South Morang and Diamond Creek prepare for the NFNL Division 2 grand final
Will South Morang complete its rapid rise or can Diamond Creek earn redemption. Check out the players to watch and our predictions for the NFNL Division 2 finale.
Northern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Will history repeat or be created?
The past two NFNL Division 2 premiers have been runner-up the year before, can Diamond Creek follow Banyule and Eltham up to the top-flight?
The Creekers suffered heartbreak last year, while their 2017 defeat too would still be reasonably fresh in the mind.
The club is looking to end a 19-year premiership drought.
Meanwhile, South Morang is eyeing a return to Division 1 for the first time in about 45 years?
TALENT: WE RANK THE TOP 30 PLAYERS IN NFNL DIVISION 2
Records are fuzzy but the Lions haven’t played in the top flight since at least 1978.
Having fallen on hard times during the 2010s, the club is now rising with a bullet.
After capturing the Division 3 flag in 2022, it immediately played finals in Division 2 and is now playing off from a second title in three seasons.
Adding a little extra spice to the day, the two clubs will also contest the reserve grade grand final, while South Morang’s under-19s are also in action against St Mary’s.
Both clubs have strong junior foundations and would be confident of cementing themselves in Division 1 should they win promotion.
KEY MATCH-UPS
JOSH D’INTINOSANTE v NATHAN SEARL
This could very well decide the match. Josh D’Intinosante has been electric in finals the past two seasons. He kicked six and seven in two matches last year and then delivered five goals in the qualifying final win over Diamond Creek and three in the semi-final win over Whittlesea this season. Searl, the Diamond Creek captain, missed the qualifying final but returned for the preliminary final and helped the Creekers keep Whittlesea to just three goals.
TYE HALL v JACOB BOOTH
It would be great to see the two big boys go head-to-head in midfield. Hall and Booth have enjoyed outstanding seasons, winning plenty of the pill and pushing forward to have an impact on the scoreboard. Whoever has a bigger day will have a huge say in which team wins. Both players missed the Round 18 clash but returned for the qualifying final. Hall, the South Morang captain, was one of the best in the Lions’ stunning semi-final win over Whittlesea. Booth has been in the best in all three of Diamond Creek’s finals and comes in to Saturday’s game in red-hot form.
DEACON KALPAKIS v BEN MAJOR
The two Coburg VFL teammates could go head-to-head at Preston City Oval. Major has been terrific since returning to Diamond Creek, kicking seven goals and earning a best four times in six matches. Meanwhile, Kalpakis could give his AFL Draft hopes a boost with a big performance, just like Finnbar Maley last season. The forward combination of Major, Daniel Jarvis and Ryan Pingree will be a fascinating battle against the lions of Deacon and Mitch Kalpakis and Ben Muscat.
NATHAN STEFANILE v NICK BARRO
Experience and size against youth and athleticism. The ruck battle will be critical to which team can control the midfield. Stefanile and Barro can both provide silver service to their onballers and follow up and win clearances of their own. Barro would have the edge around the ground though and will look to run off Stefanile if given the opportunity. Liam Jolly is a more than capable back-up for South Morang if a change of pace is needed.
LACHLAN POTTER v RYAN DONALDSON
Potter’s run and carry off half-back is a major factor in South Morang’s gameplan. The young star plays a quarterback role for the Lions, setting up so much attack with his pace and precision disposal. Do Diamond Creek look to nullify that influence? Ryan Donaldson could be the man to watch Potter and then look to hurt him going the other way.
X-FACTOR
JOSH LANSFIELD: If the Northern league had a Gary Ayres Medal, Lansfield might just be leading it after two eye-catching performances. Was the hero in the extra-time qualifying final win, kicking the match-winning – and only – goal after the scores were tied at full-time. Then stepped it up with a five-goal best-on-ground performance in the major semi-final to help South Morang book its grand final ticket. While he’s had a week off, can he keep the heat going?
JETT McLAUGHLIN: A lot of pressure to put on an 18-year-old kid but he’s a future gun. At the start of the year McLaughlin clocked the top score in Yo-Yo Test at the Coates League pre-season testing day. So he can run. Run all day. He played nine matches for the Northern Knights this season but missed out on the finals. That has been Diamond Creek’s gain with the youngster proving his worth with a string of strong displays. Kicked three goals in the preliminary final win over Whittlesea.
EXPECTED LINE-UPS
Both teams have settled 22s and are not expected to make any changes for Saturday’s decider. Luckily for both too, their reserves have also made the grand final, meaning the blow will be lessened somewhat for those that miss out on senior selection.
If South Morang was to make changes, Michael Burns might be first in line after playing 17 senior games this season before being dropped for the qualifying final. Key forward Kyle Wheatley looks to have been squeezed out on points. Meanwhile, six members of the Division 3 premiership are dreaming of a late call up. Adrian Alessandrino, Josh Renehan, Matt Trim, Ben Power, Ben Peterson and Trent Harvey all played in the reserve grade preliminary final team.
Diamond Creek made two changes before both the semi-final win over Lower Plenty and preliminary final triumph over Whittlesea. Skipper Nathan Searl and former captain Chris Moloney returned on Saturday, pushing out Brad Moore and Andrew White. Bryce East would count himself unlucky, after playing 17 senior games he finds himself on the outside at the wrong time of year. Lochie Brannelly and Kyle Kankaanpaa are also pushing.
COACH’S SAY
Gary Hall (South Morang): It’s going to be an arm-wrestle. They’ve obviously got a great defence but our forwards in good form, there’s going to be good match-ups all around the ground. The midfield is definitely important, we didn’t have (Nathan) Stefanile last time, so he’ll be important.
Andrew Tranquilli (Diamond Creek): It will all come down to composure, getting hands on the ball first and then using it efficiently. All finals, we’ve seen whoever settles quickest can play their best game. Both teams will be working on bringing pressure and if you can be clean and control the ball, that will be key.
VERDICT
Last time these two sides met, the qualifying final, we went to extra-time.
With the weather forecast not looking great for a free-flowing, classic game of footy, that could very well be the case.
South Morang is the No. 1 ranked attack and Diamond Creek is the No. 1 ranked defence, so you know it’s going to be a terrific battle.
There’s also an interesting trend that’s popped up.
In each of the past four meetings, the “away” team has won and on Saturday that is Diamond Creek.
When the Creekers win, they win big.
The club’s last three wins have been by an average of 69 points and the last three wins over South Morang have been by 52 points on average, including a 43-point triumph in Round 18.
The Lions flipped that result on its head the very next week with a six-point qualifying final win.
They backed it up with a six-point semi-final win over Whittlesea.
So if the scores a close, it could favour South Morang.
But the Creekers have been waiting for this opportunity for 365 days
PREDICTION: Diamond Creek by 8 points.
Northern clubs make recruiting splash
RECRUIT TRACKER: Northern league clubs have combined to sign more than 150 recruits for 2025, including ex-AFL, VFL-listed talents and promising young guns.
Whittlesea’s one big lesson from straight sets exit
Having crashed out of finals in straight sets this season, Whittlesea is taking a different approach to season 2025 and has secured the return of several juniors.