NFNL Div 2 discussion 2024

[bundybulls]

watsonia v thommo - close. TT by 11 points
south v whitt - south bounce back by 23 points
lower v diamo - diamo easy 60+
st marys v northcote - burra by 45
panton v laurimar - panton by 50


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[lennyhayes777]

Round 7 left us with a few questions unanswered
Watsy are cooked
still unsure about thomo I think their best footy can win games
Morang could go 3 loses on the trot what does that do to them and their confidence
Whit just bearly getting it done each week
Creek cruising
Lower playing competitive footy consistently
St Mary’s nearly losing to Northcote is completely outrageous. Are they not as good as expected?
Northcote impressive effort
Hillers winning games they need to
Laurimar won’t beat any team aside from Northcote and even that’s a doubt next time

 

[10571z]

Round 7 left us with a few questions unanswered
Watsy are cooked
still unsure about thomo I think their best footy can win games
Morang could go 3 loses on the trot what does that do to them and their confidence
Whit just bearly getting it done each week
Creek cruising
Lower playing competitive footy consistently
St Mary’s nearly losing to Northcote is completely outrageous. Are they not as good as expected?
Northcote impressive effort
Hillers winning games they need to
Laurimar won’t beat any team aside from Northcote and even that’s a doubt next time

NP look like they could pinch one before their next Power meeting.

I honestly think Laurimar get relegated. They have gone far far worse than I suspected but recruiting absolutely no one probably does that.

 

[Denny Crane]

From HS

Whittlesea defeats Diamond Creek in NFNL Division 2 top-of-the-table clash​

Whittlesea coach Garry Ramsay says his team produced its best performance of the season at the right time to win the top-of-the-table undefeated battle with Diamond Creek.

Whittlesea is the last undefeated team standing in NFNL Division 2 after edging Diamond Creek by 15 points on Saturday.
In the top-of-the-table battle at Whittlesea Showgrounds, Eagles coach Garry Ramsay said his team produced its best football of the season precisely when needed most.

Despite missing talismanic captain Xavier Dimasi, Whittlesea rallied from six points down at half-time to run out 12.15 (87) to 11.6 (72) victors.

It held last season’s grand finalist to just two goals in the second half.

Ramsay said while some of the club’s wins had been narrow, the result showed what his team is capable of at its best.

“It was a good time to put probably our best performance for the year in, we timed it well,” Ramsay said.

“We had three close wins out of the seven, which could have gone either way, while their form had been a little more dominant.

“We felt like we needed to improve and I don’t feel like we’re anywhere near our potential so it was nice to show we are improving.”

Diamond Creek burst out of the blocks with a five-goal opening quarter, taking a nine-point lead.

The Creekers simply couldn’t miss in the first half and booted nine straight goals to Whittlesea’s 7.6 at half-time to hold a six-point advantage.

However, the game turned in the third quarter as the Eagles’ defence locked down.

Whittlesea turned its half-time deficit into a six-point lead at three-quarter-time, keeping the visitors to 1.3 and adding 3.3.

The win could have been far more comfortable if not for kicking 2.6 in the last quarter.

The Eagles finished with 10 more scoring shots but Ramsay didn’t believe the statistic was reflective of the match.

“Their game style is to kick the ball central so they had some good shots, it wasn’t a fluke they kicked straight,” he said.

“We might have had more scoring shots but the game was fairly even, I think our last quarter – I was pretty happy with our last quarter.”

Veteran defender Matt Atta was named best-on-ground, while Taidhg Bland continued his outstanding form that sees him leading the Division 2 Coaches’ MVP.

Young gun Lachlan Shinn-Mahoney impressed in his seventh senior game.

Ramsay was pleased with several of his young charges.

“It was pleasing to see a young bloke like Lachie Shinn-M step up on a wing and play really good football,” he said.

“Other than the 23rd player, we had four under-19s – Khaled El-Leissy, Lachie, Jack Morley and Harvey Hempenstall.

“We feel like we’re developing and there’s still a lot of improvement with these young guys playing well.

“Matt (Atta) played on their best forward and did a good job.

“Taidgh’s playing really good football, he’s breaking lines which is a really good trait and I think he’s going to continue to improve.

“We’re getting a better team spread, not so much relying on our top bracket, they’re all improving.”

For Diamond Creek, Ryan Pingree was best with a match-high three goals, while Brenton Keating, Dale Marshall and Chris Moloney stood tall.

The result sees Whittlesea go a game clear on top of the ladder, while Diamond Creek are now just a game ahead of South Morang and St Mary’s.

The top four has separated itself from the competition as we approach the half-way mark.

Ramsay was keeping a lid on things at the Showgrounds.

“I think we’ve got a few more clashes with Diamond Creek ahead of us and South Morang and St Mary’s,” he said.

Elsewhere in Division 2, South Morang claimed a come-from-behind 25-point win over Northcote Park and St Mary’s survived an almighty scare from Laurimar with a one-point win.

Thomastown was too good for Panton Hill, consolidating fifth spot, with a 29-point win and Lower Plenty and Watsonia played out a heart-stopping 77-all draw.

 

[FootyNuff123]

Some very interesting results across this division over the weekend...
Whitt the team to beat? Missing Dimasi, Watson and Andrews...
Ncote Park up by 6 goals in 3rd quarter, are they as bad as we think? Couple of good performances in a row.
Laurimar pushing St Mary's by a point.
Draw between Lower and Watsy.
Maybe this div is more exciting than we originally thought.

 

[bundybulls]

Tough weekend for results

Burra v thomastown - Thommo win. just 3 points

Watsonia v Laurimar - Watsy should win but can laurimar pinch it? Watsy by 6 points

Whittlsea v Northcote - Eagles by 50

Diamond v South - Can southy upset Diamo at home? Diamo by 2 points

Panton V Lower - Lower win by 30


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[thenorthernking]

No doubt a much better coach. But you still need some cattle. Certainly expect them in the mix.

How’s this looking? I reckon the cattle and depth might be okay…

 

[Denny Crane]

From HS

South Morang knocks off Diamond Creek at Coventry Oval to jump back into flag conversation​

South Morang accomplished one of the toughest feats in the Northern league, defeating Diamond Creek at Coventry Oval and ended a 20-year drought in the process.

It’s a win 20 years – and a couple of weeks – in the making.
South Morang pulled off one of the hardest wins in the NFNL on Saturday, defeating Diamond Creek at Coventry Oval.

The thrilling nine-point win is the Lions’ first over the Creekers since Round 5, 2004 at the old South Morang Oval.

It not only hands the Creekers back-to-back defeats but catapults South Morang back into the Division 2 premiership conversation.

In control for much of the day, the Lions ran out 10.6 (66) to 8.9 (57) victors, highlighting the club’s improvement this season after 54 and 61-point hammerings last year.

Lions coach Gary Hall said his playing group had set themselves for the challenge.

“The boys had been looking forward to the game for a while,” Hall said.

“They’re a very hard side to beat down there, they play the ground so well and it’s such a big ground it’s hard to defend.

“They kicked the first few goals before the boys knuckled down and responded.

“I thought our backline was really good and we slowly got ourselves back into the game, got a lead and then at half-time the rain came.

“The Creekers are bigger bodies and got themselves back in the game but credit to our boys, they responded and fought the game out strong.”

After weathering an early Diamond Creek storm, South Morang took a 10-point lead into quarter-time, which could have been more if not for kicking 4.4.

The margin was out to 20 points at half-time as the visitors found their rhythm.

With the arrival of the wet weather the game quickly turned into a slog and the Creekers were within six points at three-quarter-time with all the momentum.

However, Morang would not be denied, capitalising on its attacking opportunities, while the hosts sprayed 1.4.

Off-season recruit Kobe van Zwienen played his best game for South in a best-on-ground performance, while Tye Hall continued his outstanding form, Ben Muscat and Paul Sidhu impressed.

While, making his first senior appearance since 2021, Dom Tropea stepped up in attack with two goals.

“Kobe’s been really consistent since coming over to the club,” Hall said.

“Tye as well, just consistent, he comes out and plays well every week and leads by example.

“There was no real standout, everyone does their bit, each week there’s different players in the best, which is really good.

“Dom has been playing really, really well in the reserves, kicking lots of goals and deserved an opportunity.

“It’s a hard game to come into for your first game for some time but he held his own and kicked a couple, which was really good for him.”

The win sees South Morang draw level with Diamond Creek at 7-2 for the season, sitting third on percentage.

After a narrow seven-point loss to Whittlesea a fortnight ago, the Lions are confident they can match it with the big boys come the pointy end of the season.

However, after surviving a scare of Northcote Park last week, Hall knows his players can’t afford a week off either.

“It’s one of those comps, we’re heading into winter, the grinding part of the year and if you’re not in the right headspace you can get knocked off by any team,” he said.

“All those lower sides, they’re out to win every week.

“Credit to Northcote Park, I'm surprised they haven’t won a game, they really took it to us and the week before against St Mary’s.

“We knew Creek had a few out but we were missing a few quality players as well.

“Tyrone (Leonardis) should be right after the break and Bailey Brown will be right and then the boys we won’t get until the end of the year in Josh D’Intinosante and Deacon Kalpakis and Liam Jolly.”

Elsewhere in Division 2, Whittlesea extended its undefeated run and moved two games clear at the top of the ladder with a 59-point win over Northcote Park.

Panton Hill was too strong for Lower Plenty with a 62-point win, Watsonia eased past Laurimar by 14 points and Thomastown stunned St Mary’s by 12 points.