A SPECIAL NIGHT
What an unbelievable night it was on Friday night as Diamond Creek Junior Football Club put together its Big Freeze evening at Coventry Oval. The night saw Diamond Creek Legends pitted against The Northern Footy Show All Stars.
Multiple former AFL players played in this game – Mitch Wallis made a guest appearance for the Diamond Creek Legends, playing alongside 2010 Collingwood premiership player Brent Macaffer. For the All Stars, Cameron Cloke lined up, as did Justin Sherman, comedian Chocs Chat and Herald Sun journalist Ben Higgins, among a bevy of Northern Football Netball League greats.
The Diamond Creek Legends won 11.6 (72) to 9.1 (55), but the scoreboard was second-nature to the event at large – an emotional one following the death of Neale Daniher during the week, and the first public FightMND event in the aftermath. There were an estimated 6000 people at Coventry Oval, an unbelievable effort from all in the community.
TWO GREATS COACH
I was lucky enough to get to speak to both coaches – both greats in their own right in the 1980s. Robert DiPierdomenico, 1986 Brownlow Medallist, was coaching the Diamond Creek Legends, while Terry Daniher, brother of Neale, who, to his credit, gave full commitment after an emotional week, coached The Northern Footy Show All Stars.
It was fantastic to get to interview both coaches at such an emotional time for all in the football community.
A RARE DIVISION THREE TREAT
I believe this is a first for division three, but there were five ex-AFL talents on the field at once on Saturday twilight at Heidelberg West in the Hawks’ match with Reservoir.
Even the opportunist and showman, Heath Shaw took to the field with Heidelberg West for his second appearance at the club, the first being the Hawks’ tight loss to eventual premier Fitzroy Stars last year.
To Shaw’s credit he didn’t just walk in and take it easy – he was a leader throughout the day, communicating with his players to tell them where to go and what to do, taking it very seriously.
At Reservoir, Trent Cotchin made his return from a hamstring injury to play his second game for the year, alongside regulars Levi Greenwood, Ricky Dyson and Aaron Edwards.
Reservoir eventually got the job done by 45 points.
BEARS GET MUCH-NEEDED WIN
A shock result at Beverley Road Reserve, where Banyule, who had only won one game for the year coming into the weekend, demolished North Heidelberg by 91 points.
It could quite conceivably have been more than that too, for the Bears recorded 38 scoring shots.
I was surprised Jean-Luc Velissaris wasn’t named in the best players, as he weaved his magic through the midfield throughout the first half and was instrumental in helping the Bears open up a big lead by half time, before going on with the job to kick 10 goals to one in the second half.
The result gets the Bears back into the finals race and simultaneously leaves West Preston-Lakeside in enormous trouble in the drop zone, while it is a hammer blow for the Bulldogs, who drop to eighth, one game behind fifth-placed Bundoora.
HEIDELBERG FLEX ITS MUSCLE AGAIN
The grand final rematch saw Heidelberg deliver an extremely similar result to the grand final last season, with the Tigers running away in the second half after Hurstbridge gave them a good run for their money early on, leading at quarter time.
Nine goals to one in the second half ensured the Tigers won by 79 points, similar to the 81-point demolition job last September.
EVERY GAME IS AN EIGHT-POINTER
That’s certainly the case in division two, with no game decided by more than 32 points on the weekend.
Whittlesea took a hammer blow in its quest to get back on terms with the top teams on the ladder, with a late Joseph Maggio snap bouncing through to give St Mary’s a five-point win.
Old Paradians also won a tight game against Fitzroy Stars away from home in a crucial result – the Raiders’ seven-point win partially helped by Fitzroy Stars kicking 6.15.
SPEAKING OF…
Some inaccurate goalkicking as grounds start to get heavier is the theme.
As mentioned before, Fitzroy Stars kicked 6.15, but also, Lower Plenty kicked 12.19 and Montmorency 11.18.
However, Old Eltham could only manage 4.17 in its 75-point loss to Mernda, who comparatively, kicked 18.8.
Old Eltham could have very easily led by a fair margin at half time, having kicked 0.6 in the first term and sat at 3.9 to 4.4 at half time.
The Demons seem to be an excellent second-half team, however, kicking six goals in the third and eight in the last.
KINGLAKE ON THE BOARD
Great speaking to Kinglake coach Sherman last Wednesday night, and the Lakers responded with its first win of the season against Lalor away from home.
With works starting at their ground, it was a great fillip for the Lakers, who kicked six goals to two in the second to take control, winning by 39 points.
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS
Three former NFNL players are now AFL-listed thanks to their exploits at VFL level in last week’s mid-season draft.
Former South Morang junior Flynn Riley has been drafted by Carlton, where he has played VFL for the season. Riley will provide much needed support for the Blues, who have Marc Pittonet and Liam Reidy as their options.
Hurstbridge’s Joel Fitzgerald – who played in the Bridges’ round one victory over West Preston – was drafted by Melbourne and immediately looks to be one who might get in thanks to the Demons’ poor loss to GWS on Sunday.
Fitzgerald had 40 disposals in his Casey debut and looks ready. To his eternal credit, he was also at Heidelberg on Saturday supporting brother Blake.
Marcus Herbert did not play too much for Heidelberg, but he is in Tigers’ folklore for his best-on-ground performance in last year’s grand final. Making the move this year to play more VFL with Geelong, the dynamic midfielder got drafted by West Coast and will be a candidate to slot in almost immediately, despite the Eagles’ recent winning form.
