Things are getting serious in MC Labour Division 2 as games start to have more riding on them than just four points.
For teams fifth through tenth there are still genuine season-defining moves that can be made on the ladder. Fitzroy Stars and Lower Plenty are jostling for fifth with only five percent separating them, Macleod and Whittlesea will need to treat every game from here like an elimination final if they’re to close the gap on the Stars and Bears.
That’s before looking at the relegation battle which is still very much on between Thomastown and Panton Hill with both sides having tricky five-game stretches to finish the home and away schedule.
Two sides very much in the finals mix in 2026 will meet at Whatmough Park for the NFNL Match of the Day when St Mary’s hosts Old Paradians.
The Burra are the form side in Division 2 at the moment, currently on a six-game winning streak. That run has been thanks largely to their top end players – Ty Kitchell and Dom Akuei being available from VFL duties gives St Mary’s a huge boost at the top end of their list and skipper Tane Cotter, Will Dean and Josh Carelli be also enjoying strong individual seasons.
St Marys’ ability to deliver a high volume of inside 50s to their forwards to create marking opportunities has served them well and will be a key factor on what will likely be a rare dry winters day for football.
Old Paradians similarly boast a suite of top-end players capable of leading the charge on any given day and it’s been a key reason behind them sitting fourth on the table.
Connor McDonald has been a revelation in his first full season at the club and has consistently given his on-ball brigade of Kyle O’Sullivan, Mitch Kane and Josh Iacobaccio first use along with generating plenty of his own clearance work. The Raiders’ can spread the load in attack with Michael Boundy, Lachie Kerr and Liam McVeigh all dangerous around goal.
The stats on both teams make for interesting reading – Old Paradians lead the competition in hard ball gets and St Mary’s lead the way in loose ball gets. It will be fascinating to see how those two styles match up.
While finals are still several weeks away, the clash between Macleod and Fitzroy Stars will have a finals-like feel to it with the Kangaroos needing to make every post a winner if they’re to be a top five factor.
Macleod were never in the hunt against Thomastown after being outplayed in the first term by the Bears, but they have enough weapons to worry any team on their best day. Darcy Barden’s 42 goals continue to stamp him as a premier key forward in this competition and Kobe Brandt is always dangerous with ball in hand. Premier Data ranks the Roos above average in contested possession, clearances, inside fifties and tackles and they’ll need to bring those this week to knock over the Stars.
One huge omission they’ll need to cover this week is Mackenzie Hogg, who’s been an absolute standout for Macleod and will be missed both in the midfield and up forward.
The Stars would have been disappointed to drop a second game in as many weeks at home last weekend against Whittlesea, but like Macleod can take it up to every side in Division 2 on their day. They’ll be boosted with the return of several key players, with Ethan Penrith and Patrick Farrant among them.
Kain Proctor and Thomas Clarke lead the Stars midfield, both averaging 23 disposals a game this year. Generating enough scores has been a thorn in the Stars’ side however, so they’ll be relying on their defence to limit the damage and create enough opportunities in their own attacking arc if they’re to get the points here.
Lower Plenty and Northcote Park will be keen to get back onto the winners’ list after last up losses.
While the Bears regain one of their leading goal kickers in Jack Madgen, they’ll be without the services of leading goalkicker Jack Chubb who is among the omissions this week.
But Lower has proven to be one of the competition’s most even sides, led by their midfield brigade which ranks elite at stoppages and is an area they’ll need to win against the Cougars, who boast an impressive midfield roster of their own. Jordan and Matthew Perry, James McArdle and Tighe O’Brien have been key factors in Northcote Park’s success so far this season. Michael and Leo Amad can cause opposition defenders more than a few headaches and will need to cover the omission of goal kicker Ricky Fandrich who booted three last week against South Morang.
A dry day should give those in attendance an opportunity to watch both sides at full tilt.
Whittlesea has a real opportunity to show they’re still in the 2026 finals mix, hosting Panton Hill this weekend before Thomastown the week after. Although ladder positions have meant little in Division 2, the Eagles will have bookmarked these games as must-win fixtures against the bottom two sides.
They’ll also be looking to finish the tenure of senior coach Garry Ramsay in style, with the club announcing this week that Andrew Fairchild will be taking the coaching reins in 2027.
Thomas Falls has been a standout for Whittlesea in recent times earning 18 Coaches MVP votes in the last three weeks and they’ll be relying on him for another standout performance here. Bailey Robinson, Zane Anderson and Deakin Tennant have also been regulars among the Eagles’ better players – all averaging more than 20 disposals apiece.
For Panton Hill this is a chance to respond after being held goalless last week against Old Paradians. The Redbacks could only muster five behinds for the day, but their best football has been more than competitive this season, and they’ll know that recapturing that form could earn them four points here.
One of the standout battles for the afternoon will surely be the talls of the Redbacks – Oliver and Nicholas Parks in particular – going head-to-head with Eagles ruckman Khaled El-Leissy. Whichever ruck can provide first use to his midfield may prove decisive.
South Morang and Thomastown round out the weekend’s action at Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve and the Lions will be on red alert for a Bears side that showed its full potential last week in an impressive win over Macleod.
South Morang had to do it the hard way against Northcote Park last week, storming home in the final term to win a game that was back and forth all day. Big days from ruckman Nathan Stefanile and Carter McCall were the catalysts for that result and the Lions return to the comforts of home tomorrow where they boast a 5-1 record in 2026.
Thomastown will be eager to maintain the level they displayed last week and it was no surprise to see leaders Anthony Capeci, Lawrence Lo Piccolo, Michael Tobacco and Zain Yamak among the best players against the Kangaroos. Jake Nikolov has been in good goal kicking form and Youseph Dib can create havoc inside fifty.
The Bears will need to work hard to deny South Morang time in possession – the gap in averages between both sides for disposals per game is significant, so Thomastown will need to win its share of footy on the day if they’re to take this game deep.
Any wins Thomastown can bank from here also stave off the possibility of relegation which would still be in the back of players, coaches and supporters’ minds alike.
