With the opening round now in the books, the 2024 MC Labour Division 2 season kicks on with another set of intriguing fixtures.

With the two sides coming off wins in their respective Round 1 clashes, both St Mary’s and Whittlesea will look to keep their season rolling when they meet at Whatmough Park.

For the Burra, it’ll be their first game in front of their faithful in 2024, having won on the road against Watsonia last weekend, seeing off a determined Saints outfit by 21-points.

The side was led by spearhead Jeremiah Antypas who starred with four majors, proving to be the difference up forward. He has only been kept goalless four times in his 20 games for the club and Eagles defenders will need to be weary when facing him this Saturday.

Other notable contributors from their opening game included fellow forward and co-captain Nicholas Dean, who had a strong last term, as well as midfielder Joseph Maggio who created plenty of chances out of the middle. He stepped up in the absence of midfielders Jack Bianchin and Rory Hanlon who are expected to return this weekend.

Whittlesea’s climb back to Division 1 got off to the right start with the Eagles running out comfortable 68-point victors over the recently promoted Laurimar. After leading by four goals at the first change there was no looking back for the blue and gold.

Named in the best were trio Blake Watson, Taidhg Bland and Jaron Murphy. Watson dominated in the midfield and also hit the scoreboard, finishing the day with three goals, while Bland and Murphy caused headaches for the Laurimar backline all afternoon combining for seven majors between them.

With the Eagles looking poised early to contend for promotion, coach Garry Ramsay will be hoping his key players can repeat their efforts and make it two from two.

Saturday will be the third ever meeting between these two sides and the first since Round 13, 2018.

Lower Plenty and Laurimar came away with heavy losses in their opening games of the season and will be out to redeem themselves when they meet at Laurimar Reserve.

Returning to the ground where they claimed their first senior men’s premiership six months ago, Jimmy Atkins’ side was taken to task early against Whittlesea, eventually going down by 68 points.

In a tough afternoon for the Power, the trio of Aidan Clarke, Ethan Jones and Jacob Bateman were the shining lights for the side. Clarke particularly battled hard in the ruck all day and while at times was giving his side first use out of the middle it would be to little avail, he’ll be out to assert himself in what is hopefully a more competitive affair.

After flirting with relegation last year, early signs suggest Lower Plenty will be fighting for survival again in 2024 after the Bears went down by 105-points on their home deck to South Morang.

Now on the road, against a side unfurling their 2023 premiership flag, Travis Stephens’ men will be looking to make amends and get back on the winners list in their first away game of the season.

The Bears were never in contest after quarter time in the loss to the Lions, recording their seventh defeat by over 90 points within the last 19 games. However, they have a good opportunity to buck the trend this weekend.

Having been a shining light in a season of struggles last season, Joel Leslie looked to pick up from where he left off in 2023 with an impressive performance, leading the way with two majors and being one of only two Bears to receive Coaches MVP votes.

We could be in for a tight battle against two young sides that are keen to pick up an early triumph in 2024.

Atop of the ladder following their monstrous win in Round 1, South Morang will be looking to keep the hot start going when they play Watsonia at Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve.

After handing Watsonia an early finals exit, downing them by 79-points in their elimination final clash, last season, the in-form Lions will be looking to replicate that performance, this time on their home ground.

Gary Hall’s men look to have found another gear in 2024, with Tye Hall, James Traianou and club debutant Kobe Van Zwienen in the thick of things in the side’s win last week.

With the three having influential day outs, they’ll be looked upon to guide their side to victory once again this Saturday, as will Joshua D’Intinosante (assuming he is not picked by Coburg).

The 2023 Division 2 Team of the Year forward looks just as dangerous in 2024, booting six majors against Lower Plenty in what was a brilliant display. His last four matches for the Lions have now seen him kick five, six, seven & six goals.

For Watsonia, they’ll be hoping they can get off the mark in Round 2, having suffered an honorable loss to St Mary’s in their season opener.

There’s been plenty of change in the off-season for the Saints, with George Lattouf fielding a very different line-up to 2023, but they were not far away from upsetting the Burra last week, with inaccurate goalkicking costing them a genuine opportunity to claim the four points.

With their midfield depth taking a hit over the summer, Daniel Annetta looks to be the man to lead Watsonia in the middle in 2024. He received nine Coaches MVP votes last week after being named in his side’s best in five of 14 games last year.

The Saints will be determined to keep South Morang accountable in this Saturday’s contest.

It’s been a less than ideal opening to the 2024 season for Panton Hill and Northcote Park, however both sides have a great opportunity to pick up their first points of the season when they meet at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.

Coming up against last year’s grand finalists Diamond Creek last Saturday night, it would be a one-sided affair which Panton Hill would be on the wrong end of, going down by 68 points. Wanting to be in the finals conversation this season, the Redbacks will be looking to bounce back at home.

It was the familiar duo of Oliver Parks and Nicholas Parks who were the top performers for their side last week. The brothers had impressive days out in the midfield, while Oliver kicked one of his side’s only two goals for the match.

Bailey Sobol also followed on from his good form last year, being named in his side’s best for the fifth consecutive match after doing so in six of his nine matches in 2023.

Northcote Park come into this clash following a 21-point loss to Thomastown at home. They did lead by nine points at quarter time but could only find six more majors for the match.

The Cougars were ranked eighth in the competition for points for in 2023, and after losing Alex Boyse as well as being without Matthew D’Angelo and Damon Marcon on Saturday night, they will need to find different avenues to goal this season. One of those might be Ricky Fandrich who came back to the club this year and kicked a game-high three majors last week.

Jordan and Matthew Perry produced the bulk of the work for their team in midfield while talented defender Daniel Tallariti was influential in the back half, keeping the Bears’ James Lucente to just one goal. This trio will need to be on their game again if they’re to defeat Panton Hill this week.

With both sides signaling their intent of being contenders in 2024 with encouraging wins last week, Diamond Creek and Thomastown are set to face off at Main Street Reserve.

Having been the only side they fell short of defeating in the home and away campaign last year, Andrew Tranquilli would have been pleased to see his side comfortably claim victory over Panton Hill by 68 points last Saturday night.

Conceding an average of just 38 points against in last year’s regular season, the Creekers defence was on song again in the opening round, allowing just four scoring shots from the Redbacks. They also could have prevailed by a bigger margin had they have kicked straight, finishing the night with a 10.22 scoreline.

Five of those 10 majors came from debutant Ben Major who has made an immediate impact after coming across from Queensland.

Another Diamond Creek recruit in Mitchell Dale also had an impressive showing for his new club, having moved across from Division 1 outfit Hurstbridge during the offseason. The pair look to be brilliant pick-ups and will be ones to watch again this weekend.

Taking the reins of Thomastown this season, co-coaches David Folino and Sash Spiroski bolstered their squad during the off-season, with many new inclusions influencing their side’s 21-point victory over Northcote Park in Round 1.

Kyle Green and Nick Jolly were superb in their Bears debuts, with the duo finishing in their side’s best and each kicking two goals, while captain Anthony Capeci was terrific around the ground, and finished with 10 Coaches MVP votes.

It will be a tough task for Thomastown to claim the four points in this clash, having defeated Diamond Creek once in their previous seven encounters, but the confidence from their opening round triumph could put them in good stead against last year’s minor premiers.

By Giacomo Bruno