Round 14 of the MC Labour Division 2 season has some games that promise to entertain, highlighted by a blockbuster 1st vs 3rd clash.
Whittlesea will travel to Coventry Oval on Saturday to take on the top of the ladder, Diamond Creek, in what could determine who finishes on top of the ladder at the end of the season.
The Eagles will be full of confidence after they defeated Macleod by 11 points last weekend, but the Creekers are also in some mighty form of their own after defeating the Old Paradians by 66 points last Saturday.
Kade Garraway had a great day out last week kicking 5 goals and being named best on and he will be looking to replicate this performance on Saturday. Carlton VFL player, Taj Logan, will also look to propel the Creekers into a winning position this week.
Eagles ruckman Khaled El-Leissy was dominant last week against the Roos and will need to be at his best to give first use to his midfielders as they look to jump over the Creekers and become the ladder leaders.
Eagles forward Paul Higgins has had an outstanding last two weeks, kicking seven goals and providing plenty of presence in attack.
This contest is set to be one of the matches of the season and is set to shape the finals. In a genuine 50/50 contest it is anybody’s game, and impossible to tip as both sides are in devastating form.
Northcote Park will travel to De Winton Park to take on Macleod who will be looking to bounce back after their first loss since round one last weekend.
Northcote Park are in some great form lately having won their three previous encounters, but this will test them.
Last time these two versed each other it was the Roos who won comfortably by 89 points. Kobe Brandt was very good that day as was Nathan Pyers.
Macleod’s Darcy Barden is easily the best forward in the competition this year and if Northcote Park are to beat the Roos, then they will need to shut him down and not let him add to his season tally of 68 goals.
Jacob Thompson is a big threat in front of goal for Northcote Park having kicked 23 goals from 9 goals so far this year.
Noah Langborne has had an outstanding first season in Cougars colours as well, being among their best players eight times already.
Ben Reddick has been just as good, but these guys will need to be at their best if they are any chance of knocking off Macleod.
It’s a special occasion for the Macleod Football Netball Club this weekend though, with two-time premiership player Justin ‘Scooter’ White set to break their senior games record.
St Mary’s welcomes Lower Plenty to Whatmough Park, with the Bears looking to snap a six-game losing streak.
Last time these two faced off against each it was all St Mary’s as they won by 105 points. If the Bears have any chance of playing finals, then this is a must win contest to keep their season alive, a loss will all but end it.
That loss to the Burra was the second in a six-game losing streak for the Bears which has seen them slip from fifth to seventh on the ladder.
Riley Alexander has been in excellent form this season leading the Bears goal kicking with 33 goals and after only kicking one goal in Lower’s loss to Northcote Park last week he will be hungry to kick a couple more this week.
Ben Smith has been dominant for the Bears having already been named in the best players nine times which is the second-best return in the competition.
For St Mary’s they enter this game having won seven of their last eight games, with their only loss in that period coming at the hands of Northcote Park.
Tane Cotter has been a standout and with his ability to hit the scoreboard it makes him a very dangerous prospect for the Bears.
Jack Cicitta sits second in the division for goals and the last time these two teams faced off he slotted a bag of 10 so he will be hoping to have another day out in front of the big sticks.
Panton Hill will make the trip to Garvey Oval this weekend as they take on Old Paradians in what should be a cracking contest.
When these two sides took on each other in round six it was an absolute thriller at A.E. Cracknell Reserve. That day the Raiders managed to get their first win in Division 2 by five points after trailing by eight points at three quarter time.
The Redbacks will take confidence into this contest after a very good outing against Watsonia last week, comfortably defeating them by 78 and it could’ve been a lot more if they were accurate in front of goal.
Riley Livingstone was very good, slotting two goals of his own in a best on ground performance, whilst Ryan Sizeland added three.
For the Raiders it was a much tougher last outing as they faced ladder leaders Diamond Creek, and they just weren’t quite up for the fight, going down by 68 points and will look to bounce back in a positive way this weekend.
In a tough day for the Raiders Kyle O’Sullivan was very good and continued his dominant season being named in the best for the fifth time in six games this season.
Lachie Kerr was also very good up forward kicking 3 out of the Raiders six goals. Anthony Cafari has also been named in the best the last two weeks and will hope to keep his consistent run of form going this weekend.
Thomastown will take on Watsonia at Binnak Park as they look to win their first game since June 21.
Watsonia have only won the one game this year, but they would feel like this game is gettable especially given the fact that they play at their home ground.
The Bears are not to be taken lightly though as they will be wanting to get back on the winners list after a form slump over the past couple of weeks.
Ethan Lowe has had another strong year for the Saints, bagging 25 goals and being named in the best six times.
But it hasn’t just been a one man show, and he has had great support from Josh Boulton, Luke Whyte and Ben Callaghan, who have also frequently been named in the best players.
James Lucente is the Bears biggest threat up forward and has kicked 25 goals up to this date and slotted 6 goals last time both these teams met so the Saints will be on high watch.
Youseph Dib has had a phenomenal season being named in the best seven times, but Kyle Green has also been excellent kicking 19 goals and being in the best 6 times.
Both teams won’t play finals so they will be looking to continue to play positive footy and take momentum into season 2026.
