Check out every NFNL Division 2 club’s ins and outs and key player for 2024
Diamond Creek? Whittlesea? Or will a dark horse emerge? Check out every NFNL Division 2 club’s ins and outs, key player and our season predictions.
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Diamond Creek or Whittlesea or someone else entirely?
Recent history would suggest Diamond Creek as the past two NFNL Division 2 premiers have lost the grand final the season before.
However, the previous three times Whittlesea has been relegated it has immediately won a bounce back flag.
Or will neither streak continue?
With the likes of St Mary’s, South Morang, Thomastown and Northcote Park among the chasing pack that could very well be the case.
Check out every club’s ins and out and key player for the season ahead and our predictions.
DIAMOND CREEK
Last season: minor premier, grand final (18-0-3, 250.36%)
Coach: Andrew Tranquilli (fourth year)
Captain: Nathan Searl
Ins: Brad Moore (Heidelberg West), Bryce East, Connor Lidgerwood (Panton Hill), Brodie Driscoll (Whittlesea), Mitch Dale, Kyle Kankaanpaa (Montmorency), Ben Major (Broadbeach)
Outs: Ewen Macpherson (Brisbane Lions VFL)
Key player: Jacob Booth
The gun midfielder is back at Coventry Oval full-time this season after stepping away from VFL duties. While he was part of the Creekers’ finals campaign, a full season will benefit club and player. Only played 13 games but still finished second in the Coaches’ MVP with 70 votes.
Verdict: The Creekers have only bolstered a grand final squad over summer with quality recruits such as Moore, East, Dale, Kankaanpaa and Major. Add in Booth’s full-time return and it should hold them in very good stead. Is the flag the Creekers to lose? That would be to underestimate the competition, something Andrew Tranquilli was quick to rule out. However, it would be a major surprise if Diamond Creek isn’t at least at Preston City Oval when promotion is decided in September. Finish: 1st
LAURIMAR
Last season: 2nd, premier Division 3 (15-0-3, 230.34%)
Coach: Jimmy Atkins (fourth year)
Captain: Mitch Thompson & Luke Wilson
Ins: Matt Ryan (Whittlesea)
Outs: Brad Deed (Kilmore)
Key player: Ethan Bateman
The Division 3 Team of the Year full-back will certainly have more work to do this season than last. Bateman impressed with his intercept marking and drive in 2023 but how he – and his fellow defenders – hold up this season will be critical to the Power’s hopes.
Verdict: It’s been a very quiet off-season for the Power, which, with the club stepping up to Division 2, might have some worried. However, the club has been backing in the natural development of its young players for several years and won’t stop now. The likes of Bateman, Noah Mooney and Kaiden Arthur all made the Team of the Year last year, while Josh Leather, Bailey McLeod and Joel Lawson have cemented themselves as senior players. Add in the experience of skippers Wilson and Thompson, Aiden Clark and Nathan Andrews and Laurimar have a pretty well-rounded squad. While it may not be as spectacular as South Morang last year, expect them to consolidate this season. Finish: 9th
LOWER PLENTY
Last season: 9th (2-0-16, 46.90%)
Coach: Travis Stephens (first year)
Captain: Jordan Sacco
Ins: Billy Reardon (Woori Yallock), Mitchell Clamp, Lewis Tsourou (Preston Bullants), Nick Uzelac (Montmorency)
Outs: Mitch Skipper (Kinglake)
Key player: Ciaran Porter
Despite Lower’s struggles, Porter was having an outstanding season before injury struck. Managed just the seven games and was named in the best in four of those. Will be like a new recruit according to coach Travis Stephens.
Verdict: The Bears avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season. The win over Panton Hill was a particular highlight. A new coach and some new talent has boosted confidence but and it’s hard to see them not battling to survive again in 2024. Uzelac, Clamp and Reardon are strong ins, bolstering a stable squad. A fully fit Porter, Jon Zapantis and Rory Alexander will also be important, while the likes of Patrick Flynn, Jordan Sacco and Josh Turner are among the best in the competition. However, Lower Plenty is rebuilding and that’s hard to do and not drop. Finish: 10th
NORTHCOTE PARK
Last season: 7th (8-0-10, 98.92%)
Coach: Anthony Palmer (first year)
Captain: Matt Perry
Ins: Terence De Santis (Preston Bullants), Ethan Miller-Gaff, Caillin Kett, Ricky Fandrich (Wantirna South)
Outs: Adrian Cirianni (Epping), Dallyce Taylor (Epping), James Tadd (Epping), Alex Boyse (Daylesford), Jordan Schroder (Daylesford)
Key player: Daniel Tallariti
While the Cougars didn’t make the finals, Tallariti was a standout in defence. The star backman anchored the third best defence in Division 2 last season and was rewarded with Team of the Year honours.
Verdict: The Cougars are a bit of enigma. They could make a finals push or miss out all together – as they did last season. Anthony Palmer has picked up the coaching reins and while the outs outweigh the ins over summer, there’s still plenty of top talent at his disposal. Tallariti was Team of the Year last season, the Perry brothers, Chris Clark, Damon Marcon, Rory Patterson and the returning Fandrich are all quality players. As Palmer said before the season, the club’s defence has laid a strong foundation, now it needs to build its attack. Finish: 6th
PANTON HILL
Last season: 8th (7-1-10, 87.73%)
Coach: Simon Amore (fifth year)
Captain: Sam Parks & Scott Conte
Ins: Brad Leggett (Macleod), Kyle Marasco (Hurstbridge) Christian Roberts, Ethan Gorski (Epping), Jason Pannam (Heidelberg), Guilan Fable (Heidelberg)
Outs: Tom Keys (Heidelberg), Connor Lidgerwood (Diamond Creek), John Pritchard
Key player: Riley Livingstone
A solid first season on the hill with 37 goals in 17 matches but the Redbacks will be asking for more from their spearhead this season. Could be used further up the ground as well as back-up to Nick Parks.
Verdict: Was it too much too soon for Panton Hill last season? After a year and a full pre-season together we should get a clearer picture of what the Redbacks are capable of in 2024. Losing Keys is a massive blow but off-set by the arrival of Leggett, Gorski, Pannam and Fable, while Roberts could be a sneaky good get after time out. With the likes of the Parks brothers, Charlie Cleary, Riley Livingstone and Josh Callaway, Panton Hill can challenge just about anyone on their day. Until we see more though we’ve been conservative in our prediction. Finish: 8th
SOUTH MORANG
Last season: 4th, semi-final (11-0-9, 111.10%)
Coach: Gary Hall (eighth year)
Captain: TBA
Ins: Kobe van Zwienen (Watsonia), Teague van Zwienen (Watsonia), Tyrone Leonardis (Thomastown), Kyle Wheatley (Bundoora), James Mellerick (Hurstbridge)
Outs: Reece Jones (Macleod)
Key player: Lachlan Potter
The fleet-footed midfielder is one of the Lions’ prime-movers and caught the eye enough last season to finish third in the Division 2 league best-and-fairest. Will have plenty of help this season with the addition of Leonardis and Kobe van Zwienen.
Verdict: Here come the Lions. An eye-catching summer has brought reigning Division 2 MVP Tyrone Leonardis, exciting brothers Kobe and Teague van Zwienen and James Mellerick to Mill Park Lakes. They only add to a squad that reached the semi-finals last season, falling just short against St Mary’s, and won a Division 3 flag just 18 months ago. There’s arguably no club expected to make a quicker rise with a premiership challenge very much on the cards. However, that could be dependent on Josh D’Intinosante’s availability. The VFL-listed gun was red-hot in 2023, helping South Morang make a strong start before booting 13 goals in two finals appearances. If he’s in the side, then the Lions will be favourites more often than not. Finish: 2nd
ST MARY’S
Last season: 3rd, preliminary final (12-0-9, 110.71%)
Coach: Fabian Carelli (sixth year)
Captain: Nick Gedge & Nick Dean
Ins: Ben Young (Bundoora), John Desmond, Kyle Jarman (North Heidelberg), Curtis Howden-Crhak (North Heidelberg), Lincoln Zhang (West Preston-Lakeside), Harrison Karvellas (Thomastown)
Outs: N/A
Key player: Jeremiah Antypas
An outstanding first season at Whatmough Park saw the key forward boot 47 goals in 19 matches to finish second in the league goalkicking and earn Team of the Year selection. A known commodity this season, opposition defences will be marking him harder.
Verdict: The Burras upward trajectory has been clear to see, from Division 3 premier in 2018 to six wins, seven wins (in 12 matches), eight wins and then 11 wins last season to secure a maiden Division 2 finals appearance – culminating in a preliminary final. Under Fabian Carelli the club has a clear plan to back its youth and in recent seasons as added complementary pieces. Off-season additions Young, Desmond and Howden-Crhak should slot in nicely and improve the team. The continued development of the likes of Huon Macgibbon, Lachlan Read, Rory Hanlon, Zane Costello will take it to the next level. Finish: 3rd
THOMASTOWN
Last season: 6th (8-1-9, 107.22%)
Coach: David Folino & Sash Spiroski (first year)
Captain: TBA
Ins: Youseph Dib (East Malvern), Nick Jolly (Ballina), Anthony O’Sullivan, Kyle Green (Bundoora), James Lucente (Watsonia), Julian Janev (Watsonia), Charlie Khoury (Watsonia)
Outs: Ben Nesci (East Keilor), Tyrone Leonardis (South Morang), Josh Mazzarella (Mernda), Harrison Karvellas (St Mary’s), Matthew Morison (Bundoora)
Key player: James Lucente
The spearhead the Bears were crying out for last season. Anthony Capeci led the club with 30 majors last season but is arguably wasted deep in attack. Lucente provides the forward target and finishing which could see Thomastown just from top-five contender to top-three contender.
Verdict: The Bears might have new co-coaches in club greats David Folino and Sash Spiroski but expectations are high. The club has again had a strong off-season, despite the loss of Division 2 MVP Tyrone Leonardis. Reigning league-leading goalkicker James Lucente, Youseph Dib, Kyle Green and Julian Janev are all quality additions. They add to a side that already features Team of the Year talents such as Jarryd Coulson, Anthony Capeci, Daniel Caruso and Lawrence Lopiccolo. Its top-five or bust and it would not surprise if the club made a deeper September run. Finish: 5th
WATSONIA
Last season: 5th, elimination final (9-0-10, 97.11)
Coach: George Lattouf (sixth year)
Captain: TBA
Ins: Luke Pantalone (Banyule), Cooper Gunn (North Heidelberg), Cody Tulloch (Bright), Ethan Lowe (Macleod), Damon Braby (Eltham), Baxter Evans, Tim Todd (Heidelberg), Rayden Garrard (Greensborough)
Outs: Adrian Alfonsi (Epping), Kyle Kemp (Ararat Eagles), Charlie Khoury (Thomastown), Julian Janev (Thomastown), James Lucente (Thomastown), Bailey van Zwienen (South Morang), Kobe van Zwienen (South Morang), Teague Van Zwienen (South Morang)
Key player: Josh Boulton
Named in the best in 12 of his 16 matches last season and earnt Team of the Year selection for the first time at full-back. The star defender anchors the Saints and often sets up the attack with his distribution.
Verdict: It had been six years since the Saints played finals and 16 years since it was in Division 2, making 2023 a banner season. However, the club’s breakout campaign has seen rivals come for its talent. Watsonia has restocked with the likes of Rayden Garrard, Ethan Lowe, Damon Braby and Tim Todd and coach George Lattouf believes he’s got a better “team” this season. The club was 9-3 against teams below the top-three and won six of its last nine to snatch fifth. That looks a challenge this season. Finish: 7th
WHITTLESEA
Last season: 10th, relegation Division 1 (0-0-18, 41.02%)
Coach: Garry Ramsay (first year)
Captain: Xavier Dimasi
Ins: Lucas Hobbs (Macleod), Matt Coen (Kinglake), Matt Langford (Kinglake), Clark Sloan (Epping)
Outs: Alek D’Arro (West Preston-Lakeside), Brodie Driscoll (Diamond Creek)
Key player: Deakin Tennant
The young gun was a shining light in a difficult season for Whittlesea last year. A breakout season and strong pre-season has seen him elevated to the club’s leadership group and he’ll continue to grow on the field this season.
Verdict: Can the Eagles keep their amazing streak of bounce back premierships going? If there’s a coach that can turn a winless club into a champion team its Garry Ramsay. So, Whittlesea has the off-field leadership in place with former premiership captain Andrew Fairchild joining as an assistant. It has on-field leadership with the likes of Xavier Dimasi, Paul Higgins, Mitch Andrews, Jaron Murphy, Matt Atta and the returning Lucas Hobbs and Matt Coen. And it has young talents such as Deakin Tennent and Christian Prestopino. All things point to a successful season. Finish: 4th
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