Division 2 Men’s: Season Preview

The 2026 season shapes as an exciting one for Division 2, with significant change across the competition. Four clubs have departed the division through promotion and relegation, while four new sides enter, bringing a new challenge to the competition.  

With a refreshed look across the league, it’s set to be a competitive season from the first bounce. Let’s take a closer look at the teams ahead of Round 1. 

Aquinas (9^th: 3-15) 

With new head coach Josh Quinlan coming in Aquinas look to climb up the ladder after long term injuries plagued their 2025 season. After a rough start to the season in 2025, Aquinas showed great resilience in the second half of 2025 pushing some of the league’s top sides. Aquinas kick their season off facing Whitefriars away from home before facing newly promoted Powerhouse at home on Anzac Day, with MHSOB away and Elsternwick at home to cap of the first month of the season. Aquinas will farewell Tommy Hogg who has retired, but has picked up the likes of, Conor Lucas from Donvale, Nick Raso returning from Wimbledon Hawks as well as Zane Mumford and Tom McLeod from Heathmont. Aquinas’s playing stocks are also boosted by five players returning long term injury, in Josh Glennie, Sam Glennie, Damo Pelosi, Elliot Muckleston and former club captain Micheal Di Donato. Jacob Costello has taken over as captain and has taken the honour of the number 4. Due to a high number of injuries last season many players were given the opportunity to play senior football last season. With these players demanding high standards of themselves and teammates over the preseason, with a clear focus on driving belief throughout the preseason. New coach Josh Quinlan expects the club to build on their promising second half of the season last year, converting more of those performances into wins and climbing up the ladder in season 2026. 

Canterbury (7^th: 8-10) 

After starting last season with only one win out of their first nine games Canterbury finished the season strong wining seven out of their last nine games, including beating eventual premiers St Mary’s Salesian by four goals in Round 11. Canterbury opens their season at home against West Brunswick before facing North Brunswick on Anzac Day at home, with Elsternwick away and South Melbourne who got the better of Canterbury in both fixtures last season at home to cap of the first month of the season. Canterbury have lost premiership player Sam Hinton as well as Ryder Daffy over the off season whilst adding wingman Nathan May from South Australia. Coach Steve Brown has put an emphasis on improving standards throughout preseason as well as increasing the groups fitness. Brown wants to see improvement from his men with an “expectation to start better than we did last season.” 

Elsternwick (Relegated from Division 1 2025: 10^th 1-17) 

After winning Division 2 in 2024 and earning promotion to Division 1, Elsternwick endured a tough 2025 campaign, managing just one win and being relegated back to Division 2. The Wick’s start their season at home to North Brunswick, before facing previous Division 1 opponent Therry Penola away from home on Anzac Day, with Canterbury at home and Aquinas away to round up their first month of the season. Elsternwick’s playing stocks have been bolstered by the inclusions of Spencer Martinez a utility from East Brighton, Harris Wassylko from Old Peninsula, Flynn Brosnan from Tarwin and see the return of two-time premiership player Jamie Mount after a year overseas. Throughout pre-season head coach Oliver Gildea has put an emphasis on work rate and defending the whole ground as the coach admitted they “took a lot of learnings from our time in Division 1 last season”. Gildea expects a tight competition, knowing that the team’s depth will be crucial but expects to have an “impact on the division if we bring our best each week.” 

Melbourne High School Old Boys (5^th: 9-9) 

In season 2025, the Unicorns built on their 7 wins in 2024, finishing with nine wins and missing finals by 8 points. Memorable wins of MHSOB’s season last year include a three-point win over premiers St Mary’s Salesian away from home in round four and a 71-point win over Whitefriars in round 15. The Unicorns start their season at home against Powerhouse, before facing Whitefriars away from home on Anzac Day, with Aquinas at home and Therry Penola away to cap of the first month of the season. The senior playing list has seen the inclusion of Luca Di Lallo from Uni Blues who is a member of the leadership group in his first year at the Unicorns. The list has also been bolstered by the inclusions of Jayden Spiteri from Thomson and Sam Mounreny from Mount Eliza. Newly appointed player coach Sean Lester has emphasised match simulation, game scenarios, and momentum changes throughout the preseason. Lester expects to play an attractive and quick style of game and expects “to see new faces up to five debuts for round one.” 

North Brunswick (Division 3 runners-up 2025: 3^rd (13-5), won SF, won PF & lost GF) 

After winning two finals, North Brunswick were unable to perform on grand final day losing by 84 points to fellow promoted side Powerhouse. Whilst the grand final loss may still leave a bad taste in the mouth for North Brunswick 2026 presents itself with a new challenge in a new division. North Brunswick starts their season off away from home against Elsternwick, before traveling to Canterbury on Anzac Day in round 2, then playing their first home game against South Melbourne before facing Whitefriars away from home to cap of the first month of the season. Over the preseason North Brunswick have lost some crucial players, with the likes of Matt David and Andrew Ramzy who combined for 100 goals in 2025, whilst also losing best and fairest winner Zac Dicuanni and runner-up Adam Tsardakis. Whilst they have lost some key players from last season, they have added William Bettie, Micheal Mock, Lachlan Lappas, Ed Lee, Oliver Prescott, Darcy Beer, Sean Jacobs and Max Gallo Paspa. Coach Domenic Fontana has used the preseason to realign the club’s culture as the group adapts to changes. Fontana expects his team to “be competitive week in and week out.  

Powerhouse (Division 3 premiers 2025: Minor Premiers 15-3) 

2025 Division 3 premiers Powerhouse look to make a statement in Division 2 this year. After beating fellow promoted side North Brunswick by 84 points in the Division 3 Grand Final last season, Powerhouse start their season away from home against MHSOB, before facing Aquinas away from home on Anzac Day, whilst facing Therry Penola in their first home game of season and then rounding up the first month of the season against West Brunswick at home. The playing list has seen the inclusion of Ben Hitchcock from Yarraville, Darcy Troy from St Kilda City and Rory O’Sullivan from Ireland whilst losing Micheal Timmons and Scot Shier. There will be opportunities for spots in the first month of the season with the club suffering from some key injuries and unavailability. Over the preseason, Premiership coach Nick Cox has put an emphasis on ball movement and defensive strategy and has placed lofty expectations on his team, with Cox aiming to be competitive and play finals in 2026. 

South Melbourne Districts (4^th:11-7, won SF, lost PF) 

Coming off a preliminary final last season South Melbourne look to build under new coach Shaun Gould. The Bloods were able to get past West Brunswick in the first Semi-Final in a nail-biting affair, but eventual premiers St Mary’s Salesian were too good for the Bloods in the Preliminary Final last season. South Melbourne starts the first month of the season away from home where they will face Thery Penola, West Brunswick, North Brunswick, and Canterbury before playing Whitefriars at home in round 5. The Bloods have seen the additions of key forwards Nic Broomfield and Haydn Wyatt as well as midfielders Todd McGrath and Ryan Wyatt. New Irish recruit Ethan Tormey has impressed throughout the preseason and looks set for an early season debut. The club has also seen the return of former club captain Jason Clifford. Throughout the preseason Gould has focused on getting his squad comfortable with the systems and roles he wants implemented. Gould wants to play exciting team first football and expects his group to work hard and “get comfortable being uncomfortable.” Gould has high praise for club captain Tom Foley as “one of the best young leaders I’ve seen.” 

Therry Penola (Relegated from Division 1 2025: 9^th 3-15) 

After narrowly avoiding relegation from Division 1 in 2024, Therry Penola faced relegation in 2025 after managing to only win 3 games. Whilst being relegated from Division 1 may have hurt, it presents Therry Penola with a new challenge for season 2026. Therry Penola has a tough start to the season facing South Melbourne coming of a finals berth at home in round 1 before facing Elsternwick at home whose one-win last season was against Therry Penola. The two relegated teams will play on Anzac Day. After Elsternwick, Therry Penola will face Powerhouse away from home and MHSOB at home to cap of the first month of the season. 

West Brunswick (3^rd :13-5 lost SF) 

After a strong home and away season in 2025, West Brunswick were 3 points away from a Preliminary Final birth. The club will look to build on its strong form in 2025 and bring that into their first month of the season, where they face Canterbury away, South Melbourne at home on Anzac Day, whilst facing Whitefriars at home in round three and Powerhouse away from home in round 4. Coach Rick Pograri is optimistic with the additions West Brunswick have added praising the additions as “really strong… from a football and character perspective.” Throughout the preseason Pograri has focused on improving connection and standards, building a brand of footy whilst building a team first environment. The vibes have been high at Ransford Oval this preseason with Pograri believing the players have really brought into the preseason creating a positive feel around the club. Pograri’s expectation for his side is simple “we want to be competitive every week and continue to improve as the season goes on.” 

Whitefriars (6^th:8-9-1) 

After winning 5 of their first 7 matches last season, Whitefriars lost 8 of their last 11 games leading to a mid-table finish in 2025. Whitefriars start their season at home against Aquinas, before facing MHSOB on Anzac Day at home, then take on West Brunswick away from home in round 3 and face North Brunswick at home in round 4. This season playing list will see some strong inclusions with the likes of Lachie Blunden, Jesse Pearce as well as the return of Riley Fyffe to the club after spending time travelling and Matt Dickinson returning after missing the entire 2025 season with a shoulder reconstruction. The playing stocks have also improved within with Harley Jackson and Chevy Spurr who have been tipped to emerge this season by coach Andrew Daou. Over the pre-season, Daou has focused on increasing the professionalism of the group and raising standards. From a football point of view the focus has been on defensive mindset and aggressive ball movement. Daou was strong and clear when asked about the expectations for season 2026, “finals- that’s the standard”.  

By Max Crawley