2026 Eastland Division 2 Senior Men’s Grand Final Preview

The two best sides of Division 2 are set to duke it out this Saturday at Walker Park to see who will earn promotion to Division 1 for next season.

Surrey Park enter as warm favourites having won their second semi-final encounter with the Dockers by 20 points to qualify first for the decider.

Templestowe then responded to that defeat with a 52-point triumph in their preliminary final contest with a red-hot Waverley Blues outfit.

Beau Mitchener starred in the victory with 20 disposals and 86 hitouts, adding to the 18 disposals and 81 hitouts he acquired in the second semi final.

He’s set to play a vital role in this contest alongside Michael Fogarty and Steve Arie Motta, with Motta acquiring a combined 84 disposals and 32 clearances this finals series so far.

They’ll be up against a Surrey midfield filled with plenty of talent, including reigning Division 2 B&F Tom Smith who had 24 disposals and seven score involvements in the second semi.

Dylan Williams and Jack Mahon also had excellent games alongside Nick Kann. Whilst Kann had 24 disposals and 14 rebound 50s, Williams and Mahon combined for 43 disposals and 21 contested possessions.

James Kenworthy’s men are out to continue their meteoric rise up the divisions as they aim for a third premiership in the past four years.

On the other hand, Paul Fiorenza’s squad will be out to redo the wrongs of last year’s heartbreaking Grand Final loss and bring home Templestowe’s first senior men’s premiership since 2010.

2026 Head-to-Head Results

Round Three - Templestowe 11.12 (78) def. Surrey Park 10.11 (71) @ Templestowe Reserve

In a thrilling contest on ANZAC Day, the Dockers had to come from behind to keep its unbeaten streak against Surrey intact.

Trailing by 21 points at the final change, Paul Fiorenza’s men kicked four unanswered goals in the last term to defeat the Panthers by seven points on their home deck.

Beau Mitchener starred once again in ruck alongside Jackson Lee, who shut out Dylan Williams, keeping him to two goals. Surrey young guns Dante Controneo and Ben Palmer stood tall despite the loss.

Round 12 - Surrey Park 9.6 (60) def. Templestowe 8.10 (58) @ Surrey Park Reserve

With top spot on the line at Surrey’s home deck, the Panthers finally broke their mini hoodoo against the Dockers with a gritty two-point victory.

It was a seesawing contest throughout, with scores tied heading into the final change, before a strong start in the last term for the Panthers ensured they moved a game clear atop the Division 2 table.

Defender Lachlan Summers starred alongside young midfielder Blake Leidler while Mathew Zukiewicz and Kristian Trkulja had solid games for the Dockers.

Second Semi-Final - Surrey Park 14.7 (91) def. Templestowe 10.11 (71) @ Walker Park

A much more open contest in the second semi saw the Panthers punch their ticket into Saturday’s decider with a 20-point win over the Dockers.

Following a first half that was filled with momentum swings, Surrey seized control with six unanswered goals in the third quarter to secure a fourth Grand Final berth since 2022.

Tom Smith starred once again with three goals alongside Jack Mahon and Blake Leidler while Marcus Young and Mark Seedsman had excellent games, with the latter kicking four goals.