As the home-and-away season reaches its conclusion, the 2025 MC Labour Division 2 competition finds itself at an intriguing stage. The finals are locked in, but the stakes remain high for every club.
For the top contenders, round 18 presents a crucial opportunity to fine-tune structures, build confidence, and carry momentum into September.
Meanwhile, those outside the finals race are chasing one last win to reward the year’s efforts and give fans a final reason to cheer.
Northcote Park hosts Whittlesea at Bill Lawry Oval as both sides look to enter finals full of momentum.
The Cougars have already secured a finals berth but enter off the back of a heavy 86-point loss to Diamond Creek — a result they’ll want to quickly put behind them.
They’ll be looking to produce a competitive four-quarter performance to boost confidence ahead of their elimination final against St Mary’s.
For Whittlesea, the equation is simple: keep winning to carry form into the finals. The Eagles have already locked in the double chance and come into this fixture with plenty of belief.
Jaron Murphy was sensational last week, kicking four goals in a best-on-ground effort. Murphy’s season tally now sits at 29 majors, supported by consistent contributions from Taidhg Bland, Mitchell Andrews, Thomas Falls, and Harley Fraumano.
Northcote Park will need big performances from their own stars, with Ben Reddick and ruckman Lorne Waldron standing tall in last week’s loss. A win here would send a strong message to the competition that the Cougars can challenge the league’s best.
Anthony Palmer’s men went down by a convincing 54-point margin in their first meeting of the season against the Eagles at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
In a 6th versus 7th battle, Lower Plenty will host Panton Hill at Montmorency Park South Oval in what promises to be a spirited contest.
While neither side will feature in September, both will be eager to end their season on a high.
When these teams last met, it was the Bears who emerged 34-point victors, thanks largely to a best-on-ground performance from Joshua Turner.
Lower Plenty will be aiming for a repeat effort, with Ciaran Porter expected to play a pivotal role again.
Porter has been a model of consistency in 2025, while forward Riley Alexander will be looking to cap off an excellent season.
Alexander enters the round with 44 goals, sitting third in the league’s goal-kicking table — a remarkable feat given Lower Plenty has managed just six wins to date.
For the Redbacks, Oliver Parks has been their go-to option in front of goal with 19 majors, but his impact goes beyond scoring — he’s been named in the best players in eight of his 17 games.
Nicholas Parks has been even more consistent, earning best-player honours 10 times.
Both will need to be at their best if Panton Hill are to reverse the Round 9 result and finish their campaign with a win.
At Garvey Oval, St Mary’s travel full of confidence following a statement 41-point win over Macleod. With finals just a week away, the Burra will be aiming to maintain their momentum against eighth-placed Old Paradians.
Jack Cicitta continued his standout season last week, booting four goals, while debutant Harrison Karvellas impressed with an identical tally on his senior debut.
Karvellas’ performance, which saw him named second-best, adds another weapon to the Burra’s already potent attack. Huon Macgibbon, however, stole the show, slotting three goals and continuing his outstanding 2025 campaign.
Old Paradians will be looking to respond after a 38-point loss to Thomastown. Anthony Cafari and Jack Nicolo were standout performers in the defeat, while Billy Bedford once again proved his reliability, registering his 12th appearance in the best players.
For the Raiders, this final round is an opportunity to finish a tough season on a positive note and build a platform for 2026.
They went down by 24 points in their first-ever encounter with the Burra at Whatmough Park back in Round 8.
Macleod’s trip to Binnak Park to face Watsonia offers both a chance for redemption and the opportunity for their captain to reach a personal milestone.
After a shock 41-point loss to St Mary’s, the Roos will be eager to bounce back strongly before heading into finals.
All eyes will be on skipper Darcy Barden, who needs eight goals to reach the 100-goal mark for the season.
The last time these two sides met, Macleod dismantled Watsonia by 79 points, with Barden kicking six.
While the Saints will be hoping to close that gap, they’ll also want to produce a performance that reflects their seasons best footy.
Ben Callaghan has been a shining light for Watsonia, named in the best players 10 times.
Teammates Josh Boulton and Luke Whyte have also been standouts, with Boulton being named in the best more than any other player across the division.
Macleod’s ability to rebound from last week’s defeat will be a key storyline here. A strong win would restore confidence ahead of their qualifying final, while Watsonia will aim to make life difficult and finish their year on a competitive note.
Diamond Creek have been the pace-setters in 2025, and their emphatic win over Northcote Park last week all but secured the minor premiership. Hosting Thomastown at Coventry Oval, the Creekers will be intent on sealing top spot and earning a valuable week’s rest ahead of finals.
Jacob Booth was brilliant against the Cougars, dominating all over the ground, while Taj Logan’s recent form surge is coming at the perfect time for the Creekers.
With their structures clicking and form peaking, Diamond Creek will be looking to keep their ruthless edge in this final tune-up.
For Thomastown it may be a tough way to finish the year this coming weekend, but they enter with some confidence after defeating Old Paradians by 38 points.
Kyle Green was outstanding in that game, kicking five goals, and will need to replicate that output if the Bears are to cause an upset.
A win for the Creekers here would lock in the minor premiership and mark them as the clear team to beat heading into September.
Andrew Tranquili’s men came away with a 76-point victory in their Round 8 meeting with Thomastown, kicking 17.20 that day whilst keeping the Bears to 11 scoring shots.
From the fight for the minor premiership to milestone chasers like Barden, there’s no shortage of storylines to follow. Expect a round filled with intensity, pride, and perhaps even a few surprises as the curtain falls on the 2025 home-and-away season.
