect them to build momentum in the latter half of this season, leaning on their experienced leaders and promising youth to position themselves for a tilt at redemption.

Murrumbeena and Bentleigh both sit outside of the top four, but will fight hard until the end to enter the finals equation. Two proud clubs who have shown their capabilities in glimpses this season, their round 13 clash against each other now looms as a make-shift elimination final, you can expect a heated race to the finish line.

Carnegie and Hampton have both struggled in the early stages of the season, and with both teams yet to register a win, it’s hard to see either of them contesting for a finals position. Both clubs will want to finish the season on a positive note, particularly with the possibility of relegation in play.

The unpredictable nature of the Championship division combined with the depth of talent throughout the competition will make for an exciting second half of the year,

Division 1

Division 1 has been full of surprises, with a number of upsets and close finishes, play so far has been a true reflection of the competitive nature of these teams, who are all fighting tooth and nail to earn promotion into the CSBs highest grade.

Mentone begun the season highly touted as premiership favourites, and it would be fair to say that nothing has changed. The Tigers narrowly missed out on last year’s ultimate success , and through adding the services of star players Darcy Brown (Old Mentonians) and Comrey Edgewroth (Dandenong), who have both fitted in seamlessly, they will take some beating. From the outside looking into Brindisi Street, Mentone look well poised to finally break the club’s 1st XI premiership drought, but there are some unexpected challengers that will stand in their way.

McKinnon’s recruits have added a new layer to their already strong list, as the Heat go in to 2022 as Mentone’s Number 1 Contender. Only losing the one game so far, McKinnon will look to continue to build team chemistry over the next few months and could be a huge threat to the Tigers aspirations of a Championship Division birth.

Parkdale United were promoted to division 1 without winning the premiership, as a result of Aspendale’s disciplinary relegation. As cliché as it sounds, in cricket it doesn’t matter how you get opportunities, it’s what you do with them, and the Pythons have taken theirs with both hands. Entering the break in 3rd position, United have shown that they are more than capable to matching it with the best of the division.

Dingley and Brighton District sit equal on 14 points, in 4th and 5th respectively, and both teams can be content with their positioning at Christmas. Not far behind is Clayton District, who while inconsistent, have also shown they are right at home in Division 1 after earning their promotion in 2020/21.

The middle section of this ladder will be extremely tight heading towards the post season, with a number of crucial, must-win matches awaiting these three teams immediately after the conclusion of the break.

Who can hit the ground running in this part of the season will go a long way in deciding the teams that will round out the top 4, with every second matchup essentially worth double points, given the close proximity of the rankings.

Division 2:

Cheltenham and South Caulfield are the main contenders in Division 2, sitting comfortably clear ahead of the pack heading into the new year.

Having played once already, Cheltenham sit one ahead in their head-to-head season ledger, with the teams meeting again in round 12, which could very much be a glimpse into a potential finals showdown.

Cheltenham’s recruits have complimented their existing line-up to perfection, as the club chases a premiership in their 150th year of existence.

Middle Park (3rd), Bayside (5th), and Chelsea (6th) have been inconsistent, but are not far off competing with the two ladder leaders and will compete strongly against any team in a finals’ appearance. Aspendale currently sit in fourth position, but are ineligible to play finals this season, which could potentially open up a spot for a team that finishes outside of the top four at the end of the home and away rounds.

Carnegie and Bentleigh have both worked hard but sit at the bottom of the table. While the results haven’t gone their way, competing as a 2nd XI against 1st XI’s is as much about developing young talent and gaining experience as it is winning.

The Division 2 race to finals will be one to watch.