A huge top-five battle headlines another exciting weekend of Northern Football Netball League Division 2 action as the midway point of the 2023 season approaches.
Third-placed South Morang travel to A.E. Cracknell Reserve to face fourth-placed Panton Hill, as both sides look to keep their recent unbeaten runs intact.
The Redbacks are on the hunt for their sixth straight game without loss while the Lions will look to secure a fourth consecutive win.
Panton Hill’s most recent encounter saw them put on the afterburners following a three-point deficit at quarter time, kicking 19 goals to five after the first change to win by 85 points.
Six majors from Oliver Parks capped off a terrific five-week spell, having been named in his side’s best in all five matches after Round 3.
Forward Matthew Duckworth is also producing an underrated 2023 campaign, following another five majors a fortnight ago. His 2023 tally sits at 18, having scored in every game he’s played this year, and is equal to fifth in the competition-leading goalkicker charts.
Their Saturday opponents in South Morang have proven to be almost unstoppable since their Round 5 defeat to Eltham, winning their last three games by an average of just over 50 points, which included a 94-point thrashing of Lower Plenty a fortnight ago.
Gary Moorcroft wound back the clock, kicking 10 majors to make it 20 for the season in just four games.
Tye Hall continues to shine for South Morang and was again a standout for his side in their victory over the Bears. The performance was the fifth time in eight games he was named in his side’s best.
This will be the first meeting between these two sides since the 2019 Division 3 Grand Final, where a determined Panton Hill outfit claimed a 40-point win over the Lions.
The stakes certainly aren’t as high this time around, but this clash still looms as an eight-point battle between two teams aiming to further stamp their claim as a finals contender this year.
After two consecutive defeats, Northcote Park are in a vulnerable position to lose their spot in the top five ahead of their clash with Watsonia at Bill Lawry Oval.
Four points separate these two sides on the ladder; however, the Saints sit in eighth spot, highlighting just how close the Division 2 competition is shaping up to be.
The bye has no doubt come at an important time for the Cougars who despite some promising performances in the early stages of the season, have struggled to compete with South Morang and Eltham in the last two games, scoring an average of just 43 points in those matches.
They have the third worst points total as a result, behind the bottom two sides in Epping and Lower Plenty, but Stephen Saddington has seen consistent efforts from the likes of captain Matthew Perry as well as Alastair Punshon.
Watsonia has struggled just as much in recent weeks as a Round 5 triumph over Epping has proven to be their only victory since their scintillating opening fortnight in the competition.
They couldn’t keep up with Diamond Creek in their previous outing, scoring just nine goals for a second straight game to go down by 59 points.
Despite conceding the third most points in the competition to date, performances from Joshua Boulton and Harrison Sinclair have been impressive.
Competition-leading goalkicker James Lucente has also proven to be a crucial source of goals for George Lattouf’s men, having kicked 19 majors in his last four games to take his 2023 tally to 27.
This will be a historic encounter for these two sides, having last faced each other back in Division 2 in 1994, but that doesn’t take away from the complications this result may have on both sides’ finals aspirations this season.
Thomastown will be desperate to get out of their form slump when they host Diamond Creek at Main Street Recreation Reserve.
The Bears are another side who would have welcomed the bye last week, after claiming just six of a possible 16 points in their previous four games.
It’s not as dire as it was this time last season, but sitting two points away from the top five, they’ll hope to gain some consistency heading into the second half of the campaign.
Tyrone Leonardis continues to dominate for Thomastown. He’s picked up 17 Coaches MVP Award votes in the last three games to take a four-vote lead heading into Round 9.
Alongside Daniel Caruso, the duo has been vital in keeping the Bears in contests and will be looked upon again to limit a strong Diamond Creek outfit.
The Creekers may have lost their top spot, but it hasn’t taken away from their brilliant opening two months to the 2023 season.
Another powerful win a fortnight ago, this time by 59 points over Watsonia, puts them in a strong position to not only maintain a top two spot but extend the gap from the other sides in the competition as they face just one side currently in the top five (fifth placed Northcote Park) between now and Round 12.
Tyler Barnes has arguably been the best of a very good bunch, he added two further goals in their triumph over the Saints to take his tally to 11 while continuing to be at his prolific best in midfield, having been named in his side’s best in six of a possible eight games.
Andrew Tranquilli’s men ended the Bears 2022 finals run in the elimination final, winning by 22 points, and while the Creekers have been in much better form, last year’s result will be firmly placed in the back of Thomastown’s minds approaching Saturday’s clash.
St Mary’s will be hoping to build some winning momentum when they travel to Epping Recreation Reserve to face Epping.
The Burra picked up a vital victory at home a fortnight ago, defeating Thomastown by 19 points to only be out of the top five on percentage heading into Round 9.
With current top-five opponents in three of their next four games, the Burra will hope for a similar result to their last two clashes with the Blues, where they claimed 107 and 86-point wins in 2022.
St Mary’s’ depth has been tested this season, with the club having to use 41 players in their senior team throughout the opening eight games of the campaign but their work as a unit has been impressive to witness during stages of the year.
The likes of Jack Cicitta, Connor Kissane and Lachlan Read all starred in the Burra’s win over the Bears and despite not being named in the best, Huon MacGibbon produced an outstanding display, adding to his brilliant campaign to date.
Epping again performed admirably for the opening term in their most recent match against Panton Hill, before being blown away by 85 points at home.
Jordan Hollow, Luke Lirosi and Leigh Judd continue to stand out for the Blues, with their consistency playing a big role in their side’s ability to stay with their opponents in the early stages of games in 2023.
With a new coach at the helm, Epping will look to ensure they keep trending upward in their development throughout the second half of the season, in the hopes of avoiding the bottom of the ladder.
A monumental effort would be required from Lower Plenty if they’re to claim their first win of the 2023 season, as they prepare to clash with the competition ladder leaders in Eltham at Montmorency Park South Oval.
It’s been a difficult season for the Bears who have now lost their last 10 games, going back to the 2022 Qualifying Final, and they were no closer to breaking that streak in Round 8, when they suffered a 94-point loss to South Morang.
Patrick Flynn’s work in the ruck has been critical for the young Lower Plenty outfit, with his dominance around the ground limiting the damage coming the other way from their opposition in recent weeks.
Recruit Riley Alexander is their leading goalkicker with 11 majors, that’s despite playing up the ground to provide assistance in the midfield on multiple occasions, while co-captain Jordan Sacco has been named as his side’s best player in three straight matches.
Eltham comes into this clash following a commanding 44-point triumph over Northcote Park and doesn’t face a current top-five side until Round 14, giving Tim Bongetti’s men the perfect opportunity to add to their strong percentage this weekend.
Tom Goodwin will give Flynn a run for his money in the ruck, in what looks to be a mouthwatering battle.
But with Jason McCormick getting called into North Melbourne’s VFL side last week, the Panthers might be left without McCormick or Daniel Owen, who are the only two players on their side to register double-digit goal tallies in 2023.
Regardless, expect Eltham to showcase their impressive talent all afternoon as they look to seal a third straight victory.
