A preview of the 2016 Division 2 season ahead of Saturday’s Round 1 matches.
Seven teams will compete in Division 2 this year, after a player shortage forced last year’s Division 3 premier Reservoir to go into recess for the 2016 season.
As a result, no Division 2 teams will face relegation this year, however the battle for a place in the top four looks fierce with all seven teams a legitimate finals chance.
North Heidelberg has strengthened its squad following demotion from Division 1, with Division 3 leading goal kicker Kyl Ewart and Mount Pleasant midfielder Luke Edmondson headlining the Bulldogs’ new recruits.
Last year’s beaten grand finalist Lalor has bolstered its attacking stocks with former captain Peter Shepherd returning to the club, along with Rupertswood duo Darragh and Niall McGovern.
2015 finalists Fitzroy Stars and Hurstbridge both go into the new campaign with a new coach, with the Stars to be led by the AFL’s Head of Diversity, Jason Mifsud, while the Bridges will be he headed by co-coaches Trevor Frost and Rob Dyson.
Thomastown has lost spearhead Matthew Ferraro to Bundoora, however the Bears have been able to broaden their forward 50m options with the addition of former AFL player Carl Peterson and key forwards Dean Francis and Stefan Berak.
Diamond Creek welcomes former Eltham utility Brad Perry and Old Ivanhoe tall Oliver Parks as it looks to end its two-season finals drought, while Panton Hill’s midfield will be aided by the inclusion of Lower Plenty’s Matt Duckworth and Greensborough premiership player Scott Conte.
The Division 2 action kicks off this Saturday with three huge matches.
Fitzroy Stars host North Heidelberg at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval in a rematch of the 2014 grand final; neighbours Lalor and Thomastown square off at Lalor Reserve, while Panton Hill takes on Diamond Creek in a twilight fixture at Cracknell Reserve.
Continue below to see your club’s player movements ahead of this weekend’s opening round of action.
DIAMOND CREEK
Coach: Craig Hayes
Last year: 7 wins – 1 draw – 10 losses (sixth)
IN: Matt Aquilina (Mernda), Oliver Parks (Old Ivanhoe), Brad Perry (Lancaster), Nathan Sleep (Old Ivanhoe), Kane Tenace (Lower Plenty)
OUT: Trent Fallon (Karingal), Chris Honey (Eltham), Mitch Johnson (Heathcote), Rikki Stephens (Heathcote)
Coach says: “We have a real strong belief in the way we play our footy. We were the best defensive team in the competition last year. We just have issues scoring. We’ll be addressing those issues.”
FITZROY STARS
Coach: Jason Mifsud (new)
Last year: 11 wins – 1 draw – 7 losses (fourth)
IN: Corey Atkinson-Harlan (Moama), Clinton Benjamin (North Ballarat City), Peter Harrison (Echuca United), Rivva Karpany (Portland), Kain Proctor (Shepparton Swans)
OUT: Clinton Edwards (Shepparton Swans), Alex Isailovic (Sale City), Djye Morgan (Port District), Damien Walker (Epping)
Football Manager says: “You’re going to see a fair bit of exciting footy this year I reckon. We haven’t got those big bookends down at full forward and full back like we have in the past, so we’re moving the ball pretty quickly. It’s pretty exciting watching, I’m pretty happy with where we’re going."
HURSTBRIDGE
Coach: Rob Dyson and Trevor Frost (both new)
Last year: 12 wins – 8 losses (third)
IN: Dale Eames (Langwarrin), Kale Frost (Wallan), Rhys Frost (Wallan), Robert Graham (Hurstbridge), Brent Hay (Banyule), Alisdair Jackson (Mooroolbark)
OUT: Jack Furlong (Bundoora), Blair Harvey (Heidelberg), Michael Ryan (Lower Plenty)
Coach says: “All the experienced players have stayed and they blooded a few young players last year. I think we’ve got about four or five blokes who played a lot of games last year and are still under-19s this year. We’ve got a good mix, that’s for sure. We have a lot of experienced players who’ve played first division. Even our mid-tier players like the 24 to 25-year-olds, they’re going to be in for a good season as well.”
LALOR
Coach: Steven Marshall
Last year: 14 wins – 1 draw – 5 losses (runner-up)
IN: Kurt Henderson (Romsey), Darragh McGovern (Ruperstwood), Niall McGovern (Rupertswood), Tim Peck (Keilor), Blake Seeley (returned), Peter Shepherd (Bacchus Marsh)
OUT: Steven Deshong (South Morang), Nick Mafilovski (retired)
President says: “We just can’t wait for it to start, we absolutely can’t wait. It will be great to have Peter Shepherd back, he’s been away from us for (four) years. Blake (Seeley) is an outstanding young ruckman and he played in a good comp overseas. It’s great to have him back on board.
NORTH HEIDELBERG
Coach: Stephen Saddington
Last year: 2 wins – 16 losses (relegated from Division 1)
IN: Casey Brown (Heidelberg West), Ryan Docherty (Reservoir), Luke Edmondson (Mount Pleasant), Kyl Ewart (Heidelberg West), Josh Iezzi (Heidelberg), Brad Kairouz (Fitzroy Stars), Guneyt Ozusen (Reservoir), Cameron Rooney (Reservoir)
OUT: Simon Andrews (Northcote Park), Michael Celestin (South Morang), Luke McKenna (South Morang), David Taylor (East Malvern)
Key stat: North Heidelberg has finished inside the top three in each of its three seasons in Division 2. The Bulldogs were runners-up in 2012, third in 2013 and premiers in 2014.
PANTON HILL
Coach: Joffa Byron
Last year: 4 wins – 14 losses
IN: Scott Conte (Greensborough), James Course (Lower Plenty), Matthew Duckworth (Lower Plenty), Sam Parks (Greensborough), Sam Switkowski (Lower Plenty)
OUT: Tristan Kreymborg (retired)
Coach says: “We’ve picked up quite a few recruits and we sort of targeted guys who played at a higher level, not only for their on-field performance but also the leadership and the example they can set for the other guys. We wanted to create more depth in our midfield so that when we did make rotations through there we weren’t losing as such.”
THOMASTOWN
Coach: Dean Sinclair
Last year: 11 wins – 7 losses (fifth)
IN: Stefan Berak (West Coburg), Adrian Farchione (Northern Blues), Dean Francis (Dingley), Adrian Pappas (Wyndham Suns), Declan Paras (Essendon Doutta Stars), Carl Peterson (Mooroolbark)
OUT: Daniel Chadwick (Northcote Park), Matthew Ferraro (Bundoora), Adam Follachio (Bundoora), Frank Multari (Bundoora), Alex Stoikos (West Preston-Lakeside), Josh Totino (Macleod)
Coach says: “Our goal will be to finish it that top four, play a final and whatever happens after that happens. You want to improve on last year and after missing out on finals by half a game we’d hope to take another step forward."
