How do players who receive a Rising Star nomination on debut perform the following week?

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

Earlier today Essendon announced that Angus Clarke, pick 39 in the 2024 National Draft, will make his debut on Friday night when the Bombers face off against Richmond in the Dreamtime at the ‘G clash.

Round 6 of the Division 2 Men’s competition saw Old Yarra Cobras and St Mary’s Salesian deliver strong performances to maintain the top two spots on the ladder, while South Melbourne registered their second win of the season. 

The matchup between ladder leaders Whitefriars and Old Yarra Cobras was abandoned part way through the second quarter after a player fell awkwardly during a marking contest.

In the most enthralling match of Round 4, the Unicorns claimed their third consecutive game by a mere 3 points, when the Saints missed a long-range, after the siren shot at goal.

The JOC’s recorded their first win of the season, while West Brunswick taste defeat for the first time in 2025.

Time enough for the game to unfold

Four teams sit undefeated and four teams remain winless after two rounds of the Division 2 Men’s season.

An in-depth analysis of how clubs perform in the first game at a new stadium

More time on ground does not always equal more impact.

The opening round of the VAFA Division 2 Men’s season featured four one-sided games and one nailbiter, with injuries and player availability challenging some teams early.

The jetlag was totally worth it.

Read about the ten teams competing for this year’s VAFA Division 2 Men’s title.

And the impact I've had in academia as a result.

Some umpires appear to have given Cripps a leg up in the Brownlow voting last year – but they weren’t the only ones potentially playing favourites.

This is the first of a slightly different series of posts, where I talk about the different aspects of my career, how I got to where I am today, and where I want to go in the future.

A casual conversation during the Super Bowl introduced me to a frivolous football term.