Brunswick’s Unstoppable Streak in Division 2 Men’s

Jainarayan Tiwari

Significant victories across the board in Division 2 Men’s in Round 3 have sparked interest and shaken up the competition.

Brunswick continued their winning momentum as they outplayed Wattle Park, defeating them by 89 points at Gillion Oval. Brunswick displayed a dominant performance, trouncing the Animals with a resounding 127 to 38 victory. Brunswick’s indefatigable Hayden Parker showcased his class by kicking nine goals for the game. For Wattle Park, Daniel Hill contributed two goals to aid his team’s efforts.

In a nail-biting Round 3 clash, Hawthorn narrowly clinched a win by three points over South Melbourne Districts, defeating the Swans 103-100. The match’s outcome hung in the balance until Cooper Rule’s clutch goal in the dying minutes sealed Hawthorn’s triumph. The Hawthorn coach, Mark Murray, expressed relief, praising South Melbourne as a formidable opponent and commending Rule’s decisive finish. Carl Stewart of South Melbourne had earlier intensified the suspense with a pivotal goal, but Rule’s subsequent score dashed their hopes. After a previous round setback against the powerhouse Brunswick team, Hawthorn’s resurgence was a testament to their grit, handing South Melbourne their first loss of the season. Meanwhile, South Melbourne coach Nick Abbott said, “Hawthorn handled key moments in the match better than us, and we will make sure we learn from the loss. We didn’t play our best footy, but they took advantage.”

In another thrilling Division 2 encounter at Whitefriars College Oval, Elsternwick emerged victorious over Whitefriars by 22 points. The game was neck and neck early, with just one point in it at quarter time. Momentum built for Elsternwick by half time as they surged to a 36 point lead. The third quarter witnessed a determined Whitefriars as they kicked three majors, but still trailed by 22 points at the final change. The fourth term sealed Elsternwick’s dominance, kicking three goals to two to win by 22 points. Elsternwick’s Daniel Marchese, alongside vice-captain Spencer Hankin, combined eight goals. Meanwhile, from Whitefriars, James Perrin banged three goals, but that wasn’t enough to get the side across the victory. Next up, Elsternwick will host their old rivals, South Melbourne, in round four next week in a match which will be live streamed on VAFA.com.au.

At Ted Ajani Reserve, Bulleen Templestowe defeated St Marys Salesian with a 69-49 win in a compelling Division 2 match. The game unfolded with the Bullants setting a robust tone, leading 24-2 after the first quarter. They doubled their advantage by halftime, leading by 35 points, showcasing their dominance. Despite a spirited effort, St Mary couldn’t close the gap in the third quarter. The final quarter saw St Marys Salesian kick three goals, but it was too little too late, as they went down by 20 points. Bulleen Templestowe’s Corey Shiels booted five goals for the game, and St Marys’ Trent Ryan’s three-goal feat was a highlight, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide against the Bullants.

MHSOB unleashed a dominant display, outscoring the hosts Aquinas with a final score of 99 to 52. MHSOB’s electrifying start set the tone early, as they blitzed through the first quarter with a formidable five goals to none. Their relentless assault continued, amassing a 51-point lead by the main break, with Aquinas’s kicking one goal six. Aquinas attempted a valiant fightback in the third term, with a four goal quarter, but it was a little late to make a comeback. The final siren sounded with MHSOB capping off a masterclass in attacking footy, defeating Aquinas by 47 points. MHSOB’s Mathew Pereira bagged five goals, and Will Hellier’s kicked three.

As we charge into Round 4 of the season, the stakes soar with Brunswick leading the pack, prepping for a blockbuster clash with the formidable MHSOB on their home turf at Melbourne High School. Both teams are in stellar form. St Mary’s Salesian is hungry for their first win of the season and will lock horns with Aquinas, who are equally eager to bounce back from their last defeat.

Bulleen Templestowe will face Hawthorn, which will be a massive challenge. Meanwhile, Wattle Park, who lost their last game by a significant margin, will play Whitefriars at Bennettswood Reserve. Rounding out the round’s matches is the epic rivalry that’ll light up Holmes/Todd Oval, where Elsternwick hosts South Melbourne Districts in what’s expected to be an electrifying game.