An enthralling weekend of MC Labour Division 2 finals action is upon us as four teams battle it out to keep their premiership chances alive.
The two powerhouses of the competition will lock horns for the third time this season when Diamond Creek and Eltham meet this Saturday for the first spot in the Division 2 Grand Final.
Following one of their most successful campaigns to date in recent years, the Creekers would certainly fancy themselves as favourites in this game. They have failed to taste defeat since Round 5 and have won their last five matches by an average of 58 points, highlighting the serious momentum they’re taking into September.
Diamond Creek’s defensive game will likely be on show again this weekend, they have still failed to concede 10 or more goals to any opposition in 2023. It’s been an effort led by the likes of Ryan Donaldson, Billy Bedford, Nathan Searl and Joel Randall just to name a few.
They’ve also had some impressive contributors at other ends of the ground. That includes their ruckman Nicholas Barro who has been named in his side’s best in 12 of 18 games in 2023.
Up forward, no team has scored more this year and while they do have players in the side that can take the game by the scruff of its neck, they have been able to find multiple avenues to goal with 11 players kicking 10 or majors in 2023.
They will still find themselves with a big test this weekend as they face an Eltham team who are arguably in the best form they’ve been in all season.
The Panthers have won four consecutive games by 60 points or more which included an enormous Qualifying Final victory over St Mary’s last weekend.
It was a match that saw their stars shine such as Finnbar Maley, who has been a revelation for the side since returning from VFL duties. He has been named as his side’s best player for two straight weeks and has also produced four majors in the same period.
He will form a dynamic ruck duo with Tom Goodwin who continues to impress in recent week, making their battle with Nicholas Barro even more mouthwatering.
Jesse Donaldson has missed his side’s best in just three of his 13 games this year and also played a pivotal in his side’s victory last weekend alongside Ben Montanaro who has been in terrific form himself.
This will be the first final between the two sides since the 2022 preliminary final where despite the Creekers’ best efforts to continue their stellar finals run, Eltham prevailed by just seven points to reach that year’s decider.
And while there will still be a chance for either side to live out their dream with a loss on Saturday, this second semi-final should give us a good indication of who will be the team to beat in a fortnight’s time.
It’s win or go home for both St Mary’s and South Morang when they face off in a massive first semi-final encounter.
Both sides have produced some of the feel good stories of the 2023 campaign but will now need to be at their absolute best on Sunday if they’re to keep their fairytale seasons alive.
The Burra’s maiden finals appearance in MC Labour Division 2 had a far from the ideal start after going down by 78 points to the Panthers.
However, they didn’t finish in third position by luck, and will certainly be a side that can’t be discounted to get back to the peak of their powers with their second chance.
Huon MacGibbon finished as his side’s best despite the heavy defeat and will need to fire again this weekend if his side are a chance of bouncing back. Tane Cotter meanwhile was busy in the midfield again on the weekend and will aim to have his usual influence on games in Sunday’s first semi-final.
St Mary’s did have trouble filling the void that club leading goalkicker Jeremiah Antypas left in last week’s defeat. He’s missed the previous two matches, which has seen his side lose by 107 points combined.
If he doesn’t feature again this weekend, they will need some of their other prominent scorers such as Jack Cicitta and Nicholas Dean to stand up and lead the way inside 50.
For the Lions, they’ll be coming into the contest quietly confident they can keep their remarkable premiership hopes alive. They’ve won three of their last four matches and produced one of their best performances of the season in a huge elimination final win over Watsonia last week.
With no Gary Moorcroft, Joshua D’Intinosante and Liam Jolly were excellent in the attacking half, combining for 11 majors in the big victory and even if Moorcroft doesn’t appear again this weekend, the duo can be relied on to create plenty of scoreboard pressure.
Tye Hall has also been in scintillating form lately, with his influence in the midfield and up forward hard to ignore. He’s been named in his side’s best in six of his last seven games and scored goals in four of his last five matches.
Nathan Stefanile will too be crucial if Gary Hall’s men are to win a second final in 2023. He is in the running to the Team of the Year ruckman with his excellent performances this year and if he has his way in the ruck this week, it will be tough to slow down the Lions.
Both sides took one victory from each other this season, but it’s the two teams’ first finals meeting since the 2016 Division 3 first semi-final, which saw the Lions come from behind at three quarter time to prevail by nine points.
With so much at stake again this time around, we could see another close contest on Sunday.
