A series of season-defining contests shape the second round of the MC Labour Division 2 season.
After some intriguing results throughout the elongated opening round, early contenders have the chance to step ahead of the pack and stamp their intentions for season 2021.
Two heavyweights in Banyule and Lower Plenty meet in a blockbuster twilight clash at Beverley Road Oval, with both having won convincingly in their opening round matches.
Following a stinging 2019 Grand Final loss to Whittlesea, Banyule took the crucial first step to atonement when they comfortably outclassed Fitzroy Stars in Round 1.
The Bears currently sit in second spot on the ladder with a massive percentage of 300 due to a 108-point win at Sir Doug Nicholls Oval last Saturday.
Ex-Bundoora forward Nick Grabowski was the star for Banyule, slotting five goals and obtaining the full 10 coaches’ votes courtesy of a dominant performance.
Veteran Michael Italia slotted four goals in a commanding display, while Mitch Lovell started off the season strongly with three majors in the big win.
But a long-awaited return to their home at Beverley Road Oval coincides with a fresh challenge when they take on a rejuvenated Lower Plenty side looking to bounce back into Meadows Greyhounds Division 1.
Lower Plenty got off to the perfect start in Round 1, leading from start to finish to beat Epping by 76 points.
Regular contributors in Tom Keys and Josh Turner both ran rampant, kicking four goals apiece to set up the strong win. The former dominated to receive the full 10 coaches’ votes, while Jordan Sacco and Thomas Blake also started the season in red-hot form.
The Bears got off to the perfect start, leading by 55 points at half time before coasting to the 134-58 result.
Eltham will be eyeing a consolidating win when they take on Panton Hill at Eltham Central Reserve.
The Panthers faltered last week, struggling for the majority of the game against Thomastown before narrowly missing out on a late comeback victory.
Down by 24 points at three quarter time, Eltham were made to pay for their inaccuracy despite a three goal to one final term.
Thomas Cantwell continued his strong start to the season for his new club, leading the Panthers in the ruck and providing his midfielders with the best chance to win the clearances.
The regular duo in Anton Woods and Brent Macaffer also fought hard in the midfield, while new recruit Jackson Weatherald went from strength to strength despite the disappointing 11-point loss.
Panton Hill nearly stole a close home win to kickstart their campaign, falling narrowly in a spirited clash with Diamond Creek.
The Redbacks kept their noses ahead for much of the day, leading by four points at three quarter time before losing by a goal in a low-scoring encounter.
Jake Maher has the chance to continue a whirlwind start to the season, after kicking four of Panton Hill’s six goals in round one.
Mitchell Anderson and Sam Montanaro also fought hard and will need to burrow in hard again on Saturday if they are to challenge an Eltham side gunning to return to the winners’ list.
St Mary’s faces a massive test on Saturday, when they get the opportunity to take on the competition’s early front-runners in Thomastown at Whatmough Park.
After falling to Eltham on Good Friday, the Burra held on in spectacular fashion against Watsonia last Saturday, clutching on to a nine-point three quarter time lead to win by four points.
Rory Hanlon and Nick Gedge were crucial for St Mary’s, both snagging two majors and leading the home side to a tight victory.
St Marys will be looking towards young tall Huon MacGibbon and in-form midfielder Chris Petroro to hold up across the ground and prevent Thomastown’s many stars from breaking the game open.
Their opponents in Thomastown sit pretty atop the ladder, with two wins in the opening round, establishing them as the glamour side of the competition so far.
Anthony Capeci was at his brilliant best against Eltham, proving a real handful up forward to solidify a blistering start to the 2021 season. Capeci has kicked five goals in each of the Bears’ opening to matches and looks to have taken his game to an even higher level in 2021.
Star recruit Tyrone Leonardis and Kane Slater again proved their worth to the Bears, wreaking havoc through the middle and up forward.
St Mary’s will also be weary of Tyla Barrow, who received five coaches’ votes against Eltham, alongside Capeci and Leonardis, for his wonderful effort against the Panthers.
Diamond Creek plays its first home game of the season on Saturday when their mixed form is put to the test against a fired-up Fitzroy Stars outfit at Coventry Oval.
The Creekers weren’t convincing on Saturday against Panton Hill but managed to overcome the adverse conditions to come away with the four points.
Tyler Barnes ran amok all day to obtain 10 coaches’ votes, led closely by ruckman Joshua Marchbank. Diamond Creek can also be confident in their defence, with the likes of Joel Randall holding up well in a dogged affair with Panton Hill last week.
Other contributors in debutant Billy Empey and Lachlan Coe also stood up for their side and have the chance to set Diamond Creek on course for finals action if they win two in a row to start the season.
But the challenge won’t be easy, with Fitzroy Stars raring to avenge their triple-digit loss against Banyule in the opening round.
The Stars were completely outclassed against a formidable opposition in Lionel Proctor’s first game as coach but had some shining lights they can look to optimistically.
Former Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray made a strong start to his time at Fitzroy Stars, kicking two goals and contributing well.
Riley Livingstone (two goals) also tried his best up forward for the Stars, while Rivva Karpany did everything possible to avoid the disappointing result.
In the final game of Round 2, Watsonia hosts Epping at A.K Lines Reserve, with both sides looking to score their first win of the year.
The Saints fell agonisingly close of an opening-round victory at Whatmough Park, rising from nine points down at the final break to fall short of St Mary’s by just four points.
Young gun Lachlan Potter was superb in his debut for the club, kicking two goals (including a terrific running shot from the boundary) and receiving four coaches’ votes for his efforts.
Debutant Teague Van Zwienen, Jamie Haber and Daniel Watson all did their best to get the Saints over the line, but now look towards their first home game as a major chance to open their 2021 account.
Epping will take some of confidence out of a more competitive second half against Lower Plenty, with a five-goal third quarter displaying their ability to match it in periods with the best sides in the division.
Jackson Freebairn fought hard to get his side back into the game in the second half, with utility Joel Dunmore, in his return match for the Blues, and Michael Jacobson also leading from the front.
All three will need to be at their best on Saturday if Epping are to come away from A.K Lines Reserve with a much-needed win.
The ground does hold good memories for the Blues – who notched their sole victory of the 2019 season at the venue.
