An important Round 7 for MC Labour Division 2 emerges, that could prove who the real contenders are.
Headlining the round is a top four clash between South Morang and Old Paradians at Mill Park Lakes. Both sides are aiming to get themselves back on the winners list after narrow defeats to Fitzroy Stars and Northcote Park respectively last weekend.
The contest will come down to how well the Raiders’ backline can hold up against a potent South Morang attack. Ben Turner’s men have conceded the second fewest total points this season, while the Lions rank second in total points for.
South Morang will also have to be sharp defensively. Michael Boundy has kicked three or more goals on three occasions this year and has already proved himself as a match winner. Connor McDonald is having a superb season in his first full time stint at Parade College, accumulating 20+ disposals in every match which has him sitting third in the Coaches MVP award.
Lower Plenty host Macleod in what shapes to be a fascinating contest, with both sides sitting on three wins apiece. Each side are coming off impressive victories last weekend – the Bears getting the job done on the road against Whittlesea, and Macleod outclassed Panton Hill in a big win.
Darcy Barden will be looking to continue his scintillating form against his former side. The Macleod spearhead has slotted a remarkable 18 goals in the last three weeks and was kicking them well last week with eight against the Redbacks.
Jack Chubb and Jack Madgen have been outstanding recruits for the Bears and are looking to continue their strong form. Chubb is second in the comp for goals with a total of 22, while Madgen has kicked ten goals from his four appearances and always attracts plenty of opposition attention.
Macleod claimed victory on both occasions when the pair met last year, clenching a heart stopping three-point win at Lower Plenty Oval early in the season, as well as a convincing 47-point win at De Winton Park later on.
Fitzroy Stars have a chance to make it five consecutive wins when they host Panton Hill. The Stars have had no issues adjusting to the standard of Division 2, proving they are true contenders with impressive victories over Whittlesea, Macleod and South Morang in the last three weeks.
Ethan Penrith and Patrick Farrant have been key players in recent weeks, winning plenty of the ball and providing plenty of headaches for opposition coaches.
Panton Hill, meanwhile, will be eager to cause an upset and reignite their season after showing patches of promise throughout the opening rounds. The Redbacks suffered a significant defeat to the hands of Macleod last week, but have shown they are a competitive side with three of their losses being within a three-goal margin.
The pair have not met since Fitzroy’s previous stint in Division 2 which was 2022. The Redbacks proved winners in both meetings, but the sides shared one win each against each other in the year prior.
Northcote Park are looking to consolidate top spot on the ladder as they host St Mary’s. The Cougars have been the team to beat all season, with their only defeat coming against the second-placed South Morang.
James McCardle has had a standout season for the Cougars, featuring in his sides best in five out of the six games. Matthew Perry is another in hot form, accumulating 62 disposals over the last fortnight and he’ll no doubt be one who the Burra will have to nullify.
The Burra will be full of confidence after an impressive 60-point win over Thomastown last week. Joshua Carelli has been able to dominate teams both in the contests as well as on the outside, averaging 10 contested possessions and nearly seven score involvements a game.
These two have been hard to split in recent years, with each side having two wins from their previous four encounters against each other.
Closing out the round is Thomastown and Whittlesea at Main Street Reserve. There is a lot riding on this clash, as a loss for either side will make it tough to keep touch with the top five.
Despite having only one win to their name thus far, Thomastown have been no easy beats this season. They have proven to be a competitive team in first halves, trailing at half time on only two occasions this season.
Lawrence Lo Piccolo has had a strong season so far for the Bears, averaging 18 disposals and seven tackles a game. Zain Yamak and James Lucente missing this week will be offset by the return of skipper Anthony Capeci and Reuben William.
The Eagles will be desperate for this victory to keep touch with the top five. They will be banking on their leading goalkicker Caden Allen to help them get a winning score, and he’ll be looking to add to his season tally of 20 goals, keeping him within reach for the leading goalkickers in the Division.
Whittlesea have had the wood over Thomastown in recent years, winning the past four meetings between the two. The Bears have been more than competitive in these clashes though, with two of them being decided within a goal. It should be a cracking contest either way.
