EASTERN Ranges have had a low year after a big one last year, despite going out in the elimination final to Dandenong Stingrays. They have only managed the two wins this season – back-to-back – and sit eleventh overall on the TAC Cup table. They have a couple of tough matches coming up, and look likely to face either Oakleigh Chargers or Western Jets in the Wildcard Round. They have had a good core of contributors this season, and though the midfield has won its fair share of possessions and the defence have found its groove at times, it has been applying scoreboard pressure that has been the issue in 2018.

Wins: 2
Losses: 12
Draws: 0
Position: 11th
Points For: 667 (11th)
Points Against: 1066 (11th)
Percentage: 63
Points: 8

Fixtures:

R15: vs. Calder Cannons – Avalon Airport Oval
R16: vs. Gippsland Power – Morwell Recreation Reserve

National Combine Invitations: [1] James Blanck

State Combine Invitations: [1] Xavier Fry

Rookie Me Combine Invitations: [1] Cody Hirst

After a massive year in 2017 which saw plenty of top-end talent walk into AFL ranks, and Eastern Ranges play in a finals series, 2018 has been a lot about the bottom-age talent coming through. Just the three players received combine invitations this time around, with key defender James Blanck by far the best story – plucked out of local leagues and now looking on the verge of having an AFL career considering at least five AFL clubs have ranked him in their top 50. Xavier Fry‘s speed and Cody Hirst‘s tackling pressure have also caught the eye, albeit with Hirst injured for most of the year. Kye Quirk, Joel Burleigh, Adrian Kalcovski and bottom-ager Mitch Mellis are among the big contributors to Eastern this year, while fellow bottom-agers Lachlan Stapleton and Jamieson Rossiter have also impressed.

Top Fives:

Disposals:

1 – Kye Quirk – 344 (2nd overall)
2 – Mitch Mellis – 302 (5th overall)
3 – Joel Burleigh – 287 (9th overall)
4 – Adrian Kalcovski – 276
5 – Ben Cardamone – 194

Marks:

1 – Kye Quirk – 42 (eq. 70th overall)
2 – Mitch Mellis – 37
3 – Joel Burleigh – 33
4 – Adrian Kalcovski – 32
5 – Ben Cardamone – 28

Contested Possessions:

1 – Kye Quirk – 152 (4th overall)
2 – Mitch Mellis – 131
2 – Joel Burleigh – 131
4 – Adrian Kalcovski – 110
5 – Billy McCormack – 84

Tackles:

1 – Joel Burleigh – 105 (2nd overall)
2 – Lachlan Stapleton – 87 (4th overall)
3 – Ben Cardamone – 67
4 – Kye Quirk – 59
5 – Mitch Mellis – 51

Hitouts:

1 – Riley Smith – 211 (3rd overall)
2 – Billy McCormack – 81
3 – Thomas Lockman – 59
4 – Steven Kapahnke – 58
5 – Jas Corless – 46

Clearances:

1 – Kye Quirk – 53 (eq. 10th overall)
1 – Joel Burleigh – 53 (eq 10th overall)
3 – Adrian Kalcovski – 43
4 – Mitch Mellis – 39
5 – Lachlan Stapleton – 34

Inside 50s:

1 – Joel Burleigh – 49 (10th overall)
2 – Mitch Mellis – 40
3 – Kye Quirk – 38
4 – Adrian Kalcovski – 37
5 – Lachlan Stapleton – 28

Rebounds:

1 – Kye Quirk – 48 (3rd overall)
2 – Ben Cardamone – 40 (eq. 8th overall)
3 – Xavier Fry – 39 (eq. 10th overall)
4 – Joel Burleigh – 30
4 – James Blanck – 30
4 – Jarrod Gilbee – 30

Goals:

1 – Jamieson Rossiter – 8 (eq. 45th overall)
2 – Joel Burleigh – 7
3 – Adrian Kalcovski – 6
4 – Bailey White – 5
4 – Kyle Crosby – 5