An after the siren goal to give Panton Hill its first win of the season was the major highlight from Round 7 of MC Labour Division 2.
The Redbacks almost certainly would have gone into their fixture against Fitzroy Stars as outsiders according to most Division 2 pundits, despite being thoroughly competitive in most games so far this season. They started brightly, holding a three-point lead at quarter time and a seven-point lead at the main break as a potential upset brewed.
The arm wrestle continued in the third term as both sides traded goals throughout the quarter. The Stars kicked the final two goals before three-quarter time to take the lead back, but by less than a straight kick heading to the final break.
Fitzroy looked as though it was edging ahead, kicking three of the first four goals in the final term to take the lead out to 16 points and look as though they may run away with the four points, but the Redbacks refused to lie down.
Panton Hill co-captain Riley Livingstone was swung forward in a last gasp move and it paid dividends, winning a free kick and slotting the set shot to give the visitors a sniff. Fellow co-captain Sam Parks then kicked truly a short time later to cut the deficit to three points and set up a grandstand finish.
With only seconds left on the clock, a long inside 50 from Nicholas Parks again found the safe hands of Livingstone, going back to take his kick as the final siren sounded. It didn’t phase the skipper however, who duly went back and converted his shot from the pocket to spark pandemonium on the field as he was mobbed by Redbacks teammates and supporters alike.
Ryan Sizeland was instrumental with five goals for the winners, as was Oliver Parks. Ethan Penrith continued his excellent form with a couple of goals in a best on ground effort for the Stars.
The win will no doubt hand Panton Hill some real belief as they head into back-to-back home games against Lower Plenty and South Morang in the next two rounds.
Lower Plenty has earmarked itself as a team to watch with an eight-point win over Macleod. The Bears were forced to play catch up in the first term after the Kangaroos jumped out of the blocks kicking the opening four goals of the game. But Lower Plenty responded with six of the next seven goals to take an eleven-point lead to the first break.
The Bears controlled the middle two quarters and their lead grew to as much as 35 points midway through the third term. Another four-goal burst from Macleod however gave them a chance heading to the final change, trailing by 17 points.
After such a free-flowing game which had seen 28 goals kicked in the first three quarters, the game tightened up as both sides put a premium on defensive pressure. Jack Chubb booted his fourth goal of the day to make it a four-kick game before Jasper Collins put the game just beyond the Kangaroos reach. A three-goal run from Macleod closed the gap, but ultimately they ran out of time.
Chubb now sits one goal behind leading Division 2 goal kicker Darcy Barden, who was held goalless by Ciaran Porter and was the Bears’ best on the day. Kobe Brandt and Mackenzie Hogg were excellent for Macleod, but the Kangaroos continued their up and down form and are yet to string two wins together in 2026.
South Morang held off a strong challenge from fellow top five contender Old Paradians to win by 17 points at Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve.
The Lions started the better of the two sides, Ethan Lowe kicking a couple of first-term goals to help establish a 19-point lead at the first break. The Raiders started to find their groove in the second term however, kicking six goals including three to Lachie Kerr and close the gap to just five points at the long break.
Six goals to four in the second half was enough for the Lions, who move to 5-2 on the season and separate themselves from the logjam of teams between third and sixth on the ladder.
Davin Cameron had a day out for South Morang with 39 disposals, with three goals apiece to Sebastian Latina and Ethan Lowe pivotal up forward. Lachie Kerr was the absolute standout for Old Paradians with a bag of seven goals and Jack Nicolo was productive in the back half.
Northcote Park continues to sit one game clear at the top of the table following a 25-point win over St Mary’s.
The Cougars didn’t have it all their own way at Bill Lawry Oval and started slowly to allow the Burra to take a ten-point lead to the first break. But the ladder leaders were able to regroup and produce some better footy in the second term, kicking four goals to two to wrestle back the lead.
Northcote Park could have put a real space in the game in the third term if not for some wayward goal kicking which netted 1.6 for the quarter. St Mary’s struggled similarly at the other end with 1.4 as the game was still up for grabs in the final term. Three last-quarter goals from Ricky Fandrich who kicked six for the day saw the Cougars home to make it three wins on the bounce.
Jye Stevens and Matt Perry were among the home side’s best with Fandrich, while Rory Hanlon continues to impress for the Burra. Tom Eames was the visitors’ only multiple goal kicker with three.
Whittlesea, much like Macleod, continues to alternate wins and losses but got the chocolates against Thomastown at Main Street Reserve to preserve its place in the top five.
A four goal to one second term set the Eagles on a path to victory, pulling away with in the final term with another four-goal burst to keep the Bears at bay.
Eagle Angus Smith has been impressive up forward for Whittlesea, kicking eight goals in the last fortnight with four apiece against Thomastown and Lower Plenty. Bailey Robinson was judged best afield from the Eagles’ coaching staff along with Paul Higgins and Khaled El-Leissy.
Jackson Hayse, Adrian Natoli and Reuben William were the standouts for the home side and Jake Nikolov kicked three goals, but the Bears remain in ninth spot for now and face a tough assignment when they host Northcote Park this coming Saturday.
