Battles between the top four sides of the competition headline this week’s Round 6 action in MC Labour Division 2.
An early top of the table clash sees Eltham host Diamond Creek in what could possibly be an early grand final preview, with both sides having started the 2023 campaign strongly.
Back on their home deck, the Panthers have made Eltham Central Park a fortress in recent times having not lost a game at the venue since Round 3, 2022 and with their undefeated start to the season, they’ll fancy their chances in continuing that winning run.
Having given his side first use out of the middle with his brilliant ruck craft, Tom Goodwin will be one that the Panthers will look upon to influence the contest again on Saturday.
The big man has been amongst the top rucks in the division in his first season with the club and is in hot form of late, having recently taken out the full 10 votes in the Coaches MVP Award during his side’s 45-point win over South Morang.
Others to keep an eye on will be Daniel Horsefield who’s been a brute in the middle while young forward Daniel Owen continues to have his way up forward with 15 goals in six games, having yet to go goalless in a game this season.
But although Diamond Creek are coming off a surprise narrow defeat to Panton Hill at home last week, it still won’t take away from the fact they’ll be Eltham’s biggest challenge yet in 2023.
Tyler Barnes has kept up his stellar start to the season and was one of his side’s best performers in the losing effort last weekend, having proved to be a versatile player for Andrew Tranquili this season, he’s been able to impact the contest all around the ground.
Nicholas Barro has too been brilliant for the Creekers, having an influence in both the ruck and up forward, his battle with Goodwin should be an intriguing one. If he can get on top in the match-up, it will go a long way in helping the Creekers chances of scalping a win.
Having lost all three of their meetings by an average of 20 points last season to the Panthers, one of which was a narrow defeat in the preliminary final, the Creekers will be out to turn their fortunes around and end Eltham’s winning streak.
In a clash between two sides that have had solid starts to the season, third placed South Morang take on fourth placed Watsonia at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in what should an exciting encounter.
Having started the season with three wins in a row, the Lions have been brought back down to earth in recent weeks, having come off comfortable losses to Diamond Creek and Eltham respectively.
It doesn’t spell complete disaster for Gary Hall’s men by any stretch, with patches in those two games suggesting they’re up to challenging the best, but they’ll be hoping to quickly return to winning ways back at home this weekend.
One that will be guiding them to that victory this weekend will be their 2022 premiership hero Tye Hall who been named in the side’s best players for the past month.
This will be Lachlan Potter’s first game against his old side Watsonia, and he couldn’t enter the match in better form. He will be one to keep a close check on throughout the afternoon as well as Joshua D’Intinosante will be looking to add to his goal tally having already booted 14 goals to his name in 2023.
For Watsonia, they come into the clash having seen off a resilient Epping side, running over the top in the last quarter to run out seven-goal victors. Coming up against a tough opposition, they will be out to produce a more convincing victory.
Joshua Boulton has continued to be the standout for his side this season, currently sitting in second in the Coaches MVP Award leaderboard, he was once again amongst the top contributors in the win over the Blues. His defensive efforts will be needed to help stop the crafty Lions forwards.
Teammate Harrison Sinclair will also be one South Morang will need to be weary of, he too has been in hot form having named in the side’s best players on four occasions this season while James Lucente now sits as the division’s leading goal kicker following a massive 10-goal haul last weekend over the Blues.
It’s been seven years since the two sides last met with the Saints prevailing in an entertaining Division 3 preliminary final clash, they would go on to win the premiership that season. The stage looks set for another exciting encounter as both sides aim to keep their spot in the top five intact by week’s end.
With both sides in winning form, St Mary’s and Panton Hill will be looking to continue their impressive streaks when they meet at Whatmough Park.
The Burra come into the clash with strong form, having won three games on the trot by a combined 168 points, Fabian Carelli’s men may have stumbled out of the blocks, but looked to have found form in recent weeks, most recently knocking off Lower Plenty by nine goals.
Huon MacGibbon has been a big factor in the side’s recent resurgence having been named on four occasions in the side’s best players and was amongst the top performers for his side last weekend.
Youngster Tane Cotter continues to go from strength to strength and has had a major influence in his side’s dominance in recent weeks, while Joshua Carelli has also been an important contributor for the Burra this season.
If they’re to pick up their fourth win on the bounce, the Burra will be needing to the trio to repeat their efforts this weekend.
But the Redbacks will also be coming into this fixture with their tails up, having knocked off Diamond Creek away from home in what was arguably the club’s biggest win since joining the Division 2 competition a few years go.
Having been one of the sides expected to push for finals and make the jump this season, Panton Hill look to be over their slow start and are beginning to gel.
The duo of Riley Livingstone and Tom Keys continues to be dominant around the ground and are again proving to be very handy acquisitions for the Redbacks, while the Parks trio have been exceptional, all three contributing strongly each and every week.
Simon Amore’s side got the better of a strong St Mary’s outfit in Round 11 last year, winning by 12 points in what was their best performance of that season. A similar result could put the Redbacks in the finals conversation while the same will occur for the Burra if they’re to make it four dominant wins on the trot.
Lingering a game outside the top five, Thomastown will be looking to keep in touch with the rest of the pack and register a win when they face Lower Plenty at Main Street Recreation Reserve.
Having come off a narrow loss to Northcote Park, Thomastown will be out to redeem themselves and get back on the winners list while Lower Plenty will be out to open their account to 2023 as the side are still without a win to their name.
Anthony Bradford and James Rizzolio were some of the best for Peter Bugden’s side in last week’s defeat to the Cougars while Aaron D’Angelo showed his versatility, with the defender going up forward and kicking a major for the second straight week.
After a quiet game by his standards, don’t be surprised to see Tyrone Leonardis quickly return to form and help guide his side to their third victory of the year. Still the leader on the Coaches MVP Award leaderboard, he’s been the premier midfielder of the MC Labour Division 2 competition this season having been in incredible form for the Bears to start the season.
Lower Plenty’s young brigade currently sit in ninth spot on percentage and will be looking to distance themselves from Epping with an upset over Thomastown this weekend.
Although they suffered another heavy defeat last Saturday, this time to St Mary’s, the Bears have showed promising sides in their defensive 50, with Joel Leslie and Ciaran Porter standing tall in the backline and taking multiple intercept marks to ensure their opposition has no easy avenues to goal.
Felix Bell and Hudson Young have also shown great signs this year while Patrick Flynn continues to be influential in the ruck.
Lower Plenty claimed a 47-point triumph when these two sides last met in Round 16 last year, but their previous clash finished in dramatic fashion, when both sides couldn’t be separated in their Round 5 clash at Montmorency Park South Oval.
These two teams will be sensing a win is around the corner, so expect a competitive contest.
Currently occupying fifth spot, Northcote Park will be looking to separate themselves from the rest of the pack with another four points when they face Epping at Epping Recreation Reserve.
Having ran over Thomastown in the final term to run out 15-point victors, the Cougars will be out to secure back-to-back wins while Epping is still out searching for their first win of the season.
Alexander Boyse and Damon Marcon have been instrumental for the side this season and the two were crucial to their side’s performance again last Saturday, combining for six of Northcote Park’s 10 goals in the win.
They will be two figures the Blues will be looking to keep quiet this week, as well as Michael Amad and Christopher Clark, who have been an impressive duo thus far in 2023.
With aspirations to jump back up to Divison 1, the Cougars will be out to secure a massive win over a side which has struggled for form in recent years having won just two of their past 23 fixtures.
But the Blues have shown another sign of their development and improvement, after keeping up to the pace of Watsonia for three quarters of their game last Saturday night.
They trailed by just four points at three quarter time but were kept scoreless by the Saints in the final term, eventually going down by 42 points.
The one constant in previous weeks for Epping has again been the performances of Damon Hollow. Returning to the side last week, Hollow kicked three goals and has now been named as his side’s best player in all three matches he’s played in 2023.
They will need some others to stand up however if they’re to get close to Northcote Park this coming weekend and pull off an enormous upset.
Not since Round 11, 2013 have these two sides faced each other. The Cougars, who were just coming off a flag, prevailed by 51 points while Luke Lirosi was playing his first stint for the Blues in that game. The veteran will be one the club hope will return soon.
