After a dramatic opening week to the 2024 MC Labour Division 2 finals series, this weekend’s pair of games promises to be just as entertaining.
Whittlesea and South Morang find themselves just one win away from a Grand Final berth and will meet in an enthralling second semi-final on Saturday.
Claiming the minor premiership and securing the week off, the Eagles will be primed to attack the rest of the finals campaign, as they look for their fifth Division 2 premiership since 2010.
Garry Ramsay’s men can have played impactful roles all over the ground. Their midfield has been excellent in 2024, with Taidgh Bland and Xavier Dimasi leading the charge with some brilliant performances in that area of the ground; their ball winning ability will need to come into play to ensure their opposition don’t build momentum at stoppages.
Mitchell Andrews is another to watch for Whittlesea, having been named in his side’s best in his last six consecutive games. He has also done so in both meetings against South Morang this season.
Despite conceding under 55 points a match on average this season, the Eagles will need to up their defensive game against the number one scoring side in the competition, although they will take confidence knowing they were responsible for two of the Lions’ three lowest scores in this year’s campaign.
But Gary Hall’s men will still be coming off the exhilaration that comes with an extra time finals win, which they achieved over Diamond Creek in last Saturday’s qualifying final.
The players they brought into last week’s lineup were arguably the difference in the triumph.
Joshua D’Intinosante booted five majors and has now kicked 19 goals in Lions colours in 2024, despite Saturday being just his fourth appearance. Liam Jolly finished as his side’s best after coming in for the injured Nathan Stefanile and impressing in the ruck, meanwhile Deacon Kalpakis linked up well with his brother Mitchell to take multiple intercept marks in defence.
Tye Hall and Tyrone Leonardis were others to stand tall after coming back into the squad last week, while Joshua Lansfield registered multiple goals for the seventh time this season.
If they are to defeat the Eagles for the first time Round 4, 2007, they will lock in their first ever Division 2 senior men’s Grand Final, an outstanding achievement in the history of the club.
But Whittlesea have been the most dominant side all season and will be eager to return to the Division 2 decider with their 18th victory of the year.
Diamond Creek will look to put last week’s loss behind them when they tackle an in-form Lower Plenty side in Sunday’s first semi-final.
After trailing by 18 points at the main break, the Creekers did well to bring the margin back to two points at three quarter time. But despite hitting the lead early in the last quarter, they couldn’t get past South Morang and fell short by six points.
Their finals record since 2023 has moved to 3-4 as a result, but still have an opportunity to bounce back this weekend.
Two players that were critical in keeping Diamond Creek in the hunt during that second half were Jacob Booth and Ben Major.
Booth was terrific in the contest and was able to create clearances from tight spaces, while Major was influential as a target both inside 50 and further up the ground. The duo also hit the scoreboard and kicked two goals apiece in the second half to almost get last year’s minor premiers over the line.
But it didn’t go the way of Andrew Tranquilli’s men, highlighted by the fact the number one defensive side in the competition conceded their highest total since Round 8.
Despite this, the likes of Jack Empey and Joel Randall both stood out in the defensive end for Diamond Creek and finished in their side’s best on the weekend.
Lower Plenty come into this match having won four of their last five games, including their first senior men’s final since 2018 during last Sunday’s 44-point victory over Thomastown.
Billy Barden turned back the clock and booted six majors for the first time since 2022, while Patrick Flynn controlled the airwaves in another excellent display in ruck.
Flynn looks to be the key to the Bears’ chances of success this Sunday, if he can topple Diamond Creek big man Nicholas Barro, Lower Plenty could get the upper hand during stoppages.
The main factor against the Bears ahead of this final is recent history, having defeated Diamond Creek just once in their previous seven games, which included defeats of 41 and 42 points this season. It also included the last time these two sides met in a final, with the Creekers advancing in the 2022 first semi-final and knocking Lower Plenty out in straight sets in the process.
But with Travis Stephens’ men already exceeding the expectations of many this year, there’s no reason why they can’t produce an upset and book themselves a spot in the penultimate game of the season.
