How every NFL Division 2 club has fared in the first seven rounds of 2021
With the last two rounds cancelled we’ve reached the halfway mark of the NFL Division 2 season. Check out how every club has fared and vote for the premiership winner.
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We’ve reached the halfway mark of the 2021 NFL Division 2 campaign.
Losing the last two weeks has been incredibly disappointing but it has allowed us to take stock of the season so far and assess each club’s performance.
We’ve looked at each club’s big win, big loss and leading performers in the opening seven rounds.
Read our analysis below and have your say on who’s going home with the premiership.
BANYULE
Ladder: First (7-0, 211.33%)
Leading goalkicker: Jack Langford, 16 (No.4)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Reuben Blackmore-Moore, 24
Big win: Pretty obvious to say it’s starting the season 7-0. What’s made the undefeated start to the season even more impressive is the fact they’ve beaten nearly all their major rivals – Lower Plenty by nine points, Eltham by 11 and Diamond Creek by 26. The COVID break has so far claimed the first clash between Thomastown.
Big loss: Scareily for the Bears’ rivals, Mannon Johnston hasn’t played a game for Banyule this season. The two-time Div 2 Team of the Year forward kicked 36 majors in 2019 to lead his club to the grand final. Collingwood VFL commitments have meant he’s been unavailable but the club is hopeful he’ll feature in the season half of the season.
Big surprise: Jack Langford, a Division 1 premiership-winning and reigning Division 2 Team of the Year centre half-back has been thrown forward by coach Paul Harris and the move has paid dividends. Langford has booted 16 goals in seven games, the majority coming in a bag of eight against St Mary’s.
LOWER PLENTY
Ladder: Second (6-1, 156.88%)
Leading goalkicker: Tom Keys, 19 (No.1)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Josh Turner, 38 (No.1)
Big win: There’s been no relegation or pandemic hangover at Montmorency Park. The Bears are right in the mix to bounce straight back to Division 1 this season. After stumbling against Banyule (nine points), Lower responded with impressive wins over title challengers Eltham (six points) and Thomastown (27 points). It was a critical three-week period for the Bears’ season and they came through with flying colours.
Big loss: This is more of a loss for the football loving public. The current lockdown has seen games against Eltham and Diamond Creek cancelled, a major blow to supporters that wanted to see how their teams fared against fellow challengers. While there might be some joy for the players not having to play major rivals, there’s no doubt also disappointment that they don’t get to challenge themselves.
Big surprise: How about the fact Lower boasts the top two vote-getters in the Division 2 Coaches’ MVP award. Josh Turner sits on top with a ridiculous 38 votes thanks to back-to-back 10-vote performances against Watsonia and Panton Hill followed by a nine-vote effort against Fitzroy Stars. Darcy Barden is equal second on 32 votes having earned votes in six of seven appearances, including a perfect 10 against Thomastown.
DIAMOND CREEK
Ladder: Third (5-2, 158.14%)
Leading goalkicker: Ryan Pingree, 18 (No.2)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Josh Marchbank, 27 (No.5)
Big win: Ewen Macpherson marked his senior debut for the Creekers with a five-goal performance. The Northern Knights and Footscray VFL-listed midfielder has made the three appearances needed to qualify for finals. Imagine the boost he’s add if available come the business end of the season.
Big loss: On the flip side Jacob Booth has only made the one appearance and appears settled in the Collingwood VFL side. Especially with the Magpies AFL injury list, the Team of the Year winger looks set for a long stay at the state league level.
Big surprise: Michael Florance arrived with much fanfare but Josh Marchbank has cemented himself as Diamond Creek’s first-choice ruckman. The Creekers big man is enjoying a renaissance season that sees him fifth in the Division 2 Coaches’ MVP voting after a 10-vote best-on-ground performance against St Mary’s and on track for a first Team of the Year appearance since 2017.
ELTHAM
Ladder: Fourth (5-3, 157.94%)
Leading goalkicker: Michael Still, 15 (No.8)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Brent Macaffer & Ben Montanaro, 32 (No.2)
Big win: Ben Montanaro trained with Collingwood’s VFL squad before the 2020 season and has started 2021 in scintillating form. After missing the second half of 2019 through injury he’s been named in the Panthers’ best five of eight games and sits equal second in the Coaches’ MVP voting alongside teammate Brent Macaffer.
Big loss: Suffering from Arkoudaphobia or a fear of Bears. Eltham has lost to Banyule, Lower Plenty and Thomastown in the first half of the season. Scored just 33 points in the loss to Banyule in a low-scoring defensive battle while inaccuracy proved costly against Thomastown.
Big surprise: Playing an extra game at the start of the season might have come back to bite Eltham. The Panthers have used 38 players so far, second most in the competition, and had just eight players play all eight games, second fewest in the competition. Getting the casualty ward cleared out over this COVID-enforced break and quiet for the rest of the season will be critical to the club’s hopes of promotion.
THOMASTOWN
Ladder: Fifth (5-3, 134.80%)
Leading goalkicker: Michael Tang, 18 (No.2)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Tyrone Leonardis, 23
Big win: Michael Tang arrived together with North Melbourne VFL teammate Tyrone Leonardis but perhaps without the same level of fanfare. However, he’s proved to be one of the most astute recruiting moves of the season. Tang has booted the second most goals in the competition and earned 21 Coaches’ MVP votes in a brilliant start to life at Thomastown.
Big loss: Anthony Capeci started the season in blazing fashion, kicking five goals in the Bears’ two Round 1 matches. However, after injuring himself in the Round 2 loss to St Mary’s he hasn’t been seen since. His return will be vital to Thomastown’s premiership hopes.
Big surprise: The 44-point loss to St Mary’s was certainly an early-season wake up call. After a bruising win over Eltham the week before the Bears may have struggled to back up but it would still sting when you consider how tight the race for the top five is. Thomastown can’t afford any similar slip ups in the second half.
ST MARY’S
Ladder: Sixth (5-3, 117.44%)
Leading goalkicker: Tane Cotter, 18 (No.2)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Rory Hanlon, 26
Big win: Put promotion-winner and 2018 Division 3 grand final rival Panton Hill in its place with a terrific performance in Round 3. The Burra pounded their old adversary by 105 points. The Round 2 win over Thomastown was equally important as it has them equal on points with Diamond Creek, Eltham and the Bears, outside the top five by percentage only after seven rounds.
Big loss: St Mary’s would have been disappointed with its last-start loss to Diamond Creek. The 56-point defeat will be eating away at the club given the last two rounds have been cancelled. Every club has the odd bad day but big losses to finals contenders tend to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Big surprise: The fact the Burra production line continues to produce is no surprise but the form of Tane Cotter and Rory Hanlon would be very pleasing to coach Fabian Carelli. Both have made the jump to senior football comfortably. Cotter has 18 goals in eight goals, second most in the competition, including a bag of four against undefeated ladder-leader Banyule, while Hanlon leads the club in Coaches’ MVP votes.
PANTON HILL
Ladder: Seventh (2-5, 59.74%)
Leading goalkicker: Jake Maher, 11 (No.16)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: John Pritchard, 15
Big win: While we’re still only halfway through the season it looks as though Panton Hill will survive its return to Division 2. Obviously a lot can change from now until August but the Redbacks would be reasonably pleased to be sitting seventh, two games ahead of last place. Dodging games against Diamond Creek and Thomastown through the lockdown is also a win.
Big loss: The retirement of two-time reigning Division 1 leading goalkicker Rhys Boyden has been exacerbated by Matt Bryon being restricted to just three appearances. It has had a major impact on the Hillmen’s scoring power, reflected in the fact they’re scored just 417 points this season, second worst ahead of Fitzroy Stars.
Big surprise: Jake Maher has excelled in his debut season with the Redbacks after crossing from VAFA outfit Marcellin. Arrived as a pacy winger but has been converted into a dangerous forward and has hit the scoreboard regularly – kicking two bags of three and one of four.
WATSONIA
Ladder: Eighth (1-6, 69.17%)
Leading goalkicker: Jesse Presser, 11 (No.16)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Riley Taylor, 14
Big win: The Saints have shown real improvement in the opening half of the 2021 season. Scoring is up from 59 points per game in 2019 to 65 and while points against remains steady at 95, the losses haven’t been as extravagant. The club is rebuilding and staying in games for longer and fighting them out is a key stepping stone.
Big loss: The lockdown break might have come at exactly the right time for Watsonia. In the two weeks after losing co-captain Adrian Alfonsi to a knee injury the Saints lost to Eltham by 93 points and Thomastown by 52 points before the season was put on hold. It might give the club time to adjust and compensate.
Big surprise: Riley Taylor made a brilliant start to the season, named in the best in all of the Saints’ first five games, including best-on-ground against Epping and Banyule. He’s also received Coaches’ MVP votes in four games, which goes to show his impact. Like his team he struggled in the last two games but hopefully can return to his best when play resumes.
EPPING
Ladder: Ninth (1-7, 51.51%)
Leading goalkicker: Sage Dicello & Stefan Balassopoulos, 12 (No.11)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, 17
Big win: The biggest win the club has had came back in 2019 when it landed Jhye Baddeley-Kelly. The Coburg-listed star has delivered exactly as promised in his return to his junior club. He’s been named in Epping’s best in five of six appearances and earned Coaches’ MVP votes in four matches – three of which were defeats.
Big loss: In the Pingers defence they’ve played four of the top five teams, including Thomastown twice, but when they’ve been beaten this season, they’ve been BEATEN. It started with a 93-point loss to Thomastown and followed by 76 points (Lower Plenty), 52 points (Diamond Creek), 55 points (Panton Hill), 36 points (St Mary’s), 41 points (Thomastown) and 52 points (Eltham).
Big surprise: Would Epping be surprised to be 1-7? You’d think so. The club has recruited heavily since the end of 2019 and brought in some highly talented players but remains in the lower reaches of the Division 2 ladder. While it might seem harsh considering the club’s recent history but the Pingers have claims to be this season’s most disappointing.
DIV 1: DIVISION 1 CLUBS’ MID-SEASON REPORT CARDS
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FITZROY STARS
Ladder: 10th (0-7, 42.01%)
Leading goalkicker: Riley Livingstone, 11 (No.16)
Leading Coaches’ MVP votes: Riley Livingstone, 5
Big win: Any time Nathan Lovett-Murray dons the red, yellow and black is a massive win for the struggling club. Not only because of his class on the field but his ability to pass on his experience and knowledge to the next generation. While, the season might not be going as planned, Lovett-Murray’s impact on his teammates will have long-term benefits.
Big loss: The Stars are facing the drop to Division 3 for the first time. The season has started disastrously, winless in the opening seven rounds. It would be a massive blow to the club that needs the highest level of football possible to attract the best available talent. Losing Hedley Smith on the eve of Round 1 certainly didn’t help.
Big surprise: The Stars might have found one in Riley Livingstone. The forward spent the majority of his time playing reserves in 2019, leading the club to the Division 2 premiership, and has stepped up big time this season. He’s been Fitzroy’s best player so far, leading the club’s goalkicking and earning the most Coaches’ MVP votes.
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