With each result in the opening round decided by 15 points or more, the MC Labour Division 2 competition might be shaping up quicker than expected as we approach Round 2 action this Saturday.
Some intrigue surrounds Panton Hill’s trip to St Mary’s at Whatmough Park as both sides come into the clash off impressive wins.
Under new coach Jack Bianchin, the Burra produced a statement making 85-point victory over Watsonia away from home, registering their biggest score since Round 14, 2023, a year in which they made a preliminary final.
The Burra were seventh in the competition last season for total points scored and only twice produced a score of triple figures. But, despite not having 2024 leading goalkicker Jeremiah Antypas this year, they don’t look to have too many issues in finding the big sticks.
Jack Cicitta seems to be the one to take charge of things inside forward 50 after a five-goal effort against the Saints. He booted 24 majors in 13 senior games last season and can be one to have a breakout year for the Burra.
Their Saturday opponents in Panton Hill scored the upset of the round and went over to Main Street Recreation Reserve to defeat Thomastown for the first time since 2013.
The Redbacks lost key figures in Samuel Parks and Scott Conte throughout the match, and while they might be spending some time on the sidelines, Simon Amore would have been pleased to see some others stand up in their place to produce the win.
Oliver Parks got the perfect 10 Coaches MVP Award votes, backing up from his inaugural Team of the Year appearance in 2024, while Jason Pannam kicked five majors in his first match since Round 1 last year.
With an opening round win to build off, Panton Hill will fancy their chances against a side they have decent form against in recent years. Their defeats to the Burra in 2024 were by 11 and 22 points, while between 2022-2024, they won two of their four meetings.
At home, St Mary’s look to be the favourites this weekend, but they will be weary of a confidence filled Redbacks side.
Two more sides that face off this weekend after Round 1 triumphs are Diamond Creek and Lower Plenty, with their meeting to take place at Coventry Oval.
The Creekers seemingly had no issues taking care of a Macleod side returning to Division 2 for 2025, kicking 10 goals to five after the main break to prevail by 41 points.
Jacob Booth was outstanding and is in line to have a career-best season with the club, while four majors from young star Jett McLaughlan will put the competition on notice early.
Former Montmorency duo Bronson Hill and Jesse Thompson also saw themselves featured in the best for their new club. The pair can play an important role in Diamond Creek going one step better in 2025.
Lower Plenty will also have a spring in their step, after a 20-point victory over a highly fancied Northcote Park outfit.
The young brigade of Seth Hill and Jed Wallace led the charge for Travis Stephens’ side, while new recruits Daniel James and Ben Smith impressed to finish in the team’s best in their first outing.
Hill was only named in his side’s best in three of 14 matches last year, but experienced great growth under the guidance of Patrick Flynn. With the 18-year-old now taking the mantle in the ruck, expect his influence on matches to increase, as highlighted last Saturday.
The Bears have lost their previous six matches against Diamond Creek and have failed to score more than 60 points in the last five of those games, leaning the tips for this game heavily towards the Creekers’ favour.
But the Bears remain a team on the rise, meaning a more competitive showing might be on the cards for Andrew Tranquilli’s men on the weekend.
Thomastown will need to shake off their Round 1 defeat as they prepare to host Macleod at Main Street Recreation Reserve.
Despite a 22-point quarter time lead, the Bears could only muster four more majors for the remainder of the afternoon in the 16-point loss.
Michael Tabacco finished as his side’s best, bringing the heat and intensity whenever he could, while Kyle Green kicked three majors, as did Makhoul Zakkour who may have found a new role up forward. Not since 2016 has he kicked three majors in a season at senior level yet has already matched it after one game.
Seven players from the club’s 2024 elimination final side weren’t in Thomastown’s lineup on Saturday, while the club also fielded three players who didn’t feature in the senior side at all last year, so it may take some time for the new look Bears to adjust.
They will at least hope for an improved performance against Macleod, who are too eyeing off a first win in season 2025.
The Roos were in the hunt against Diamond Creek for much of the match last week but conceded six final term goals to go down by 41 points.
Brad Leggett marked his return to the club with an excellent display, while key position players Darcy Barden and Michael Hurley kicked five goals between them.
Ryder Jones also continued his good form during the backend of last year, being named in his side’s best for the third straight game.
This will be the first time these two sides have met since the 2008 Division 2 Grand Final in which the Bears prevailed by 19 points. Although not as much will be at stake this time around, each team will be hoping to avoid a 0-2 start to the season.
Whittlesea will look to continue their good start to the season when they do battle with Watsonia at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
This corresponding fixture last year saw the Eagles produce 35 scoring shots in an 81-point triumph, and while 2025 has only produced a small sample size, signs indicate something similar could occur on Saturday.
A seven-goal opening term set the tone for Whittlesea in their 47-point victory over Old Paradians in Round 1.
Garry Ramsay’s men failed to score less than 80 points in their home matches last season, and with plenty of players capable of hitting the scoreboard, highlighted by having 10 individual goalkickers in their triumph over the Raiders, they will be favoured to produce another big score this week.
Reigning best and fairest Taidhg Bland and skipper Xavier Dimasi look set to take the competition by storm in 2025 with some superb performances on the weekend, the latter kicking two majors, while Jake McNamara impressed in the ruck on Whittlesea debut.
The Saints meanwhile got off to a shaky start in Anthony McGregor’s first game as coach, going down in a heavy defeat to St Mary’s at home.
Captain Josh Boulton was kept busy in defence and finished as his side’s best, with Harry Sinclair also a highlight for Watsonia.
It was the seventh time in their previous 19 matches that the Saints failed to hit the 50-point mark, while it the largest score they conceded since Round 18, 2023.
Lots of learning lessons will be taken out of the clash against a side expected to be fighting for finals this season, but they will hope for some more promising signs against last year’s minor premiers.
A night encounter concludes the round with Northcote Park hosting Old Paradians at Bill Lawry Oval.
The Cougars started well in their game against Lower Plenty last week but kicked 6.13 in the final three quarters to go down by 20 points away from home.
Inaccuracy didn’t plague the side much last year, only kicking more behinds than goals in six of their 18 games. In fact, they only did it twice in the first nine rounds of the season despite going 0-9 in that time.
The result didn’t stop Jordan Perry having an immediate impact, finishing as his side’s best, while Heidelberg recruit Donato Cutinelli booted two goals alongside Damon Marcon and Janus Waldron.
Old Paradians were introduced to Division 2 football through an excellent display from Whittlesea in Round 1, in which they were unable to keep up with the Eagles for most of the afternoon.
Lachie Kerr shone for the hosts with a four-goal performance, while Elias Stapleton was the pick of the recruits for the Raiders, finishing in his side’s best after coming across from Marcellin.
Ben Turner’s side face a tough start to the season, as they take on three finalists as well as recent Division 1 side Macleod.
It makes this an important clash for the Division 3 premiers, as they look to settle into the Division 2 competition against a side aiming to return to finals action in 2025.
