MHSOB progress as Power House secure back-to-back promotions – Division 2 Men’s Finals Week 1 Review

MHSOB 22.12 (144) def Canterbury 15.15 (105)

MHSOB booked their place in the Preliminary Final after knocking off Canterbury by 39 points.

It was a high-scoring first term, with ten goals kicked between the two sides as the Unicorns held an 11-point lead at quarter-time.

“I thought we took our opportunities slightly more than Canterbury, which gave us scoreboard ascendancy… We managed to channel the emotion and energy of a final really well,” MHSOB coach Sean Lester said.

The high-scoring footy continued in the second term, with both teams having runs of goals. Canterbury kicked the first of the term before the Unicorns responded with four in a row. The Cobras bounced back with three of their own to produce a goal fest.

“The length of Marcellin’s ground, which was terrific to play on, made centre clearances and territory critical… It was always going to be to the advantage of the midfield group that got on top,” Lester said.

 MHSOB kicked seven goals to six in the term as they held a 16-point lead at half-time.

“We were doing the basics well, and even if it was only two percent better than Canterbury it was enough to keep our nose in front,” Lester said.

The Unicorns were able to break away in the third, kicking five goals in a row while holding the Cobras to three. MHSOB held a 28-point lead at the final change.

“I think we used the size and width of the ground well and were able to kick to advantage and move the ball quickly from end to end… We also had two match winners do some pretty special things. Everyone played their time to make it difficult for Canterbury to come back,” Lester said.

The Unicorns sealed the win in the final term as they kicked four goals to two to book a date with Whitefriars in the preliminary final.

“Whitefriars are a really good team and have been for years. Honest is the first word that springs to mind. They are hard working and will keep us honest. We have to beat them, they won’t just concede easily or hand it to us.”

After winning eight games and failing to make finals last year, Canterbury improved in 2026, winning 12 games and achieving a finals berth.

Whitefriars 9.9 (63) def by Power House 11.10 (76)

Power House secured back-to-back promotions and booked their place in the big dance as they defeated Whitefriars by 13 points.

The sides traded goals early in the first, before Power House showed their class, kicking four in a row as they held a 19-point lead at quarter-time.

“We won the contest and our pressure in the first was really good. We used the ball well; our small forwards were where they were supposed to be and we scored off that,” Power House coach Nick Cox said.

Power House kicked the first of the second quarter before the minor premiers responded, kicking the final four goals of the term to level the score at half-time.

“Whitefriars evened things up at the contest in the second and they were able to score off that,” Cox said.

Whitefriars coach Andrew Daou needed more consistency from his side.

“We played the way we like to play and proved that it was enough but unfortunately we didn’t do it for long enough on the day.”

Both sides struggled early in the third to convert in front of goal with seven behinds scored before a goal. Power House then found their goal-kicking boots, as they kicked four goals to none in the third as they held a 27-point lead at three-quarter-time.

“We got back to playing the way we wanted, our pressure was back and Luke Stubbs was able to kick a couple of important goals for us,” Cox said.

After conceding four in the second quarter, Power House were able to keep the minor premiers goalless.

“They flood back really strongly as a collective and choked up the dangerous areas, we didn’t adjust to throw a different look at them, but we learnt from that,” Daou said.

The Friars surged late in the game; however, it was not enough to get over the line as they fell short by 13 points.

“We played a strong brand in the last quarter but left too much to do with little time… We always knew we would finish strongly but credit to them, they are a good team and weathered that storm,” Daou said.  

The win means Power House secure their second straight promotion after winning the Division 3 Premiership in 2025.

It’s two from two promotions for coach Nick Cox. However, his side is chasing something greater.

“It’s obviously great to go up again but that won’t mean a lot if we can’t get the job done in the grand final,” Cox said.