A massive five games are set to take place in this weekend’s action of MC Labour Division 2, with the top six sides facing off against one another and the bottom four having the opportunity to create some separation from each other.
A potential grand final preview is the headline act of Round 8 when ladder leaders Banyule take on Eltham this Saturday. With both sides level on points and separated by just three percent, a highly anticipated battle awaits.
The Bears come into the clash with momentum, winning their last three games and coming off a convincing 81-point win over Watsonia.
Leading by 49-points at the main break, the Bears would pile on the goals in the second half. Jack Langford leading the way with six majors while in his return game, Reuben Blackmore-Moore was quickly back to his Coaches MVP winning form, kicking four goals.
Aydin and Arben Dani were also impressive around the ground alongside Riley Loton who made his mark in the midfield.
Firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, the Bears should match up well against a strong Eltham outfit.
The Panthers too are also coming into the game with a full head of steam, winning their past four matches.
Facing St Mary’s last week at Whatmough Park, the Panthers were able to leave as comfortable 28-point victors despite being challenged in the second half.
Ben Montanaro was the standout, kicking two goals and receiving a perfect 10 Coaches MVP votes. Bronson Glasgow, Lane Sinclair and Daniel Owen also had brilliant performances.
Robert Hyde’s side will see this game as an opportunity to assert themselves as premiership favourites, while for Banyule, a victory here will be their 19th win in their last 21 games.
Diamond Creek have the potential to cause a shake up to the top five this week in a massive match against neighbours Lower Plenty at Coventry Oval.
In what few would’ve predicted to be a third vs fourth clash at this point in the season, the winner can create a minimum two game gap to the sixth placed side, a comfortable position to be in as we approach the halfway mark of the 2022 campaign.
Coming off consecutive 22 goal victories, the Bears will want to keep their attacking prowess intact this Saturday.
Most recently, Phil Plunkett’s side defeated Epping by 132-points, shrugging the Blues off after quarter time. Three players would finish the day with five goals as Tom Keys, Will Barden and Jonathon Zapantis all provided an entertaining performance up forward.
Corey Sleep was damaging further afield in one of his best games of the year.
While the wins have been comfortable, they’ll be under no illusion that they’ll be up for a tougher challenge this week.
Their opponents Diamond Creek have been a surprise packet this season, currently sitting a game clear in fourth.
Ryan Pingree and Sam Gleeson have both been excellent contributors and were again named as the Creekers best players in their 19-goal win over the Fitzroy Stars.
Andrew Tranquilli’s side will be full of confidence following wins in their last four games and a victory here will put them well into the premiership contender discussion.
In a huge battle between fifth and sixth, both Thomastown and St Mary’s will be desperate to take all four points in a bid to keep their finals aspirations alive.
The Bears recorded their third win of the season last week, cruising to a 20-goal thumping of Panton Hill.
Daniel Chadwick, Tyla Barrow and Lawrence Lopiccolo were all influential in the win, with Anthony Capeci producing his best performance of the season, kicking eight goals including a goal of the year contender.
Despite health and safety protocols as well as injuries playing a role in their inconsistent start to the season, Thomastown have proven they can be a formidable side when it all comes together and it will be a factor the Burra will need to be weary of.
St Mary’s will hope to get back on the winners list after two honourable losses in the last three weeks.
Their most recent defeat was to Eltham by 28-points and although they were on the wrong side of the result, the effort produced was enough to highlight the capability of Fabian Carelli’s side.
That facet of their game was also shown in their one and only meeting last year when they defeated Thomastown by 41-points at Whatmough Park.
A win for the Bears would see them return to the top five after a three-week hiatus while the Burra could finish the round as high as fourth with a victory.
Still with just one win to their name for the 2022 season, Epping will be eager to cause an upset when they face Watsonia at home.
Having lost their past five games by an average of 115 points, the Blues will hope to find some improvement this week
Despite putting up a challenge in the opening term, the Blues lost touch quickly thereafter in their Round 7 loss to Lower Plenty. James Tadd, Thomas Burnside and Damon Marcon were the shining lights in the defeat.
Back at home and searching for a return to the winners list, Epping will sense their clash with the Saints as a vital opportunity to move out of the bottom two.
Watsonia, who enjoyed a bright start to the 2022 campaign, have hit a roadblock in the last fortnight with losses to Diamond Creek and most recently, Banyule.
The Bears defeat was their heaviest of the year and moved them to a losing record for the first time in 2022, although solid performances from Jamie Haber, Corey Potter and Riley Taylor were encouraging.
With sides in fifth and sixth facing each other, a Watsonia win will have them knocking on the door of the top five again.
The only side in the competition still without a win, the Fitzroy Stars, have their best chance since the opening round to get off the mark when they host Panton Hill at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
Whilst gallant in their output, the Stars haven’t looked close to winning since last month, most recently being at the end of a 90-point defeat to Diamond Creek.
Lionel Proctor’s side are producing glimpses of individual brilliance however, with the likes of Riley Livingstone and Ashley Hood having standout seasons with the Stars.
The Redbacks too have had a tough start to their 2022 campaign, going down by 120-points to Thomastown in their most recent outing.
Nick Parks, Aidan Rowe and Samuel Parks were the top three players for the Redbacks but Simon Amore will need more from his 22 if they are to register their second win of the season.
The Stars will want to replicate their performance against Panton Hill in Round 11 last year, when they defeated the Redbacks by 34-points in what would be their only win of the season.
If they can produce the same result, the Stars will avoid a consecutive 0-8 start to the year and depending on other results, can climb off the bottom of the ladder. A win for Panton Hill could give them the boost they need to find some form.
