Opinion: Woodford most likely premiership contender

Here's why.

The Eels have an elite top-end. Butters, Schlaghecke, Howlett - take your pick.

Their form has been convincing in two-day cricket. While it stuttered in the Twenty20 fixtures, its long-form cricket is as convincing as any other team in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.

Woodford is known for aggressive cricket. Being proactive wins premierships. There's an argument that sitting back invites pressure.

Leadership is everything in Woodford's case.

Nick Butters and Hank Schlaghecke are two examples of setting the tone.

Even when the likes of Luke Wines and Connor Richardson have been absent early in the summer due to football commitments, Butters has found a way to keep his side competitive.

Persistence with youth is also starting to pay dividends, with 219-run talent Liam Burgess coming into his own.

But things haven't been all rosy at Bushfield Oval this season. The Eels have been hit with number shortages in lower grades - a problem facing countless country cricket clubs - and are without a division three side.

Resilience has been required. Being resourceful with that lack of depth and keeping that strong core together has Woodford on track. But are these reasons enough to suggest Woodford deserves the tag of flag favourite?

Well, Brierly-Christ Church is still undefeated in regular season, barring its Twenty20 grand final loss to Dennington, but hasn't been at its best of late.

Russells Creek is in a similar boat. The two-time reigning premier has a few issues to sort out and just isn't clicking.

As for West Warrnambool - nobody knows. The Panthers look good but only time will tell if they can compete with the best.

Woodford has been there and done it before. Butters, Schlaghecke and Howlett are top-liners and can win flags.

Can they do it again? History and statistics say yes.

It battles West Warrnambool, Merrivale and Allansford in two-day action on the run home and you'd bank on two of those being wins.

The West Warrnambool game, however, will be a sneak peek at what's to come in finals.

You could make a case for any of the top four as the two-day premier but Woodford stands out as the in-form choice.

It's ability to keep a core together, regenerate and lure players back to cricket from footy commitments is remarkable and the mark of a winning club.

All will be revealed come March.

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