BUNDOORA, VIC. (NFNL HQ). — The Northern Football Netball League’s Division 2 season continues to throw curveball after curveball, with still no clear picture of which side is the premiership favourite.
In a week where every ladder position was up for grabs, and all teams could have moved up or down, only two teams altered their pre-round spots – Macleod moved to eighth and Whittlesea to seventh.
Remarkably, outside of the top two sides Northcote Park and St Mary’s, all other teams are now on different amounts of premiership points, which is sure to make predicting the top five over the last month of the season a bit of a challenge.
Macleod dropping to eighth spot was caused by a thrilling draw against Fitzroy Stars at De Winton Reserve. The Kangaroos would have been keen to respond after a loss to Thomastown the week prior and after trailing by two points at quarter time, kicked five goals to one to lead by 22 at the main break.
The Stars were able to trim the lead slightly in the third but still trailed by 17 points at the last change and required a lift in the final term. They took another gear, kicking six goals for the term and when Patrick Farrant rolled him his fifth major for the day at the 28-minute mark, the Stars were six points in front.
But after a free kick at the top of Macleod’s attacking arc, Kurt Manuel had the result on his boot, going back to duly convert his long-range set shot from inside the centre square to level the scores. The Roos had the chance to win it, Manuel winning the following centre clearance to send the ball inside fifty with only seconds remaining. The Stars defenders were able to diffuse the marking opportunity, and the siren sounded as the ball hit the deck, leaving both sides unfulfilled and sharing the points.
Farrant (22 disposals, eleven marks and five goals) was the standout along with captain Kain Proctor, who had 32 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal despite constant attention and by-play with his Macleod opponents throughout the afternoon.
Darcy Barden’s six goals from 21 disposals were pivotal for Macleod and Zac Hudson was busy throughout the day with 21 disposals of his own to go with eight clearances and two goals.
Thomastown caused the upset of the weekend in Division 2 with a stirring ten-point win over South Morang in a result which could have major ramifications on the relegation battle.
The Bears led for most of the afternoon at Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve, defending grimly in the final term which saw just three goals kicked to hand South Morang its fifth loss of the season and slip a game behind the top two.
Milad Almatrah (31 disposals) and Zain Yamak (29 disposals, three goals) were instrumental in the win for Thomastown, along with Lawrence Lo Piccolo, Reuben William and Anthony Capeci.
The win puts them a game and percentage clear of Panton Hill and with a tough fixture to come in the last month of the season, the Bears could well be the wild card in the competition and set out to cause some havoc for the top five teams if they continue this rich vein of form.
St Mary’s made it seven wins in a row in the NFNL Match of the Day against Old Paradians with an 18-point win. The Burra had most of the play in the opening stages but couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard, heading to quarter time with 2.3 to show for their efforts to the Raiders’ efficient three goals straight.
The home side clicked into gear in the second terms however, booting four goals and keeping Old Paradians goalless to head to half time 22 points in front. The work of ruckman Huon Macgibbon was proving decisive following the late out of Raiders’ gun Connor McDonald, which allowed the Burra big man to drop back and help his defenders when needed.
Three goals to two in the Burra’s favour had the game well on their terms at three-quarter time and it was going to take something special for Old Parade to come from behind to get the four points. They began to move the ball quicker than they had earlier in the day and it paid dividends, with three goals in the first nine minutes of the final term cutting the margin to 15 points and gave the visitors some belief. They would be left to rue some missed opportunities however with 3.6 to show for their dominance in the final term and a second goal to St Marys’ Joseph Maggio at the 22-minute mark shut the door on the result.
It was a thoroughly even team effort from the Burra – Brayden Apostola was busy through the day in the front half and earned the plaudits of his coaches, Macgibbon and Ty Kitchell (23 disposals, two goals) were excellent in the middle of the ground and Harry Butterworth added another couple of goals to his season tally.
For Old Parade while they don’t come away with the points there’s certainly some continued scope for improvement in the last month of the season – Kyle O’Sullivan went head-to-head with Kitchell for most of the day and found plenty of his own ball, Josh Iacobaccio was slick with ball in hand and Rufus Jones had a real impact, kicking and couple of goals and helping spark his side with a stint in the ruck early in the final term. Billy Bedford’s game down back also caught the eye, setting up several forward thrusts with aggressive ball use.
Northcote Park maintained its standing on top of the table with a 27-point win over Lower Plenty. The Cougars’ win was set up with five goals to one in the first term, and they were never headed from then on as they chalked up win number ten for the season.
The spread of the Cougars’ forward line functioned well – Michael Amad booted four majors, Nathan Perry kicked three, and Nathan Perry, Leo Amad and Damon Marcon chipped in with two apiece. Alastair Punshon and Jordan Perry were also given nods in the best players.
For the Bears, Jack Madgen booted four goals from 22 disposals on return to the line up in a best on ground performance and Tyler Wallace kicked three. Jordan Smith found plenty of the footy with 30 disposals and eight clearances through the midfield. While the loss leaves Lower in sixth, they’re only a game behind Old Paradians in fourth with Fitzroy Stars two points ahead in fifth.
Whittlesea capped off the round with a win over Panton Hill, kicking away in the final term to win by 38 points after the scores had been even for most of the day.
After not kicking a goal the previous week, the Redbacks found their radar in the first term, kicking four goals to lead the Eagles by a straight kick at quarter time. Both sides were evenly matched in the second term, and with Whittlesea leading by two points at the main break it would be a frenetic second half to decide the winner.
The home side found its groove in the second half – eleven goals to Whittlesea to Panton Hill’s five was the difference, including six goals to two in the final term to push a 13-point three-quarter time lead to the final margin of 38 points.
Bailey Robinson continued his outstanding season with best on ground honours following 22 disposals and a goal, but he was well supported with strong games from Mitchell Andrews (26 disposals), Deakin Tennant (25 disposals) and Liam Tyrell (21 disposals). Riley Powell and Angus Smith kicked three apiece for the winners.
For Panton Hill, Ben Donohue did a power of work behind the ball with 19 disposals and six rebound 50s, as did Riley Livingstone with 21 disposals, eight marks and seven rebound 50s. Thomas Blake had a good day in front of goal with three majors and Austin Dillon had 19 touches and two goals to his name.
Whittlesea will want to keep the momentum going when it hosts Thomastown next weekend, while Panton Hill will host Fitzroy Stars.
