Sport
17 April, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Football Round 2 Preview — Campbells Creek vs Talbot
Campbells Creek will begin their 2026 campaign with a battle of the birds against the Talbot Hawks at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve.
It only takes one quarter to alter the entire complexion of a football match, something Talbot was fully aware of when seven Harcourt goals in the third quarter flipped their narrow half-time lead into a major deficit that proved unassailable.
A 35-point defeat to a rival contender is not an ideal start for the Hawks and their premiership ambitions. However, there’s still plenty of time for their highly-touted recruits to gel with their new teammates before September.
Dylan Tarczon and Victor Micallef dazzled during their first impressions in Talbot colours, stepping up in the midfield and getting the established forward line of Charles Aitken, Dean Limbach and Jarrod Stephens firing in the first half before cooling to two goals in the second half.
Entering their round two encounter as heavy favourites, the Hawks will attempt to enhance their team chemistry ahead of their finals rematch with Carisbrook. However, Campbells Creek heads into 2026 with confidence that they will become a tougher opponent to overcome.
With the 2025 club best and fairest Dylan Stevens leading a host of talented returning faces like Mitch Stevens, James Martinovic and Lachlan Hyland, the return of Jamie Haber has sparked a wave of former decorated Watsonia players to put on the black and white.
Former NFNL league best and fairest Jack Larkin and NFNL Team of the Year member Daniel Watson lead a group of recruits who look to be huge assets for Campbells Creek this season.