The Central Highlands Football League ladder is a pretty good reflection of the state of the league and each of its teams at the moment.
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However, a lot goes into how a team is actually travelling along with their win total; toughness of their schedule, how they've played against the top sides and injuries suffered.
That's what I took into consideration as I ranked each side through the first six rounds of the season.
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1. Hepburn
The Burra have smashed everyone in its path excluding Bungaree in round five.
The side holds an average winning margin of 93.6 points, including a 215-point belting of Carngham-Linton and an 89-point win over reigning premiers Waubra.
Best percentage in the league, sitting atop the ladder and the power rankings.
2. Gordon
The Eagles have claimed two 100-point wins through five games and a hard fought victory over fellow top eight side Buninyong where they were challenged for three quarters.
Match-ups with Dunnstown, Hepburn and Rokewood-Corindhap in three of the next four weeks will tell us a lot about their seriousness as a premiership threat.
3. Rokewood-Corindhap
An impressive 4-1 start including a come-from-behind win over Waubra, it's biggest scalp under co-coaches Shaune Moloney and Brad Macgowan.
Fell to Skipton, its only blemish, but has beaten other sides around the finals mark in Learmonth, Daylesford and Bungaree which was important for its season.
4. Waubra
The reigning premiers are coasting along okay considering its injury list through the opening six rounds. Will welcome back six senior players when play resumes.
The losses to Rokewood-Corindhap and Hepburn knocks it to fourth but a good win over Dunnstown puts the Roos above the Towners.
5. Dunnstown
The drought-breaking win over Buninyong knocked the Towners into the top five, the side going 4-1 since their opening round loss to Waubra.
Their loss to Springbank hurt but they recovered well with a big scalp in the Bombers to sit 4-2.
6. Buninyong
Back-to-back losses knocks the Bombers out of the top five.
They're the only side to challenge Gordon which keeps them above the chasing pack but a loss to Dunnstown keeps them at sixth.
Need to compete well against Hepburn and claim a big win over Beaufort in the coming weeks. Derick Micallef returning soon will help that cause.
7. Clunes
Clunes' have enjoyed their best start since 2005, sitting 4-1, but they need to beat or strongly challenge a contender to climb into the top five.
Claimed an important win against Learmonth but apart from that haven't beaten another top eight side. Once it does, it will climb towards the top five of this list.
8. Learmonth
The Lakies sneak ahead of Skipton due to its superb percentage of 151.15.
They haven't been smashed but haven't won convincingly yet either. Losses to Clunes and Rokewood-Corindhap forces them to eighth despite sitting seventh on the ladder.
A big scalp would do a lot for their confidence.
9. Skipton
The Emus are back on track after a shaky start and some injuries.
A percentage booster against Creswick helped, but an 88-point loss to Hepburn wasn't ideal.
With some players back and the team gelling, they need to challenge the league's best now (only 1-3 against top eight sides) and put some wins on the board to climb into the top eight.
10. Springbank
The Tigers had a tough injury run to start the season but have won two of their last three after an 0-3 start.
Showed great toughness in a win over Dunnstown to get their first win on the board and did what they needed to do against Beaufort.
Games against Creswick, Rokewood-Corindhap, Ballan and Clunes in the next month are must wins for the Tigers to break into the top eight and cement their spot.
11. Daylesford
Daylesford is another side that has had bad luck with injuries, headed by the broken leg of co-captain Josh Cowan in round one.
It handed Clunes its first loss in an impressive display but have fallen to Creswick and Learmonth which were must win games against sides around it on the ladder.
Still finds itself 10th on the ladder trailing eighth placed Buninyong by just two points, so is well and truly in the hunt.
12. Bungaree
Bungaree have had one of the tougher runs to start the season opposition wise, playing five of the current top eight sides through the first six rounds.
Was beaten comfortably by Gordon and Dunnstown but held its own against Hepburn, only losing by 12 points and led Buninyong most of the day before losing by one point in round one.
Needs to get on a winning streak soon. Ballan, Creswick, Clunes and Learmonth in the next month present a great opportunity to do so.
13. Newlyn
Newlyn lost its main avenue to goal in Marcus Darmody and that's hard to replace.
Myles Sewell has also only played once (lower leg knock) and brother Adam hasn't played as of yet due to knee surgery.
Showed great fight against Gordon despite losing by 101-points, but needs some cattle back.
Beat Beaufort to get back on the winners list and its percentage is decent enough to keep it within striking distance of the chasing pack, just need wins now.
14. Creswick
The Wickers performed strongly in wins over Daylesford and Carngham-Linton to get their record to 2-2 but have been beaten comfortably in their losses, by 48.5 points on average.
Have lost their last two games so need a four quarter performance in the coming weeks, especially against a contender, to climb the ranks.
15. Beaufort
Found its groove scoring wise as of late, scoring 55 and 82 points in the last two weeks after kicking 1.2 (8) against Bungaree in round four.
Good recent performances put it slightly above Ballan, but needs a second win badly.
16. Ballan
Claimed a 36-point win over Carngham-Linton with a dominant final quarter performance.
Have lost by big margins in its defeats, however, on average by 69 points, knocking it below Beaufort.
17. Carngham-Linton
To its credit, Carngham-Linton have been competitive apart from its 215-point loss to Hepburn.
Just can't get over the hump and get a win on the board.
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