2026 Division 2 Men’s Team of the Year

The 2026 Division 2 Men’s season was highly competitive, with unbeaten runs, bags of goals and hangers all playing a big part.

One of the upsets of the season came in Round 5, when Aquinas handed Canterbury their first loss of the season, with the Bloods winning by two points in a nail-biter.

Whitefriars, the minor premiers, started the season strong, winning their first six games. However, they were ultimately defeated by eventual premiers Power House in a thrilling Round 7 encounter.

MHSOB went on an eight-game winning streak in the second half of the year, with impressive wins over Canterbury and Whitefriars.

Having entered the final round as a top-two team, MHSOB dropped out after losing to Canterbury, while both Power House and Whitefriars secured victories.

After being well beaten by Canterbury the week before, MHSOB responded in the first week of the finals, defeating Canterbury by 39 points, with a five-goal third quarter catapulting the Unicorns to victory.

Power House then secured back-to-back promotions in the first week of finals, defeating Whitefriars by 13 points, before Whitefriars bounced back in the preliminary final, securing promotion and a grand final berth after defeating MHSOB by 24 points following a tight first half.

Power House ultimately knocked off the Friars to claim a second straight flag, with a five-goal third quarter playing a pivotal role in the triumph.

Division 2 was stacked with talented goalkickers who delivered some of the largest goal-kicking tallies in the entire VAFA in 2026.

MHSOB’s Luca Di Lallo kicked 72 goals throughout the home and away season, finishing equal first, and then added 11 goals in the finals to finish with 83 for 2026. He was only held goalless once and kicked six goals on four occasions throughout the season, plus 7 against Aquinas in Round 3.

Tied with Di Lallo was Therry Penola’s Patrick Carracher. Carracher kicked eight goals twice in 2026, and kicked six or more goals on five occasions.

Power House’s co-captain Luke Stubbs finished on 58 goals, nine of which came in Round 12 against Aquinas. Canterbury’s James Boarotto finished on 47 goals, while Therry Penola’s Jack Viola kicked 43 goals.

It makes for a high-octane Team of the Year that will certainly have no problem kicking big scores!

Here is the Division 2 Men’s Team of the Year for 2026, as compiled by our VAFA Media reporter Max Crawley, based on feedback and analysis from coaches, umpires & VAFA Media across the home & away season:

Minor premiers Whitefriars have four representatives, including Noah Sealey, who will be a key pillar of this defence at centre half-back. Regarded as one of the best defenders in the division, his intercept marking will be a weapon in this line-up.

On the half-forward flank is Nicholas Garratt, who finished with 43 goals for the season, while Max Warrick earns his position in the engine room after an outstanding season, which saw him named among Whitefriars’ best players 12 times. Whitefriars’ best and fairest winner Ben Ostermeyer comes off the bench.

Premiers Power House also have four representatives, with back-to-back premiership coach Nick Cox named Coach of the Year, and dual premiership skipper Ben Circosta also captaining this side after a standout season that has seen him add another Team of the Year honour to his Division 3 selection last year.

His co-premiership skipper Luke Stubbs has also made this team, starting in a forward pocket after booting 58 goals in 2026, while Best & Fairest winner James Kervin will provide the team with class across the half-back line.

Canterbury once again has strong representation in the Division 2 Team of the Year with three representatives. Seb Gotch is named on the wing for a second straight season. Gotch finished as the runner-up in Canterbury’s best and fairest, while winner Fraser Richards will come off the bench after being named among Canterbury’s best players 11 times throughout the season.

Canterbury’s top goalkicker James Boarotto starts in the forward pocket after displaying why he is one of the premier forwards in the competition.

Elsternwick are well represented with David Convery named in the back pocket, Paul Sanderson on the wing and Dylan Jones in the ruck. Convery earns his spot after a very consistent 2026. Jones had a dominant year in the ruck, which saw him claim Elsternwick’s best and fairest and finish equal third in the league best and fairest. Sanderson was a standout all season for the Wickers, finishing second in the league best and fairest.

Therry Penola are well represented in the forward half, with Patrick Carracher named at full forward and Jack Viola named on the flank. The Therry Penola pair combined for 115 goals this season. Viola finished second in Therry Penola’s best and fairest, while Carracher finished third.

MHSOB also receives two nominations. Division 2’s only Big V representative, Luca Di Lallo, is named at centre-half-forward after a spectacular debut season for the Unicorns. Allister Clarke will provide depth and talent off the bench, after finishing equal third in the league best and fairest while also being named among MHSOB’s best players 13 times.

West Brunswick captain Conor Fowler is selected as part of the midfield group after an outstanding season, which saw him win the league best and fairest with 22 votes, as well as his club’s best and fairest. Fowler is joined by Joel Krauss, who is selected at half-back for a second straight year.

North Brunswick’s Cameron Lee is named at full-back after a standout season, which saw him named among the Bulls’ best players 12 times. South Melbourne’s best and fairest winner Oscar Paulke is named on the bench, while Aquinas’ best and fairest winner Jack Livingstone is selected in the back pocket.

Congratulations to all players named in the team for 2026. It’s a great achievement in such a hotly contested season.

A Team of the Year from each senior VAFA men’s and women’s section (plus Under 19 Premier Men’s & Women’s) will be published on the VAFA website and socials in the coming weeks.