Check out the big changes and predictions for every NFL Division 2 club

Can anyone challenge the three Bears in Division 2 this season? Check out all the big recruits and our season predictions for every club.

NFL Division 2 season preview.

Can anyone stop the three big Bears in NFL Division 2 this season

Banyule, Lower Plenty and Thomastown are the teams to beat in 2022 with all three having premiership claims.

However, who’s to say the likes of Eltham, Diamond Creek and St Mary’s can’t spoil the party.

There’s plenty of new faces and exciting young talent around the competition.

Check out our season predictions for every club.

New Banyule co-coach Ricky Dyson. Picture: George Salpigtidis

BANYULE

Last season: Minor premier (11-1, 188.62%)

Captain: Devin McDonald Coach: Paul Harris and Ricky Dyson (new)

Big in: Kai Davies (Lavington) Big out: Nick Grabowski (East Keilor)

The Bears have added a couple of VFL-listed youngsters to an already talented list. Davies arrives from the powerful Ovens and Murray league where he played every game for Lavington in 2021 and will be on Essendon’s VFL list. Meanwhile, Xavier Mitchell arrives from Cohuna and will be on Carlton’s list. The club has lost a bit of talent, especially the likes of Nick Grabowski (East Keilor) and Luke Joyce (Macleod). Grabowski booted 12 goals in eight games last season and Joyce was the competition’s second leading goalkicker with 28 in 12 appearances. Replacing that scoring power will be key to the club’s premiership hopes.

Key player: Jack Langford

The Team of the Year defender was swung forward in 2021 and was named in the Team of the Year again but this time at full forward. With Luke Joyce departing there will be even more pressure on him to carry the Bears’ forward line. Given his history, there’s no doubt he’s up to the task.

Verdict: Has an untimely grand final loss and COVID robbed Banyule of its premiership and promotion chance? Unlikely. The Bears are still the team to beat in Division 2 and have plenty of talent at their disposal to be a major player come September. Riley Loton’s availability will be critical during the season and when the heat comes on in finals. Finish: 3rd

LOWER PLENTY

Last season: Second (11-1, 158.52%)

Captain: TBC Coach: Phil Plunkett (new)

Big in: Brent and Nathan Lynch (AFL Barwon) Big out: N/A

A quiet summer at Montmorency Park, aside from Phil Plunkett’s arrival as coach obviously. However, the Bears have brought in brothers Brent and Nathan Lynch from AFL Barwon outfit Anglesea. The pair were at VAFA Premier B club Beaumaris prior to a season down the coast and as key position types, will be more than handy additions.

Key player: Tom Keys

Already a star player at Lower but Keys took his game to a new level in 2021, winning the Division 2 league best-and-fairest and finishing third in the Coaches’ MVP. The goalkicking midfielder booted 25 goals – good enough for fourth in the competition – in 12 appearances and was named in the best nine times. New coach Phil Plunkett’s biggest headache will be wear Keys does the most damage.

Verdict: We were robbed of what loomed as a blockbuster finish to 2021 with Banyule and Lower Plenty trading blows but alas the season was cut short. The Bears have retained the bulk of their list and added a couple of key position players – which we know don’t grow on trees – and possess arguably the deepest line-up in the competition with Josh Turner, Keys, Darcy Barden and Tom Blake all finishing top five in the Coaches’ MVP and Turner, Blake and Keys in the top 10 in the league best-and-fairest. Finish: 1st

Thomastown’s Michael Tang takes on two Diamond Creek defenders. Picture: Steve Tanner

THOMASTOWN

Last season: Third (8-4, 128.90%)

Captain: Josh Beare Coach: Mario Bandera

Big in: Jarryd Coulson (Heidelberg West) Big out: N/A

Back-to-back super summers has Thomastown in premiership discussions. After adding Tyrone Leonardis and Michael Tang last season, Jarryd Coulson and Masaki Miki have arrived for 2022. It’s not like the Bears had a weakness at ruck either with Joel Carter impressing in his first season. Coulson is a three-time Division 3 league best-and-fairest winner and will create a fearsome one-two punch with Carter, while Miki adds further depth to the midfield. No major outs is a major win.

Key player: Michael Tang

Recruited as a defender/midfielder, Thomastown swung Tang forward mid-way through 2021 and were rewarded with a series of impressive displays. He kicked seven majors against Fitzroy Stars then had three straight weeks of four-goal hauls before injury struck. Fully fit and eyeing a full season in front of the big sticks, Tang will have a crack at the competition’s leading goalkicker title.

Verdict: Is Thomastown the real thing? It showed glimpses last season with wins over Eltham (twice) and Diamond Creek but was well beaten in both meetings with Lower Plenty and didn’t face Banyule. If it can beat either of its fellow Bears then it deserves to be in the premiership conversation. Finish: 2nd

ELTHAM

Last season: Fourth (7-5, 164.60%)

Captain: Darcy Vallance and Jackson Weatherald Coach: Rob Hyde

Big in: Matthew Byron (Panton Hill) Big out: Brent Macaffer (Tooradin Dalmore)

Worryingly the outs far outweigh the ins at Central Reserve. Byron, a premiership winner with Panton Hill in 2019, will provide a solid target up front and certainly knows where the goals are. However, it’s going to be hard to replace the likes of Brent Macaffer (Tooradin Dalmore), Marcus Cantwell (Templestowe), Tim Currie (Aberfeldie), Matt Keys (Old Eltham Collegians) and Michael Still.

Key player: Jaden Collins

As much as Eltham would love to see Collins step up to VFL level after earning a contract with Northern Bullants, it would selfishly hope that he spends the majority of the season in red and black. Collins will carry the No.1 ruck mantle this season and looms as a key player in the Panthers’ finals hopes.

Verdict: It’s hard to see the Panthers matching it with the three big Bears this season but the club’s junior pathway is the envy of the league and anything is possible if they can find a couple of gems in the under-19s. The backline make-up will be interesting to see come Round 1 after the departures of Currie and Keys. Finish: 5th

Mikael Avramov in action for Eltham. Picture: Hamish Blair

DIAMOND CREEK

Last season: Fifth (7-5, 131.71%)

Captain: Chris Moloney Coach: Andrew Tranquilli

Big in: Sage Dicello (Epping) Big out: Michael Florance (Hurstbridge)

Luring Dicello across from division rival Epping gives Diamond Creek arguably the best small forward combination in the competition with Ryan Pingree topping the competition goalkicking charts last season. Pingree finished with 29 and Dicello booted 24 – eighth most in the competition. Add in the return of Tom Bennett (Benalla) and arrival of Sam Gleeson (Merrivale) and Liam O’Brien (Murrumbeena) and the Creekers have had quite a successful summer. However, it has been offset by the loss of Michael Florance and Ty Franks (Hurstbridge), Ben Major (Queensland) and Oliver Parks (Panton Hill).

Key player: Tyler Barnes

Could as easily have picked star defenders Joel Randall or Matthew Lewis but Barnes is the heart-and-soul of Diamond Creek. All three were named in the Division 2 Team of the Year and Barnes finished fourth in the league best-and-fairest count. The star midfielder has hardly missed a game since stepping up to senior footy in 2017 and will play a key role in the club’s push for finals.

Verdict: The Creekers should play finals but can they actually do some damage when they get there? There’s a lot of footy to be played between now and then but yes is the answer. Diamond Creek has weapons across the ground but just needs to show it can compete with the big boys to prove its credentials. Finish: 4th

ST MARY’S

Last season: Sixth (7-5, 112.61%)

Captain: Myles Guldon and Nick Gedge Coach: Fabian Carelli

Big in: Vincent Loccisano (Montmorency) Big out: Nathan Jasper (Panton Hill)

Not known for recruiting, the Burras have done very nicely over summer. Loccisano played plenty of midfield minutes at Montmorency last season and will give St Mary’s engineroom an instant boost and a touch of class. Simon and Tom Carafa were in and out of Eltham’s senior side last season but will add critical depth to a squad largely reliant on young developing talent. Ben Shelton has lodged a clearance from Hurstbridge and will be a huge addition to Fabian Carelli’s coaching brains trust. Nathan Jasper’s jump to Panton Hill is a blow after he played all 12 games last season but the club’s youth production line should be able to fill the void.

Key player: Tane Cotter

The Burras young gun had a breakout season in 2021 booting 28 goals – second most in the competition – and it earned him a spot in the Division 2 Team of the Year as well as an invitation to try out with the Northern Bullants over summer. He’ll return to St Mary’s an even better player in 2022 and the club will be reliant on him providing a reliable avenue to goal both directly and as a provider.

Verdict: St Mary’s has been building a solid list for the last couple of seasons and 2021 was the season it made the jump from mid-table to finals contender. Would have been fascinating to see how last season played out because as it finished, the Burras were only percentage out of the top five. Showed it can play quality football with a win over Thomastown and close loss to Lower Plenty but also lost to Panton Hill. Will need to close the gap from best to worst to be in the finals conversation. Finish: 6th

WATSONIA

Last season: Seventh (3-9, 78.95%)

Captain: TBC Coach: George Lattouf

Big in: James Lucente (Macleod) Big out: N/A

Luring Lucente across from Division 1 club Macleod is a major coup for the Saints. Lucente played the first five games of last season before injuring his shoulder and will give his new club an injection of talent. The former Northern Knights forward will be a dangerous addition to Watsonia’s attack. The club has also welcomed Cooper Burns from Greensborough, who played 11 reserve grade games in 2021 after graduating from the Borough’s under-19s team and Ben Callaghan, who was in Bundoora’s under-19 program last season. Retaining its 2021 playing list is a major boost.

Key player: Lachie Potter

The one-time AFL Draft hope had an outstanding debut season at Watsonia, finishing second in the club best-and-fairest and earning a spot on the bench in the Division 2 Team of the Season, while leading the club in the league best-and-fairest and Coaches’ MVP voting. One of the best line-breaking runners in the competition, his delivery around the ground will be critical to the Saints’ hopes to improving their win-loss record in 2022.

Verdict: It’s been a good summer for Watsonia, no major departures and an injection of young talent, plus the return of 2021 skipper Adrian Alfonsi from a knee injury should all equal an improved showing on the field this season. Finals might be too much to ask this season but there’s no reason the club can’t cause a couple of surprises and remain safely in mid-table. Finish: 8th

PANTON HILL

Last season: Eighth (3-9, 62.81%)

Captain: Sam Parks and John Pritchard Coach: Simon Amore

Big in: Oliver Parks (Diamond Creek) Big out: Mitch Anderson (Chiltern)

The Hillmen have off-set some key losses with some smart recruiting. Losing your premiership captain is never ideal with Mitch Anderson returning to his junior club Chiltern and taking Brent Ryan with him, while Matt Byron has gone to Eltham, Mitch Merkel’s returned to Greensborough and Tait Forster to Richmond Central. In their place, Parks joins his brothers Sam and Nick with the trio expected to all line-up in the midfield come Round 1. Ethan Gorski was named in the Division 3 Team of the Year while at Laurimar this season and adds further midfield depth while Jed Hobbs (Hurstbridge) and Nathan Jasper (St Mary’s) also come on board.

Key player: Sam Parks

The main man in the Redbacks midfield, Parks produced an outstanding season in 2021 that was recognised with selection in the Division 2 Team of the Year and equal fifth place in the league best-and-fairest voting. Parks will again be at the forefront of Panton Hill’s plans this season but might come in for a little bit more attention from opposition coaches.

Verdict: Panton Hill won three games in their return to Division 2 in 2021 but strangely none of them at Cracknell Reserve. That will be the first box to tick this season and you’d think it would lead to an improved win-loss record. The club’s got some nice cattle and will be anything but pushovers. Finish: 7th

Tim Duckworth in action for Panton Hill. Picture: David Crosling

EPPING

Last season: Ninth (2-10, 54.66%)

Captain: Leigh Judd Coach: Aaron Newport and Glen Lehner (new)

Big in: Damon Marcon (Preston Bullants) Big out: Jhye Baddeley-Kelly (North Heidelberg)

Significant ins but significant outs at Epping this season. Damon Marcon’s return is a massive boost with the smart forward having booted 39 goals in 18 games in 2018, earning Division 2 Team of the Year honours. Likewise, Tom Burnside is a quality addition, returning to the club after two seasons away, while Owen and Clark Sloan follow new coaches Aaron Newport and Glen Lehner across from Whittlesea. However, reigning best-and-fairest and Team of the Year defender Jhye Baddeley-Kelly has returned to North Heidelberg, 2019 best-and-fairest Lucas Aquilina will try his hand at Greensborough and leading goalkicker Sage Dicello is off to Diamond Creek.

Key player: Michael Jacobson

Took over the ruck mantle after Joel Carter’s exit last season and was rewarded with a fifth-placed finish in the club best-and-fairest. Will have his workload eased this season with the arrival of the Sloan brothers potentially allowing him to move forward and provide a marking target in attack or back to man a key position post. Wherever he’s playing, he’ll have a big say in Epping’s season.

Verdict: Do the ins outweigh the outs? It’s hard to say at this stage but Newport and Lehner have certainly boosted the club’s depth with more than 30 signings since taking the reins. Either way it’s hard to see the Pingers moving out of the bottom two and the two matches against Fitzroy Stars will likely decide the relegation battle. Finish: 10th

FITZROY STARS

Last season: 10th (1-11, 44.06%)

Captain: James Dau Coach: Lionel Proctor

Big in: Allan Norris (Rumbalara) Big out: Jake Firebrace (Airport West)

Norris is just one of several key recruits as the Stars look to survive relegation. The star big man is a critical in for a club lacking height around the ground and will provide much-needed leadership and experience as a former club captain. Defender Dylan Harvey (Lalor), Andrew Hood (Preston Bullants) and Jamaica Ilsey (Bungaree) are other former Stars returning to the club. Djaran Murray-Jackson (Parkside) and Tyson Lovett-Murray (Heywood) unite with Nathan Lovett-Murray to form a family trio, while Kyal Atkinson has arrived from Rumbalara and Josh Poulter from Lalor. Going the other way, Jake Firebrace is off to Airport West and John Hayes to South Australia.

Key player: Djye Morgan

Limited to just two games due to injury last season but the explosive midfielder has plenty of class have previously been listed at SANFL powerhouse Port Adelaide and VFL club Williamstown. If he can get his body right, Morgan will provide the Stars with some elite talent around the ball.

Verdict: Saved from relegation by COVID cutting the season short, Fitzroy Stars have a second chance in 2022 and have recruited well enough to give themselves an opportunity. Only won the one game last season but capable of far better. Finish: 9th