BEEN waiting to bring Around the Grounds back after a short period of leave. Let’s talk footy all across the Northern Football Netball League.
NORTH HOME AWAY FROM HOME
An enormously crucial win over Diamond Creek was just the recipe North Heidelberg needed over the weekend as it now embarks for a long period of time playing home games away from its home deck at Shelley Reserve.
The Bulldogs will make Ford Park in Ivanhoe its temporary home for the time being, ahead of redevelopments at its ground, and will have some big matches coming up no doubt, as the fifth-placed Bulldogs look to stay in the top five of division one.
Its win over Diamond Creek was noteworthy – the Demons have adapted to life in division 1 very well – and I had them as favourites to win on Saturday, but the Bulldogs played very well to score a second win in a row.
In round six, the Bulldogs will have a game at Yarrambat against Hurstbridge, which includes a twilight game for the under 19s.
It’s also worth noting Kinglake are going to play away from their home at the Memorial Oval throughout the rest of the season as well.
Unfortunately, the Lakers are struggling greatly after a finals appearance last year, losing many key players, including reigning division 3 best-and-fairest Bailey Robinson, but the Lakers are at least building through youth, including bringing in an under 19s team, which is a positive.
The Lakers are due to eventually play their home games at Donnybrook’s Olivine Recreation Reserve – a very nice ground, similar to Mernda’s.
All the best to the Dogs and the Lakers in what are no doubt tough times having to navigate ground redevelopments.
HEIDELBERG’S 150th YEAR
Avid followers will know I’m on The Northern Footy Show in a regular role as a columnist, writer and guest throughout the season, something I’m excited about throughout the whole year.
Last Wednesday night, we welcomed guests from the Heidelberg Football Netball Club as it celebrates its 150th anniversary.
From all reports, Saturday was a stunning night all round for the club, who are looking to make it five senior men’s premierships in a row, with all four teams taking to Warringal Park and creating a very special occasion.
The senior men’s team took a strong win over Greensborough to show they are still very much top dog in the northern suburbs.
NOTEWORTHY RESULTS
What a competition division 2 is shaping up to be. I’m loving just how close the games are every week, and it seems every game is looking like an eight-pointer at this stage.
Fitzroy Stars’ win over Whittlesea is one to very much take notice of. The Stars have settled into division 2 very well and have a team that is good enough to play finals – they move the ball exceptionally well, with a lot of speed, and that allowed them to overwhelm Whittlesea at the Showgrounds – a very hard place to win in division 2.
South Morang had a nice win over Northcote Park. I’m a big fan of the way the Cougars play, and like the Stars, they move the ball fast. But the Lions have a lot of contested bulls in the middle, and given the contested game is still so important, it was a factor in the Lions taking charge after quarter time.
Lower Plenty also took a big win over St Mary’s, which was somewhat of a surprise, but Lower have been threatening a good result over a contender for the last three weeks. They probably should have beaten South Morang but missed six chances in the last term last week. So, to rectify that and knock off St Mary’s is a good effort on a day that means so much to the club, with the Pat Cronin round.
YOUNG GOALKICKING STARS IMPRESSING
On the division 2 goalkicking ladder, it’s really impressive to see two young guys making the most of their opportunities to lead the goalkicking tally after a month.
Lower Plenty’s Jack Chubb is making the most of his move from Montmorency, kicking five goals and earning the Pat Cronin Medal for his efforts, and has kicked 16 goals in four games.
Whittlesea’s Caden Allen is a guy who I’m a fan of, the way he plays football and his ability to play tall and small is a good thing for the Eagles. He’s kicked 15 goals to sit just behind Chubb on the goalkicking ladder, with both ahead of noted goalkicker Darcy Barden from Macleod.
LEARNING TO WIN AGAINST THE ODDS
Two clubs who are at different stages of their development are winning games from tricky positions, which I believe builds clubs up.
Take Epping for example. A young group going through a rebuild with youngsters, and badly missing Brent Macaffer on the weekend, goes out against a high-flying Heidelberg West and scores the last three goals of the game to overrun the Hawks. That’s a very valid result for Epping, who I’m sure will look to make the final spot in the five their own if they can.
Mernda’s expected to be probably the next best team in it after Ivanhoe and Laurimar, and its first two games showed as much – but this game against Watsonia showed they had to battle back big time.
Impressively, the Demons fought back from 29 points down against the Saints at Binnak Park to ensure they get the job done by a kick.
It may not have been pretty, but that’s a key result against a Saints team who have surprised this season with an impressive midfield full of taller kids who love to run and carry.
GEE, IVANHOE LOOK GOOD
IMPRESSIVE: Alex Federico leads a long cast of stars who have transformed Ivanhoe into the clear division 3 frontrunner.
Now that I’ve seen them firsthand, I’m struggling to see what gets a club across the line against Ivanhoe in division 3.
Its midfield is just so impressive. The way the Hoers move the ball, change angles and are prepared to attack the corridor is something you just do not see in division 3 football, and it’s a credit to the way they’ve been prepared to be ambitious with their recruiting, bringing some big-name recruits who played junior football with the club such as Alex Federico, Riley Loton and the Blackmore-Moore brothers.
They have a selection crunch they’ll have to navigate all year without question, but they already look a class above in both seniors and reserves.
A CENTENARY CLASS
All the best to Panton Hill this weekend, who will officially celebrate its 100th anniversary in its game against Whittlesea.
The Redbacks have been an excellent addition to the league in its 30 years of playing in the competition and will mark the occasion with a special half time event on its past players day.
On field, it’s been tougher for the Redbacks this year, the only winless team in division 2 so far, but there were signs of life, and almost took its first win, falling 10 points short of Old Paradians on the weekend.
