It’s set to be another hotly contested weekend of action in MC Labour Division 2 as teams aim to build on or recapture form this Saturday.
Northcote Park and Panton Hill are set to meet at Bill Lawry Oval this weekend in what is shaping up to be a crucial meeting for both sides.
Only one win and one place separate the Cougars and Redbacks on the table, with the winner of this game to potentially sit inside the top five by the end of the round.
Anthony Palmer’s men were at one stage sitting inside the top five but have slipped down to sixth, a positioned they’ve remained in the past few weeks.
They’ve now dropped their last five games after going down to the Old Paradians last weekend by nine points away from home.
Despite the loss Noah Langborne continued his impressive first season at Northcote Park while Damon Marcon and the returning Jacob Thompson were also serviceable.
The Cougars return to Bill Lawry Oval for the first time since Round 8 to meet a Panton Hill side who were unable to build on their impressive victory against Diamond Creek.
Despite going down by 63 points Nicholas Parks continued his brilliant run of form while Riley Cousins and Cameron Lloyd also having an impact, the latter kicking three goals.
Simon Amore’s side fell 21 points short of the Cougars in their Round 4 meeting earlier this year at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
However, the Redbacks have won at least one meeting against Northcote Park since the Cougars returned to Division 2 in 2023.
Both Lower Plenty and Diamond Creek will be eager to return to the winners list when they meet at Montmorency Park South Oval.
Travis Stephens’ side remain inside the top five by percentage despite dropping their last three games.
Their most recent loss to Thomastown came in heartbreaking scenes, losing after the siren by a point after holding an 11-point lead at three quarter time.
Mac Littlefield and Ben Smith fought tooth and nail in the loss while Riley Alexander kicked four of the Bears nine goals to make it 23 for the season.
They now face a Diamond Creek outfit that has now slipped down to second place after going down by a combined 10 points to Panton Hill and Macleod in their past two games.
Jacob Booth was at his brilliant best in the Creekers loss to the Roos last weekend alongside reigning Division 1 U19 B&F winner Connor Lidgerwood.
Ben Major and Bronson Hill also proved to be major threats in attack, kicking five of the Creekers eight goals last weekend.
Andrew Trainquilli’s men have won their last seven games against Lower Plenty dating back to 2022.
In that period, they’ve won by an average margin of 73.1 points and have only conceded 36.3 points per game against the Bears.
Macleod will be looking to add a 10th win on the board in season 2025 when they welcome Thomastown to De Winton Park.
Nick Lynch’s men have now defeated every side in Division 2 and sit a game clear atop the table after their victory at Diamond Creek last Saturday.
Darcy Barden was yet again the difference, kicking seven goals, including five in the first 11 minutes of the second term, and claiming another 10 Coaches MVP votes.
Kurt Manuel was also superb in midfield alongside Mackenzie Hogg while Kobe Brandt had a solid game in defence.
They return home to face a Thomastown side that will be coming in off a high having won after the siren against their fellow Bears last weekend.
VFL-listed midfielder Deakyn Smith was brilliant alongside matchwinner Kyle Green who kicked four goals and claimed seven coaches votes.
Sean Culhane and Youseph Dib also had impressive performances, with Dib claiming nine coaches votes over the past two weekends.
Their early season meeting saw the Roos kickstart their nine-game winning streak with an 86-point win over the Bears at Main Street.
That day the Roos kicked nine goals to one in the opening term while Barden kicked nine goals himself.
Whittlesea returns to the Whittlesea Showgrounds looking to build on a strong run of recent form against an ever-improving Old Paradians outfit.
The Eagles have now won their last three games against Panton Hill, Northcote Park and Watsonia and sit equal on points with Diamond Creek.
In their 122-point win against the Saints six players kicked two or more goals, led by Lucas Hobbs’ five and Jack Taylor’s four goal haul.
Taidgh Bland was at his sublime best alongside Liam Tyrrell, with the former collecting the perfect 10 coaches votes for the first time this season.
Garry Ramsay’s men will look to maintain their unbeaten record against sides sitting fourth or lower this weekend.
Old Paradians won’t be easy beats though having returned to the winners list last weekend against Northcote Park.
Billy Bedford and Marcus Nolan led from the front in the victory while Lewis Franz and Michael Boundy, who kicked two goals, also impressed.
The Raiders first meeting with the Eagles was their first ever match in Division 2, going down by 47 points that day at the Garvey Oval.
St Mary’s will look to continue build on a terrific run of recent form when they welcome Watsonia to Whatmough Park.
Jack Bianchin’s squad have been humming over the past few weeks and have now won five on the trot to be three games and percentage clear of fifth-placed Lower Plenty.
Rory Hanlon and Tane Cotter continued their stellar seasons in the Burra’s win over Panton Hill last weekend while Hayden Bickerton kicked a career-high six goals.
They meet a Watsonia side sitting at the foot of the Division 2 table, two games behind ninth-placed Old Paradians and with only one win to their name this season.
Joshua Boulton fought gallantly all day in the Saints loss to Whittlesea last weekend. That game they only produced five scoring shots and kicked three goals.
In Round 1 they went down to the Burra by 85 points at Binnak Park, with Jack Cicitta kicking five goals whilst Hanlon kicked four and claimed nine coaches votes.
