The 2019 Riverina League mid-season review

Position: First (28 points, 147.79 per cent)

Pre-season prediction: Second

The star so far: Jesse Manton - Has returned a much more dangerous player than in 2016. Spent most of his time forward and is one of a number of Tigers players that can break open a game off his own back.

Verdict: It's one thing to recruit well, but it is a hell of a lot harder to back it up on the field. But that's what Wagga Tigers have done over the first half of the season and one would only expect their best football is still in front of them. When they are up and going, their ball movement and running game is the best in the competition. They don't boast a recognised power forward but they make up for that most of the time with brilliant ball use and pinpoint precision with their delivery. That and their run has so far masked any queries over a lack of size at either end of the ground. The positive sign is that the likes of Jesse Manton, Brendan Myers, Jackson Kelly and Nick Ryan are warming into the season and still have another gear to find, which can only lift Tigers to another level. The big grounds and warmer weather come September certainly won't disadvantage Tigers either. Serious contender.

Mid-season prediction: Second

Position: Second (28, 125.34)

Pre-season prediction: Premiers

The star so far: Jacob Conlan - Picked up where he left off last season and has been one of the form players of the competition. Has made centre-half-forward his own at Griffith.

Verdict: It looked like 2018 all over again for Griffith as six straight wins had the Swans in pole position for an assault on a drought-breaking premiership. But a big loss to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes, followed by a loss at home to Wagga Tigers, suddenly has the Swans on shaky ground. While these losses could add to some doubts about Griffith's ability to go all of the way, the past fortnight might be the best thing for the Swans in the long run. The losses will have shown the Griffith hierarchy the cracks and areas for improvement early enough to work on them and get them right for the business end. The Swans boast no shortage of quality with the likes of Will Griggs, Jordan Iudica and the Conlan brothers, just to name a few. It's just a matter of Griffith working out what their best 18 looks like and then finding consistency and building momentum. The Swans learnt a valuable lesson last season so look for them to get back on track and time their run.

Mid-season prediction: Premiers

Position: Third (28, 123.74)

Pre-season prediction: Third

The star so far: Luke Redfern - While the likes of Jake Barrett and Jeremiah Maslin have caught the eye in their first season at Kindra Park, the form of Redfern in the midfield has been as good as any in the first half of the year.

Verdict: The Hoppers have lived up to the off-season hype with an impressive display over the first half of the season. Their only hiccups were a gallant loss in Griffith, and then a disappointing defeat at home to Wagga Tigers. Jake Barrett is all class and proven worth his weight in gold, while Jeremiah Maslin could be the most entertaining player in the competition and it's no coincidence that Coolamon are yet to lose a game that he plays in so it goes without saying that they need him playing more often. The arrival of that pair has taken pressure off the likes of Luke Redfern, Matt McGowan, Max Hillier and helped them play the best football of their careers. Coolamon's ability to score is not a concern, especially when they're up and going, the query will be the Hoppers' defence and how many points they leak. The Hoppers are one of three teams that look capable of going all the way but they must tighten up their defence if they are to do so.

Mid-season prediction: Third

Position: Fourth (24, 122.83)

Pre-season prediction: Eighth

The star so far: Ben Walsh - Has successfully made the switch back to centre-half-forward with ease, kicking 28 goals. He has helped soften the impact of Riley Corbett's off-season departure.

Verdict: The Lions' off-season ins and outs did not make for exciting reading but no one told the playing group. They picked up where they left off from last year, taking it up to their opposition with little regard for reputation. GGGM put away the teams they needed to, building an healthy percentage, and registered wins over Tigers and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes - proving to be form that stacks up - and did so with a decent-sized injury list. There is little questions the Lions have got to fourth on the back of some brilliant early season form from Jacob Olsson and Ben Walsh. The challenge during the back end will be getting more from their entire list. GGGM's fate will be decided over a month from rounds 11-14 where they face Coolamon, Tigers, Collingullie-GP and MCUE in consecutive weeks. In their current position, two wins from those four should be enough, but that's easier said than done.

Mid-season prediction: Sixth

Position: Fifth (20, 112.50)

Pre-season prediction: Fourth

The star so far: George Kendall - Teenager with enormous talent and has continued in the right direction with a brilliant start to the year. A centre-half-forward that has a big influence on games.

Verdict: The Goannas were dead and almost buried with just one win from the opening five rounds but produced a tremendous turnaround to sit inside the top five at the halfway mark of the competition. Early on, the Goannas were able to match it with their more-fancied opponents for a half before dropping away. They didn't have the firepower or the match-winners of opposition teams. But what they may, or may not, lack in class, they make up for in effort and a desire to compete. George Kendall is as good as any centre-half-forward in the competition, while Ryan Price has found form to add another dimension to their attack. Nick McCormack, Lachie Kendall and Ethan Schiller are punching above their weight in the midfield, while the addition of Tim Smith and Blake Chapman have been welcome additions to their defence. The burning question is whether the last three weeks is purely a purple patch or genuine form? If they can produce that consistently, then finals is a lock.

Mid-season prediction: Fourth

Position: Sixth (20, 106.36)

Pre-season prediction: Fifth

The star so far: Nick Perryman - The Demons captain continues to lead by example and has taken his game to a new level. Wins the footy at the contest and can also hurt teams on the outside.

Verdict: The reigning premiers were never going to be the team of last year but have slipped a little bit further than many expected. The Demons have shown at their best, they can match it with anyone. They beat Wagga Tigers and Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, and had periods against Coolamon and Griffith were they were well on top. But they have been too easy to score against with both their midfield and defence being found out on a few occasions. While they are only percentage outside the top five, and two games from top spot, the Demons have their backs against the walls and face Griffith, Coolamon, GGGM and MCUE all away in the run home. The return of Tom Keogh last week was a positive and if they can see more of him, Ed Perryman, Jason Ainsworth and Matt Klemke in the second half of the year then anything is possible. But with that run home and an inferior percentage, they would want to find some consistency quick smart.

Mid-season prediction: Fifth

Position: Seventh (16, 89.14)

Pre-season prediction: Sixth

The star so far: Jeremy Sykes - The coaching role has certainly not done any damage to his game with Sykes enjoying a consistent start to the season. He's a constant threat to opposition teams.

Verdict: One thing the Bulldogs can be counted on for this season is a contest. Seven of their eight games have been decided by three goals or less. Three wins and five losses has them a game plus percentage outside the five. Unfortunately, the injuries have started to pile up and while they continue to fight doggedly, the depth they appeared to have at the start of the year has dried up. The Bulldogs will know their fate in the next month with three games against top five teams, where they will need to win at least two to be a realistic finals chance. Finals or not, the young Bulldogs outfit have not backed away from a challenge yet and will continue to take it up to the opposition with a game style that will hold them in good stead for the years ahead. They may just be a couple of senior players short for now.

Mid-season prediction: Seventh

Position: Eighth (12, 73.98)

Pre-season prediction: Ninth

The star so far: The Grintell brothers - Both teenagers have stood tall this year with Harry kicking 15 goals and Jack being the most consistent of the Eagles' midfielders.

Verdict: Narrandera have already achieved so much this season and they're only halfway through it. The Eagles ended their 38-game losing streak in round three and then upset the minor premiers, Collingullie-Glenfield Park, a couple of weeks later. Not only have they got the results on the board, but a number of the club's next generation have shown great improvement and now look like capable senior footballers, which only points to a brighter future. The Eagles were after five wins for the year and while that's not beyond them, they won't come easy in such a competitive season.

Mid-season prediction: Eighth

Position: Ninth (4, 45.60)

Pre-season prediction: Seventh

The star so far: Bryce O'Garey - Injury has caused to him a miss a couple of games but it hasn't impacted his influence on the contest when he is there and has led from the front on field in the absence of Daniel Muir.

Verdict: It hasn't been Leeton-Whitton's year. First-year coach, and key forward, Daniel Muir went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in the opening minutes of round one. There has been a steady run of injuries since then, and for a Crows team that does not possess the depth of young talent like previous years, it has made life tough. Nevertheless, the Crows have been very competitive for large periods with often only one bad quarter being their undoing. Leeton-Whitton cannot be underestimated despite how the ladder reads.

Mid-season prediction: Ninth

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