Aquinas snap nine-game losing streak

All 10 teams in the Division 2 Men’s competition have now chalked up at least one win in season 2025.

After six consecutive defeats with an average losing margin of just under 90 points, Aquinas registered their first win of the year with a 12-point victory over Canterbury.

The Bloods kicked the opening four goals of the match to jump out to a 17-point lead at quarter time before the Cobras turned the tables on the home side, kicking six goals to none in the second to lead by 20 points at the main break.

Aquinas responded strongly after half time with three of the first four goals for the term and took a one-point lead into the final change. The two teams traded goals to start the fourth quarter, but the Bloods ultimately proved too strong on their way to their first home victory in nearly 300 days.

Bloods coach Craig Glennie was pleased with the effort, particularly late when the game was on the line.

“Once we got a bit of a sniff, the amount of guys that stood up and lifted across the whole group [was amazing]. It was a fantastic last quarter. We were very physical with our tackling, then opened them up the other way with our leg speed. It was really satisfying.”

Whitefriars bounced back from last week’s big loss on the road with a 70-point home win over Hawthorn.

The Friars led from start to finish as Noah Sealey, Tim Angus, and James Perrin combined for 14 of the sides’ 21 goals on the day. But their defence also held steady, allowing the Hawks to kick back-to-back goals just once all game.

Friars coach Lucas Matthews felt it was probably the most complete performance from his side to date in 2025, and was pleased with the pressure the Friars were able to put on their opponents. However, Matthews identified there was still room for improvement.

“We’re still not switching the ball enough, we’re still very much going up and down the line too often… [and] we’ve still got to work on our transition game,” he said. 

Hawks coach Mark Murray said that his young side had struggled to perform consistently throughout matches this season, but was hopeful that the team would regain some more experienced players either side of the mid-season bye.

Old Yarra Cobras remain undefeated at home this season after seeing off a spirited MHSOB side to win by 15 points.

The Unicorns got the jump on the ladder-leading Cobras early with a five goal to two first quarter, before the home side found some momentum after quarter time with six unanswered goals to turn a 17-point deficit into a 19-point lead at half time.

The arm wrestle continued in the second half as MHSOB went on their own scoring run, kicking 5.1 to 0.2 to start the third quarter before Jack Hall got one back for Old Yarra. The visitors took a three-point lead into three quarter time and kicked the first of the final term, but then David Tokatliyan took over for the Cobras, kicking four unanswered goals to keep his side undefeated in 2025.

Cobras coach Nathan Monaco said a seven- to eight-goal breeze at one end of the ground contributed to the momentum swings throughout the match.

“[We focused on] adapting in transition and making sure that when we were setting up, we needed to be 15 or 20 metres back further than where we usually would… I think we adjusted better than what they did. [But] it was a really good game of footy, and both teams had a crack.”

St Mary’s Salesian handed West Brunswick their second defeat in as many weeks as the Saints ran out 31-point winners on the back of a season-high five goals to Hamish Macmillan.

A tight first half saw the Magpies hold a one-point lead going into half time, with Saints coach Clay Tait describing the opening two quarters as “a very hotly contested and fast-moving game”.

“Pretty much whoever won the contest went down and kicked a goal, there weren’t a lot of stoppages,” Tait said.

But the Saints came out of the sheds with an aim to dictate the pace of the game in the second half, an approach they executed incredibly well. An eight goal to two quarter saw St Mary’s turn the smallest of deficits into a 38-point lead at the final change.

“We weren’t fully in control, but were able ton take their pace off the ball where we could create turnovers higher up the ground and then put pace on the ball,” the Saints’ coach reflected.

The Saints kicked the first two of the last to stretch the lead beyond 50 points, before West Brunswick pulled three goals back to make the margin slightly more flattering.

Magpies coach Regan Tait conceded his side struggled to stop St Mary’s momentum once they got on a roll.

“We did not respond quick enough, and then all of a sudden they’ve kicked a few goals and we’re chasing our tails… once they get that big run on, it’s hard to catch up,” he said.

South Melbourne Districts continued their climb up the ladder with their third win on the bounce, defeating St John’s by 52 points at the Lindsay Hasset Oval.

The Bloods had 11 scoring shots to two in the first quarter but only led by 19 points at the first break courtesy of poor finishing. However, South Melbourne didn’t let the early stumbles get to them, kicking seven of the next nine goals across quarters two and three to lead by 30 at the half and 53 at three quarter time.

South Melbourne coach Nick Abbott: “Belief is growing, which is exciting for this relatively new squad.”

JOC’s coach Tim Edwards said South Melbourne handled the windy conditions better, outplaying his side in all areas of the game.

Round 8 action sees the Friars welcome MHSOB to Whitefriars College, while Canterbury faces off against St John’s and Hawthorn play West Brunswick – with all four sides looking to get back on the winner’s list. Old Yarra travels to Ferndale Park to play St Mary’s in a top of the table clash, and Aquinas will look to back up their breakthrough victory from Round 7 against South Melbourne.