The two sides who fell short of premiership success 12 months ago will fight it out to come out on top in the MC Labour Division 2 Grand Final this Saturday, in what shapes to be a terrific contest.
Having been the top two teams all season, it is only fitting that both Diamond Creek and Eltham will be fighting out for the MC Labour Division 2 premiership. These two teams have had some brilliant battles throughout the season, and this Saturday should be no different.
With the week off and a recent victory over the Creekers in the second semi-final, there’s no reason why the Panthers wouldn’t be fresh and confident of going one better in 2023.
It’s their third Grand Final since 2018, but it’s arguably their best chance to break their 21-year senior men’s premiership drought.
They’ve won five consecutive games, none of those by less than four goals, and have conceded 60 points or more just four times this year.
Their star players have come from all areas of the ground this season. Jesse Donaldson has been one of the recruits of the year in the competition, with his valuable experience off-field, and his continuous ability to find the football on field a real difference maker for this side.
His partnership with ruckman Tom Goodwin has been exceptional. The former VFL star has continuously given his midfield group first use out of the ruck in 2023, and as shown in the second semi-final, can have a massive impact when he combines with fellow tall Finnbar Maley.
Meanwhile the Panthers will do their best to stretch Diamond Creek’s impressive defensive unit through Daniel Owen and Jason McCormick, who each have the ability to break the game open, as showcased by the latter just two weeks ago. The duo have 78 goals combined in 2023.
Declan Ayres will lead the way again down back and will be supported well by Lane Sinclair and Joshua Merkel. Each have had outstanding campaigns, and their ability to limit the scoring of the number one attacking team from the home and away campaign in the Creekers, could help influence the result of this Grand Final.
Although that Diamond Creek forward line can be chopped and changed and still have a similar output, they have 12 players that have kicked 10 or more majors in 2023, compared to six for their Saturday opponents.
In their preliminary final win last weekend, they had four players kick multiple goals and that was without their then leading goalkicker in Jacob Booth. Ryan Pingree, Jai Norman and Jacob Walker look to be their most lethal targets inside 50 while although he has been goalless in two of his last four matches, expect Tyler Barnes to have a say on the scoreboard.
But while the forward line can be strong, it’s the sides defensive traits that have seen them reach the final game of the season. With stars like Billy Bedford, Nathan Searl, Matthew Lewis and Joel Randall in defensive 50, the Creekers have been a difficult team to score big numbers.
Eltham’s score of 10.11 (71) in the second semi-final is the highest score Andrew Tranqulli’s men have conceded this season. A usually disciplined Diamond Creek backline will be determined to not let the same score be reached again this time.
Nicholas Barro will have a huge task in the ruck against the dynamic Goodwin-Maley duo but is more than capable of taking the game into his own hands, while the return of Jacob Booth, Tarwan Rennie and potentially Ewan MacPherson makes this midfield as powerful as ever.
If Diamond Creek claim victory, it will be their first senior men’s premiership since 2005, while their only other Grand Final appearance since was in 2017 when they were no match for North Heidelberg.
With a warm day at Preston City Oval expected and both sides having full squads to select from, all roads are leading towards this being one of the great MC Labour Division 2 Grand Finals, and if both sides are allowed to perform at their best, it could mean we don’t know the outcome of this match until very late in the contest.
