Following last week’s bye, we will be treated to some massive MC Labour Division 2 contests that could go a long way towards deciding the final ladder placings of the 2024 home and away campaign.
In arguably their most important battle since last year’s first semi-final, St Mary’s host South Morang at Whatmough Park.
Both sides played out an entertaining affair back in May, with the Burra coming from 15 points down at three quarter time to prevail by just a solitary point away from home.
However, they’ve won just three games since (with no winning margin by greater than two goals) and come into this clash having claimed just one win in their previous six matches.
As has been the theme of their season in recent weeks, players have had to step up in the absence of some key contributors, with the likes of Jack Cicitta, Jake Dambrauskas and Joshua Carelli all doing so a fortnight ago in St Mary’s close loss to Diamond Creek.
Sitting six points clear of the chasing pack, a victory for Fabian Carelli’s men will help distance themselves from, the bottom five ahead of more fruitful games against Northcote Park and Laurimar in the next fortnight.
But standing in their way is a determined South Morang outfit who are unbeaten in their last seven games.
Their 42-point victory over Panton Hill in Round 14 was another example of their dominance against sides in the lower half of the table, having only won by less than four goals in two of their previous seven encounters.
Teague van Zwienen starred in the win over the Redbacks and has now been named in his side’s best in the last two games, while Joshua Lansfield has showcased his ability to hit the scoreboard since returning to the senior side in Round 11, having kicked seven goals in his last three matches.
With a top three spot secured and matches against Diamond Creek and Whittlesea still to come in the regular season, the Lions will be eager to keep their winning streak intact ahead of another finals campaign.
A huge chance to take fifth spot by season’s end is up for grabs when Lower Plenty and Thomastown meet at Montmorency Park South Oval.
Both sides have been leapfrogging one another in recent weeks, but they will get few better opportunities to create some breathing room than this weekend.
Coming from fighting off relegation 12 months ago, Lower Plenty are now well and truly in the finals race and will fancy their chances of a second victory over their Saturday opponents in 2024.
Their Round 14 clash prior to the bye was a 32-point defeat to an unbeaten Whittlesea side at the Whittlesea Showgrounds, but they did keep the Eagles to 11 goals or less for just the fourth time this year.
More strong efforts from Jasper Collins and Jordan Sacco helped the Bears stay competitive with the ladder leaders, and more of the same this Saturday will go a long way toward Lower Plenty claiming their sixth victory of the season.
Thomastown however come into this clash as one of the most out of form sides in the competition, having lost their last five games, two of those against sides in the bottom three.
They’ve dropped to sixth as a result, and another defeat would see them six points adrift from the top five with three games remaining.
Despite these losses, Youseph Dib’s form has not fallen away and incredibly, he has been named in his side’s best in 10 consecutive games.
Lawrence Lo Piccolo has also been nothing short of impressive in the middle while James Lucente remains a key threat inside attacking 50, having booted 34 majors in 2024.
If they can get back on the winners list, Thomastown will be in the box seat to secure a return to the finals, with matches to come against sides currently below them on the ladder in two of their next three games.
It is a must win game for Laurimar if they are to keep their season alive, as they prepare to face Northcote Park at Laurimar Reserve.
The Power are still six points away from ninth placed Watsonia but do come into this match off one of their best victories in club history, having defeated Thomastown by 17 points at Main Street Recreation Reserve.
Jimmy Atkins’ men only face one more top five side in their run home, and after their triumph a fortnight ago, they will be confident they can claim more scalps.
To do so, they’ll hope for another terrific effort from Ethan Bateman who was crucial in the triumph over the Bears and has now been named in his side’s best in his last four matches.
If Cooper Herbert can also replicate his four-goal effort from two weeks prior, he can help create a great duo with club leading goalkicker Joel Lawson inside 50.
Laurimar defeated a then winless Northcote Park side by five points in a thrilling contest in Round 7, but they face a different Cougars team who have lost just once in their last five matches.
They did have to fight tooth and nail for their six-point win over Watsonia two weeks ago, but it does likely assure them of safety with four games to play.
Having kicked majors in all but one of his nine matches, Jacob Thompson is in terrific form and comes into this match off a five-goal effort against the Saints, while skipper Matthew Perry was best on ground in the same match and has been named in his side’s best in six consecutive games.
Another four points will potentially put Anthony Palmer’s men just four points outside the top five, but with finals bound sides to round off the year after this weekend, a win will put the club in good stead regardless.
Panton Hill will aim to keep their finals hopes intact when they welcome top of the ladder Whittlesea to A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
Despite having prevailed in only one of their previous four games, the Redbacks still sit just two points behind fifth placed Lower Plenty, keeping their hopes of a finals appearance in 2024 alive.
But they will need to start banking points if they are to make a genuine run and will at the very least look to improve from their most recent effort prior to the bye, where they kicked just 1.11 in a loss to South Morang.
Coming up against the side boasting the best defence in the competition, the key to victory will be an ability to undo a Whittlesea defensive unit who concede an average of under 51 points a match.
Riley Livingstone is still the fourth highest scoring player in the competition despite majors in just two of his previous five matches, but if he can get going this weekend, it will help Panton Hill’s cause.
Further afield, the duo of Samuel and Oliver Parks, who’ve been two of their side’s more consistent performers, will need to assert themselves again this weekend, as their supply into forward 50 will be vital in the Redbacks’ hopes of victory.
The Eagles are still unbeaten and haven’t looked close to losing in months. Their 32-point triumph over Lower Plenty was their ninth win by 30 points or more in 2024.
With matches against fellow top three sides in Diamond Creek and South Morang to come in the next few weeks, Garry Ramsay’s men can sure up a minor premiership in the next slate of games.
But despite another victory looking likely on Saturday, you wouldn’t expect the Eagles to slow down on their pursuit of a 15-game winning streak.
Watsonia will attempt to pull off one of the upsets of the season in order to secure safety in the division when they do battle with Diamond Creek at Binnak Park.
The Saints missed a golden chance on their home deck to create some breathing room for the bottom of the ladder, going down by just six points to Northcote Park in an entertaining contest, and having now gone winless in their last four matches, they’ll be eager to buck their losing trend.
The trio of Daniel Annetta, Joshua Boulton and Harrison Sinclair continue to illustrate their brilliance in George Lattouf’s side and have been one of the few highlights of Watsonia’s campaign.
Another has been Ethan Lowe, who leads the competition goalkicking charts with 48 majors. He managed five goals in his side’s last meeting with Diamond Creek back in Round 6, and if he can re-create that performance, the Saints will have the best chance of pulling off a stunning victory.
However, the Creekers have defeated Watsonia by an average of 48 points in their last six meetings, with the Saints failing to kick more than 10 goals in any of those matches.
Diamond Creek’s ability to keep opposition sides to low scores continued in their victory over St Mary’s in Round 14, reducing the Burra to 10 goals from 17 scoring shots, which proved crucial in the narrow seven-point triumph.
It was Brenton Keating who directed things in defence to ensure the Creekers remained in control throughout their match with St Mary’s, with Keating having now been named in his side’s best in his last three games.s
Jett McLaughlan has also been excellent for Andrew Tranquilli’s team in recent weeks, with seven goals in his last fortnight of games. Another strong effort up forward from the 18-year-old will help the Creekers maintain their great form approaching finals.
