Darcy Barden discusses return to attack, Macleod’s impressive NFNL Division 2 season

Darcy Barden is back in attack and it’s fuelling Macleod’s NFNL Division 2 premiership charge. Can he break the magical 100-goal barrier?

Darcy Barden in action for Macleod. Picture: Field of View Photography

Have people forgotten Darcy Barden was very nearly drafted as a key forward?

While he’s been one of the best defenders in the Northern league in recent years, his dominant season spearheading Macleod’s resurgence in NFNL Division 2 shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Barden has been nigh unstoppable this season, kicking 54 goals in his 10 appearances.

If he keeps up that pace the reigning Kangas best-and-fairest winner is on track for 97 goals.

Maybe the league’s first 100-goal season since Shane Harvey in 2017?

Darcy Barden is spearheading Macleod's resurgence.

“The mates are (talking about it) but in all honesty I haven’t thought about it,” Barden said.

“Especially with my inaccuracy, I’d be more of a chance if I kicked straight.

“I’m having a good year but to consistently do that over 18 games is tough, who knows but it’s not at the front of my mind.”

Barden has two bags of nine goals and a haul of seven in Saturday’s top-of-the-table triumph over Diamond Creek.

Barden has been named in the Team of the Year in each of the past four seasons and nine times in total.

He was centre half-back in 2022-23 and as a forward in 2011, 2013-14 and 2017.

A mid-season return to the forward line last year continued into this season and it’s paying dividends.

“With my body, getting older, it’s a position I can settle into for the next few years,” Barden said.

“I played forward for most of my career, until five or six years ago when I went to centre half-back, and so far it’s working really well.

“The delivery has been as good as you can get and I’ll always compete, fight and scrap, to give myself opportunities in front of goal.

Darcy Barden in action for Macleod. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Anthony Doherty and Zac Howell – who won the (Division 3) 19s goalkicking last year – have been really good, Jordan Corelli has been huge since coming back from injury and Mackenzie (Hogg), you forget about him because he’s one of our better mids, is having a really good year.”

Hogg is currently fifth on the league goalkicking charts with 20 majors.

Macleod are sitting on top of the ladder after beating Diamond Creek by nine points at Coventry Oval on Saturday.

The Kangas are riding a nine-game winning run, their only loss some to the Creekers in Round 1.

Under new coach Nick Lynch, the club is well placed to contend for the premiership and bounce straight back up to Division 1.

Led by Barden, the club has the No.1 offence in the competition as well as the third-ranked defence.

“I’ve had a few experiences at Lower Plenty where you go up and come down and it is hard to gauge where the top of Div 2 meets with the bottom of Div 1,” Barden said.

“I think retaining the list, which we did, is always a positive.

“It’s all good to go and sign three or four blokes but if you don’t re-sign the blokes you’ve got you’re going backwards anyway.

“We knew going in that the list we had last year, fit and healthy, would be more than competitive and so far it’s proving to be on the right track.

“The competition is tight, we’ve done well to not give up a blemish by avoiding one of those games where you don’t bring your best and someone pinches you.

“Whittlesea away is always tough, St Mary’s at their ground are only going to be better and you can see by the fixture – Thomastown on the weekend and Panton Hill the week before – you can’t sleep on any side.”

Barden has been particularly impressed by Lynch in his first coaching role.

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“I’ve known Nick for quite a few years just in footy circles,” he said.

“For a first-year coach, he’s still young and has got a young family too, he’s doing a really good job and improving himself every week.

“He’s honest and keeps it simple, the message is simple and repetitive, so he’s only going to get better.”

Macleod hosts Thomastown at DeWinton Park on Saturday, a club Barden bagged nine goals against in Round 2.