Two blockbuster clashes headline another intriguing weekend of football, as the heavyweights of MC Labour Division 2 fight for early supremacy.
Eltham will be looking to knock off the only undefeated side in the competition when it hosts Banyule in a mouth-watering contest at Eltham Central Oval.
The Panthers had to fight tooth-and-nail for an important win last Saturday, when they ground past the previously undefeated Diamond Creek in a 10-point nail-biter at Coventry Oval.
The visitors lost Brent Macaffer early and trailed by 16 points during the first quarter but managed to turn things around to hold a 16-point three quarter time lead. They then held on desperately in the final term to notch their third win of the year.
Ben Montanaro was in fine form, picking up six Coaches’ MVP votes, alongside the ever-impressive Anton Woods. Alex Bellchambers and Tim Currie held up Eltham strongly during the gritty victory, while Daniel Horsfield also featured prominently.
In attack, Marc O’Regan and Daniel Jarvis led Eltham’s forward line home with two goals apiece in a low-scoring game that featured just 18 goals between both sides.
Banyule kept its perfect start to 2021 going when it accounted for the in-form St Mary’s by 37 points in the Round 4 twilight match at Beverley Rd Oval.
In a high-scoring encounter, Jack Langford dominated with an eight-goal haul that helped him the full ten Coaches’ MVP Award votes and propelled him into top place on the goal kicking table.
Patrik Della Rocca was a vital forward partner with two majors, while Brent Stanton returned in brilliant fashion in his first game of the season and Tim Martin continued his impressive form in the ruck.
Having brushed off another challenge, this week’s blockbuster provides Banyule with another critical chance to separate themselves from the pack early, with a win to confirm their status as the side to catch in 2021.
If that clash is going to be telling, then Coventry Oval will also be pumping when Diamond Creek takes on Thomastown.
The Creekers will be out for revenge after dropping their first game of the season to Eltham on the weekend in a ten-point result.
Nathan Searl was superb in trying to peg back the deficit, snagging two goals and taking home eight Coaches’ MVP Award votes. Tyler Barnes and Matthew Lewis also did heavy lifting, trying to fight back against an accurate Eltham side.
Having dropped to second spot on the ladder, Diamond Creek has a prime chance to re-align themselves on the path to a finals spot if they can knock off another contender in Thomastown – a club which has had its measure in recent years.
Thomastown lost its second game for the season in a high-scoring and entertaining encounter against Lower Plenty at Montmorency Park South Oval in Round 4. The result moved the club’s record to 3-2.
Despite being level at half-time at 71-apiece, the visitors were no match for their host during the decisive third quarter – with Lower Plenty piling on five goals to one in the term to take a commanding 25-point lead into the last change.
Todd Hughes was a shining light up forward for Thomastown and finished with a team-high four goals, while Tyrone Leonardis and Daniel Caruso again had strong games in the midfield.
Thomastown certainly has a very potent setup forward of centre but will look to be much better defensively this week if it is to come away from Coventry Oval with the crucial four points.
In a twilight clash, Lower Plenty has the chance to make it three-straight wins when it travels to Watsonia.
The Saints will have their tails up after breaking through for their maiden win in 2021 last week, kicking away to a high-scoring 25-point victory against the Fitzroy Stars at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
Jacob Pickett was outstanding with four goals and nine Coaches’ MVP Award votes, with his forward partner and former Greensborough teammate Jesse Presser also slotting four majors. Adrian Saccuzzo was excellent, while Kobe Van Zwienen again featured among the best.
Watsonia will feel the result was well overdue having succumbed to nail-biting losses in the opening two rounds and pushing Banyule for much of their Round 3 encounter. As such, the Saints will take confidence out of their opening month, despite the 1-3 record.
But to win two on the trot they have to disturb Lower Plenty’s building momentum, with Ben Turner’s side hitting the ground running in their return to second division.
Lower claimed another important scalp last Saturday when they put through 21 goals against Thomastown in a top-five encounter that lived up to expectation. The result gave them back-to-back wins against strong premiership challengers in the space of seven days.
Darcy Barden entered the 2021 season with the deserved reputation as one of competition’s best players, and he has confirmed that status in the opening four rounds. Last week he slammed home a bag of five goals and received the full ten Coaches’ MVP Award votes.
Corey Sleep and Jordan Sacco were pivotal in the high-scoring victory, while emerging duo Liam Riley and Joel Leslie are on the path to becoming key players for the Bears in 2021.
St Mary’s will be intent on redeeming themselves when they host Epping at Whatmough Park.
The Burra were undermanned when taking on Banyule, and after a promising start were outgunned in a seven-goal to two second term. They trailed by 33 points at the main break, with the difference hovering at that margin thereafter in the 18.11 (119) to 11.16 (82) result.
Tane Cotter has quickly made a name for himself at senior level and was by far St Mary’s best with four majors and four Coaches’ MVP Award votes. It continued a superb start to the campaign for the young star.
Ruckman Zachary Hudson and co-captain Nicholas Daisley also toiled hard against strong opposition, while Nick Dean managed to lodge multiple goals.
Epping will be disappointed by its big loss to Panton Hill at Epping Recreation Reserve, with the Blues falling to a 55-point defeat in a match they entered as favourites.
The Blues were jumped early and had conceded seven goals by the time they registered their first major. It led to their most disappointing defeat of the year and they will be looking for a response at Whatmough Park this week.
Leigh Judd was clearly Epping’s best in the heavy loss, doing everything possible to keep his side within reaching distance of Panton Hill. Adam Rose and Stefan Balassopoulos also tried hard.
Fitzroy Stars will be intent on lifting themselves off the bottom of the ladder when they host Panton Hill, in what shapes as a vital game at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
With both Watsonia and Panton Hill registering wins in Round 4, the Stars are now the only side in MC Labour Division 2 yet to notch a victory – making this week’s game so important as they look to stay in touch with the pack above.
The Stars finally unlocked their attacking potential in Round 4, registering their highest score for the year after putting through 15 majors. But a lack of defensive pressure early cost them dearly, as they ended up slipping to a 25-point loss that made it four-straight defeats.
Rivva Karpany continued his consistent form, while John Hayes was again a livewire up forward and finished with four goals – the equal-most by a Stars player in a game this season.
Panton Hill can now build momentum off the back of its first win for the season and has a golden chance to make it two-straight victories and create some real breathing space between itself and the bottom of the ladder.
Last week’s triumph – its first in second division since 2017 – came off the back of 10 changes to the side that kicked just a single goal in the loss to St Mary’s.
It was a performance full of character given the Redbacks were on the receiving end of consecutive big defeats heading in and will inspire a foundation that the club can now build on going forward.
John Pritchard was at his best against the Blues, raking in nine Coaches’ MVP Award votes and nailing two majors in the big win. Brent Ryan, Sam Parks and Jake Maher were also instrumental in the victory.
With some key players still to return to the senior line-up, the Redbacks’ fortunes are looking up ahead of this week’s important fixture.
