The top five teams of MC Labour Division 2 will be looking to solidify their position on the ladder as the midway point of the season approaches.
It’s set to be another big test for Northcote Park this weekend when they play Macleod at Bill Lawry Oval.
So far Anthony Palmer’s team haven’t passed their two most recent tests, going down to St Mary’s and Diamond Creek respectively in the past fortnight.
The result has seen them slip outside of the top five, sitting percentage behind the Burra and Lower Plenty. Matt Perry continues to perform at a high level in midfield alongside Ben Reddick and Samuel Amad.
They return home to face their third consecutive top five opponent and a second consecutive opponent sitting inside the top two in Macleod.
Nick Lynch’s men moved a game clear in second on the Division 2 table after defeating Whittlesea by 29 points at home.
Justin White played a key role in defence, collecting the perfect 10 Coaches MVP votes. Coaches MVP Leader and Leading Goalkicker Darcy Barden kicked two goals to make it 37 for the season.
Macleod will meet the Cougars for the first time since they both in the topflight in 2022.
That year the Cougars won both games against the Roos, winning by four points at De Winton Park and by 47 points at Saturday’s venue.
Both St Mary’s and Old Paradians will look to make it three wins in a row when they meet at Whatmough Park.
The Burra have started to re-find their groove in recent weeks, picking up victories against Northcote Park away and Thomastown at home.
Those victories now see them sit in fourth on the Division 2 table, sitting only a game behind third-placed Whittlesea who have a weaker percentage than the Burra.
Last weekend against the Bears Tane Cotter and Huon MacGibbon excelled, with Cotter kicking three goals alongside Connor Kissane.
Jack Bianchin’s side now faces an unknown quantity in Old Paradians who have started to find their feet at the Division 2 level.
The Raiders made it back-to-back wins last round with a heart stopping one-point victory over Watsonia at the Garvey Oval.
Luke Joycey had his best game of the season that game while Darcy Vallance and Kyle O’Sullivan continued their good season.
Their defence the last two weeks has been particularly strong, conceding an average 54.5 points in their two wins.
It’ll need to be strong again this weekend in their first meeting against a Burra outfit that has the third best attack in Division 2.
Whittlesea returns to the Whittlesea Showgrounds this weekend to face Panton Hill.
After winning their opening five games the Eagles have now lost their last two against Diamond Creek at home and Macleod away.
Last weekend against the Roos they failed to take advantage of their opportunities, kicking 8.15 on the day. Lachlan Shinn-Mahony still performed well on return alongside Thomas Falls.
Garry Ramsay’s men now face a bottom five side for the first time since their Round 5 victory over Thomastown away.
Panton Hill haven’t been in the greatest form recently having now lost four in a row against Northcote Park, Macleod, Old Paradians and Lower Plenty.
Riley Livingstone and Nicholas Parks performed well in the Redbacks loss to the Bears while Brayden Callaway had one of his better games of the season.
Simon Amore’s side failed to secure the four points in both their meetings against Whittlesea last season.
In those two meetings the Redbacks kicked a combined 11 goals and lost by an average margin of 33 points.
A tough stretch of games for Watsonia begins this weekend when they host Lower Plenty at Binnak Park.
Anthony McGregor’s side are now set to face the top five sides of Division 2 across the next five rounds after playing two of the bottom three teams in the past fortnight.
They failed to secure the four points in their meetings with Thomastown and Old Paradians which sees them remain the only winless side of the division.
Ben Callaghan had one of his best performances of the season alongside Nick Lawson in the Saints heartbreaking loss to the Raiders. Daniel Annetta also stood out after a quiet fortnight.
Watsonia is set to face a Lower Plenty side that’ll be filled with some confidence having three of their last four games against sides below them.
Hudson Young and Joshua Turner were excellent in defence while Jasper Collins was also solid in the Bears 34-point victory over Panton Hill at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
They’ll go into this weekend confident having defeated the Saints by 38 points in their most recent meeting at Saturday’s venue.
However the Saints did secure two points against Lower Plenty last season, drawing with them in their Round 8 encounter at Montmorency Park South Oval.
Thomastown faces a formidable challenge this weekend when they welcome Diamond Creek to Main Street Recreation Reserve.
David Folino and Sash Spiroski’s squad has started to lift over the past few weekends but still have just the one win to their name in season 2025.
Luca Gioskos stood out for the Bears in their loss last round to St Mary’s while Makhoul Zakkour increased his goalkicking to 11 in seven matches after kicking a bag of three.
It doesn’t get any easier for Thomastown who face a Diamond Creek outfit that continue to set the standard in Division 2.
The Creekers kept Northcote Park to just 11 scoring last weekend, with Ewan MacPherson (10 Coaches MVP Votes) and Jacob Booth performing exceptionally in the 89-point win.
Diamond Creek won both meetings between the two sides last year and have yet to lose a game against the Bears since Round 10 of the shortened 2021 season.
