Round 9 of MC Labour Division 2 football was packed full of upsets and remarkable wins.
St Mary’s produced a remarkable comeback at Whatmough Park, overturning a 12 point halftime deficit to claim an impressive victory over the Fitzroy Stars.
After a sluggish first half, the Burra emerged from the main break with renewed intensity, dominating the second half to build a commanding 30-point lead at the final break.
Key contributors to St Mary’s turnaround included Ty Kitchell, Rory Hanlon and Tane Cotter who all played significant roles across the ground.
However, it was Jack Cicitta and Harry Butterworth who stole the spotlight, combining for seven goals and provifing the firepower that drove St Mary’s to victory.
For the Stars, Ethan Penrith and Neville Jetta worked tirelessly to keep their side in the contest. Alex Williamson was their standout in front of goal, finishing with four majors, while jai Burns added two goals to the tally.
Despite the Stars efforts, St mary’s dominated second-half performance proved the difference as they secured a memorable win on the road.
Old Paradians delivered one of the surprises of the round at Garvey Oval, recording a convincing 44-point victory over Macleod.
The Paradians were outstanding across the ground, with Billy Bedford, Mitch Kane and Kyle O’Sullivan producing dominant performances and creating plenty of opportunities going inside 50.
Their strong ball movement allowed Michael Boundy to finish with three goals, while eight others also found the scoreboard in a well-rounded attacking display.
Leading by 31 points at halftime, Old Paradians continued to lift the pressure after the break, restricting Macleod to just four goals for the entire match and putting the result beyond doubt.
For the Kangaroos, Lachlan Barrett and Jaspar Howell battled hard throughout the contest and were among their side’s better performers. Despite being starved of scoring opportunities, their effort and determination never wavered.
Darcy Barden was also kept under close guard, with the dangerous forward restricted to a single goal for the game.
The comprehensive win is a significant result for Old Paradians, who left Garvey Oval with plenty of confidence after a dominant four-quarter performance.
Panton Hill sent shockwaves through the division with a remarkable 53-point victory over South Morang.
After trailing at the first break, the Redbacks responded in an emphatic fashion, taking control of the contest during the second quarter and establishing a comfortable halftime lead.
From there, their confidence continued to grow as they powered away to record one of the standout wins of the round.
Austin Dillon, Jacob Jewitt and Nicholas Parks were among the key contributors in the impressive outing. Dillon and Jewitt combined for five majors, while Panton Hill had eight other contributors to the scoreboard showcasing their depth across the ground.
For the Lions, Nathan Stefanile, Carter McCall and Liam Failla were among the side’s best performers. Despite having eight individual goal scorers and showing plenty of fight throughout the afternoon, they were unable to halt the Redback’s momentum and ultimately fell short.
Panton Hill’s ability to recover from a slow start and dominate the remainder of the match highlighted their resilience and left the competition on notice with a statement-making performance.
Lower Plenty have claimed bragging rights in the Battle of the Bears, producing the comeback of the week to defeat their rivals, Thomastown, by just five points in a thrilling contest.
The hosts in Lower Plenty faced an uphill battle all afternoon, trailing at every break before producing a stunning final-quarter surge. Their momentum in the closing stages proved the difference as they snatched victory in a dramatic fashion.
Mac Littlefield, Jack Hutchinson and Jordan Smith were among Lower Plenty’s standout performers. Hutchinson led the way in front of goal with an impressive five-goal haul, while Riley Alexander and Jed Wallace provided valuable support with two goals apiece.
For the opposition, Reuben William put together a superb performance, taking the game on and finishing with three goals. Anthony Capeci and Jack Nikolov also made important contributions with two majors each, while Mitchell Hayse and Aaron D’Angelo were influenced around the ground.
Despite trailing for most of the day, Lower Plenty’s resilience and determination shone through when it mattered most, completing a memorable comeback and securing a hard-fought five-point victory.
Northcote Park have continued their impressive form at home, defeating Whittlesea by 53 points in another commanding performance.
The Cougars were led by standout performances from Matt Perry, Samuel Amad and Alastair Punshon, who were influential throughout the contest and helped Northcote maintain control access across all four quarters.
Up forward, Michael Amad enjoyed a day out, finishing with three goals, while Nathan Perry, Leo Amad, Ricky Fandrich and Damon Marcon all chipped in with two goals apiece in a well-balanced attacking display.
Fr the Eagles, Khaled El-Leissy was a shining light and worked tirelessly around the ground. Dominant in the ruck and dangerous when pushing forward, he booted four of his side’s seven goals in a standout individual performance.
William Plain, Bailey Robinson and Deakin Tennant also battled hard and never stopped competing despite the scoreboard pressure.
Northcote’s depth and ability to spread the scoring load proved too much for the Eagles, with the Cougars securing another impressive victory in front of their home crowd.
