NFL 2018: Thomastown and Banyule produce upset wins to prove Division 2 premiership race is wide open

THE Northern Football League Division 2 premiership race was blown wide open on Saturday as Thomastown and Banyule proved themselves as legitimate flag contenders.

Dylan Chapman (left) of Thomastown contests ruck against Patrick Flynn of Lower Plenty during NFL footy: Thomastown v Lower Plenty on Saturday, August 11, 2018, in Epping, Victoria, Australia. Picture: Hamish Blair

THE Division 2 premiership race was blown wide open on Saturday as Thomastown and Banyule proved themselves as legitimate flag contenders.

The Bears came from 11 points down at three-quarter-time to defeat Lower Plenty, 15.21 (111) to 13.10 (88), while Banyule handed Eltham its first defeat of 2018.

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Diamond Creek is also not out of the finals picture, one game behind Thomastown and Banyule in fifth with two rounds remaining.

Nicholas Horman (left) charges after the ball for Thomastown. Picture: Hamish Blair.

“It has set up a really exciting, not only finish to the home and away season, but I think finals series as well,” Thomastown coach Ben Chapman said.

The Bears kicked 5.10 in a dominant last quarter to topple Lower Plenty and deny the Creekers a return to the top four.

A victory over Epping in Round 17 could be enough for Thomastown to secure its

Salvatore Mamone chases down the ball for Thomastown on Saturday. Picture: Hamish Blair

first Division 2 finals berth since 2008, unless Diamond Creek upsets Eltham.

The Bears and Creekers clash in Round 18 in a match which has loomed as a potential early elimination final for weeks.

“We have just got to keep winning,” Chapman said.

“It would be nice if we weren’t playing Round 18 in a potential elimination final, but if it pans out that way it pans out that way.”

James Rizzolio, Dylan Chapman, Nicholas Horman and Daniel Chadwick were the heroes in Saturday’s 23-point victory.

Lower Plenty turned the match on its head with a four-goal burst late in the third quarter at Main Street Reserve, but Thomastown wrested momentum early in the last term.

“We controlled the ball for the majority of the last quarter and it was in our forward 50,” Chapman said.

“We managed to bottle it up, keep it in and create multiple shots.”

Dylan Chapman (left) wins a hitout against Lower Plenty’s Patrick Flynn. Picture: Hamish Blair

Chapman said a finals appearance would be just reward for the improvement his players had shown throughout 2018.

“We haven’t played Division 2 finals since 2008,” he said.

“That would be a really big step for us.”

Banyule defeated Eltham by 28 points, Diamond Creek hammered Fitzroy Stars by 96 and Epping overcame Watsonia by 25 in other Round 16 results.

In Division 1, Whittlesea fell five points short of the upset of the season against Macleod, going down 9.20 (74) to 10.9 (69).

Bundoora denied Heidelberg a return to the top five with a 19.19 (133) to 11.8 (74) victory over Hurstbridge.

The Tigers downed Northcote Park by 60 points, putting the Cougars out of the running.

North Heidelberg will make history as the first Division 2 premier to play top-flight finals the next year after it accounted for Greensborough by seven points.

West Preston-Lakeside produced an 11.9 (75) to 8.5 (53) win over Montmorency.