By Callum Ludwig
Division Two looks decidedly different in 2023, with Kinglake diverting to the Northern Football Netball League, Yea folding and Yarra Glen dropping down with numbers thin on the ground.
Powelltown will begin its chase for back-to-back flags and back-to-back Jeff Cole Perpetual Shield trophies as they take on Yarra Junction at the Eagles ground.
The first clash between these sides each season determines the winner of the Jeff Cole Perpetual Shield, named after legendary player Jeff Cole who played hundreds of games for both clubs and who passed away last year.
The Demons took the spoils and the shield in round one last year 14.12, 96 to 16.7, 103, with Yarra Junction claiming revenge in round eight 15.10, 100 to 15.16, 106 before Powelltown once again triumphed in round 13’s Indigenous Round match 20.12, 132 to 12.10, 82.
Powelltown finished their premiership season last year in second, three wins ahead of Yarra Junction who finished third and were knocked out by minor premiers Kinglake in the preliminary final.
Broadford suffered a tough season in 2022, merging with Yea midway through and finishing rock-bottom with only one win and they will be hosting Warburton-Millgrove in round one who will be hoping for a stronger showing in 2023 after they finished fourth and were knocked out by Yarra Junction in an elimination final.
The Burras beat the Kangaroos in all three fixtures between the two sides last year; 11.19, 85 to 2.12, 24 in round five, 5.4, 34 to 19.12, 126 in round 11 and 6.5, 41 to 10.15, 75 in round 17.
Yarra Glen will do their best to muster up the numbers to head to Alexandra for the first round of the season, with the club in strife as they recover from severe flooding that devastated the clubrooms in 2022.
The Rebels finished second from the bottom with four wins last season in Division Two, which Yarra Glen had matched in Division One. However, personnel changes for the River Pigs due to their troubles open this clash up to be an exciting encounter.
The last time these two teams lined up on one another was in round one of Division Two in 2021 at Yarra Glen, but it was Alexandra who came out on top in an 11.16 82 to 15.11, 101 victory.
