The last round of the MC Labour Division 2 home and away season is upon us, and while several sides have sewn up a finals spot, an intriguing weekend is still ahead of us with others looking to keep their 2023 campaigns alive.
Ladder leaders Diamond Creek will be looking to end their incredible 2023 home and away campaign on a high when they take on Watsonia at Coventry Oval.
While the Creekers have already likely clinched the minor premiership, the Saints will be out to secure a win and secure a finals berth as a loss could still see them miss the top five by week’s end.
The Creekers haven’t shown any signs of slowing down ahead of the business end of the season, most recently seeing off Thomastown by five-goals in what a comfortable win at home.
The victory again came with multiple contributions from across the ground, as well as 10 individual goalkickers for the side’s 13 majors, a true testament to the strong chemistry the Creekers have built this year.
One of those who featured in the best again is Jacob Booth. He has now done so in nine of his 13 games this year and has also made it 13 consecutive games with at least one goal to his name.
While having knocked-off Northcote Park in a crucial fixture last Saturday, the Saints will be out to secure another important win to book their first Division 2 finals appearance since 2008.
Joshua Boulton was enormous in the back half once again and will have a big task this weekend in stopping some of the Creekers key forwards.
Adrian Alfonsi meanwhile returned to the side and stood up with three majors to help Watsonia get over the line.
Having gone down by 59-points to the ladder leaders earlier this season, a more spirited showing will be George Lattouf’s side’s best chance of causing an upset.
Fighting to keep their season alive, Northcote Park face Eltham in a must-win fixture at Bill Lawry Oval this Saturday.
Though adamant in the pre-season that their stint in the MC Labour Division 2 would be a short one, the Cougars will miss out on the chance to return to finals action if they don’t pick up the four points on Saturday.
They were in the hunt in their clash with Watsonia last week before going down in the final few stages.
That didn’t stop the Perry brothers in Jordan and Matthew having a massive influence in the middle as well as defender Daniel Tallariti doing a stellar job on competition leading goalkicker James Lucente, keeping him to just one major for the afternoon.
It will take similar performances from that trio again, plus many others, if they are to topple an Eltham outfit who have been dominant in the last fortnight.
The Panthers have been producing their best football since their loss to Diamond Creek in Round 15, winning back-to-back games by 15 goals or more.
Their 133-point triumph over Lower Plenty made Tim Bongetti’s job a lot more difficult with multiple names set to return over the next week ahead of finals.
Whilst Tom Goodwin was superb in the ruck once again, Declan Ayres has produced a handy fortnight and has proven to be a key contributor for the Panthers this season.
Having comfortably taken out the Cougars in their first meeting this year, Eltham will fancy themselves to come away with a similar result this weekend. But with the Cougars coming into this clash with nothing to lose, they could very well keep up with the in-form Panthers.
While Panton Hill will be hoping to end their season on a good note, Epping will be out to avoid relegation when they meet at A.E Cracknell Reserve.
Despite being in the hunt for a finals spot for most of the season, the Redbacks faded away late in the home and away campaign and come into their clash against the Blues having won just one of their past five outings.
Although that one win did come last week, as they came from behind to claim a brilliant victory over South Morang.
Brothers Nicholas and Oliver Parks have been brilliant contributors for the side this season and were again on Saturday while Matthew Duckworth put in another great shift up forward and has kicked seven majors in the previous fortnight.
Their victory in Round 17 also ensured they will end the 2023 campaign with a better win-loss record than last year.
But they will face an Epping side who are on the hunt to keep their spot in Division 2 intact for another season.
With Lower Plenty’s heavy loss to Eltham and by only falling short to St Mary’s by 13 points last weekend, the Blues ended Round 17 with a higher percentage than the Bears, meaning that provided the Bears fall to South Morang, a win over the Redbacks will be enough to finish the season in ninth.
Expect their captain Leigh Judd to stand up again, as he has done throughout the entire 2023 season, while Thomas Muscat has also produced some good form of late as has teammate Michael Jacobson.
Having led at quarter time in their clash earlier in the season over the Redbacks, the Blues would eventually go down by 85 points. A position they cannot afford to put themselves in this weekend, if they want to hold on to a Division 2 spot in 2024.
With survival from relegation not sealed just yet, Lower Plenty will be out to cause an upset as they take on South Morang at Montmorency Park South Oval.
The Bears have been aiming to develop their new look lineup in 2023 and while they currently have two wins to their name, they have suffered losses in three of their last five games, two of which have been by over 100 points.
Co-captain Jordan Sacco put together a strong performance despite his side’s heavy defeat to the Panthers last weekend has now been named as his side’s best player in five games this year.
And while goals have been hard to come for the Bears in 2023, Jasper Collins has found the big sticks in three consecutive games and has proven to be a reliable option up forward if required.
Also wanting to get back on the winners list, the Lions will need to claim the four points to ensure there’s no nervous waits for other results come Saturday afternoon.
Although a game clear of sixth, a defeat this weekend and a Northcote Park victory over Eltham will likely see them drop out of the five, dependent on percentage.
Nathan Stefanile has been a notable contributor for his side this season and will be tasked with continuing his good form against the talented Patrick Flynn on Saturday.
Tye Hall will no doubt be relied upon in midfield, having put together an excellent 2023 season in Division 2.
Obviously, a victory would have multiple benefits for the Lions, who will aim to secure finals and build some momentum heading into the post-season. But Lower Plenty know the job of surviving isn’t finished yet and will look to put their best performance together to round out the season on a high.
There will be no dramatic final round encounter this year when Thomastown and St Mary’s do battle at Main Street Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The chance that these two sides would be fighting out for finals spots again in 2023 looked promising halfway through the season, but each side looks to have confirmed seventh and third positions respectively coming into this clash.
Remarkably, a victory would equal Thomastown’s 2022 record, although this time they would end up two spots below their fifth-place finish last year.
Still, the Bears will be determined to claim the four points in Peter Bugden’s final game as coach of the club.
Tyrone Leonardis is in scintillating form and will be the man St Mary’s look to stop this weekend, while Daniel Caruso continues to produce an underrated season for the club and has been named in his side best in five of his last six games.
The Burra meanwhile be looking at this game as a tune-up towards their first ever finals appearance in Division 2.
Jeremiah Antypas, Rory Hanlon and Jake Halewood starred in their narrow victory over Epping last week.
In their Round 8 meeting this season, St Mary’s pulled away after half time to claim a 19-point victory over the Bears. If they produce a similar result this weekend, they will end the season with a 7-2 record from the second half of the home and away campaign, completing a terrific turnaround from missing the final five in 2022.
