IT was a weekend where we were all reminded it is just a game of football.
The incredibly sad news surrounding Epping’s Nathan Fitzgerald entering end-of-life care after a freak accident in the Lalor v Epping reserves game has come to a genuine shock to the Northern Football Netball League community, and my thoughts directly go out to both the Epping and Lalor Football Netball Clubs, the playing group and the wider communities.
We are all reminded that while we may wear different colours, operate in different club cultures and that passion can overflow, at the end of the day, we are all part of one team – the football community. The time to come together and be teammates for one another in a time of need has never been more evident. I am fortunate to play a role in the NFNL community – I stand ready to support both clubs in any way possible.
When I previously worked at Maryborough’s newspaper, there was a similar event that devastated the nearby Castlemaine community in 2023. The outpouring of support then was remarkable, and I’m sure it will be the same for all across the community throughout the week and going forward.
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RELEGATION FEARS EASED
After looking as though it would be dragged into a battle, North Heidelberg emphatically batted away relegation fears with a 19-point victory over West Preston at JE Moore Park.
The undermanned Bulldogs ran away with the game in the final quarter after trailing across the first three quarters and moves them to eighth on the ladder.
It is a big, uphill task for the Roosters now, who remain two games behind Banyule – they have also had their chances to take victories in multiple games to ease the relegation threat.
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BIG WIN FOR BUNDOORA
When Nathan Searl kicked a big captain’s goal for Diamond Creek on what was a very heavy Yulong Reserve, it looked as though the Demons – who were missing a large portion of players – would get a big win to keep its division one minor premiership hopes alive.
But the Bulls fought back hard and wore down the Demons with constant forward pressure in what was a very quick second half – just 46 minutes of game time was played.
O’Neill Moncrieff got the Bulls back into the game, Liam Mallia put them in front, and Peter McEvoy sealed it – three goals in 11 minutes after previously managing three for the game up to that point, in Jesse King’s 100th game.
It is a win that may well get the Bulls into the five when push comes to shove at the end of the season.
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LAST YEAR’S GRAND FINALISTS IN TROUBLE
Hurstbridge did not need a 96-point loss to Greensborough to put a hit to its already small percentage, but that’s exactly what played out at Ben Frilay Oval as the Boro swept aside any Bridges’ challenge in the second half.
Leading by 18 points at the main break, a six-goal to one burst in the third term was followed by a nine-goal blitz in the last term as Greensborough put together its biggest score of the season.
That now leaves Hurstbridge seventh with it all to do.
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BIG GAME AHEAD
Just one division one game this week, but it’s a doozy. Heidelberg and Montmorency at Montmorency Park.
The Magpies are emerging as a genuine contender for its first flag since 1979 and will be up and about to try and hand the Tigers a second loss for the season.
Meantime, Heidelberg will be keen to show that it is very much top dog, as well as extend its lead to a game and a half ahead of Diamond Creek on the ladder.
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MACLEOD BOUNCE BACK
A huge result for Macleod keeps it in the running for a spot in the top five with a 49-point win over ladder-leaders Northcote Park at De Winton Park.
Incredibly, the Roos managed 23 goals with league-leading goalkicker Darcy Barden kicking just one goal – instead, it was Mackenzie Hogg who proved unstoppable, kicking seven.
It leaves the Roos in an interesting spot – they boast two of the three best goalkickers in the comp but still sit seventh, two games behind the top five.
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STARS JUST HANG ON
Fitzroy Stars celebrated NAIDOC Week with a tense one-point victory over Thomastown at a soggy Sir Douglas Nicholls Reserve, and the result was enough to move it into fourth place following Lower Plenty’s loss.
The Stars did it the hard way – Thomastown led by as much as 15 points during the third quarter, before the Stars did just enough in the last term, despite going goalless.
There were also wins for the Stars’ reserves and women’s team on what was a big day for the club.
For the Bears, the loss still leaves them in last position, and face four of the top five teams, as well as last year’s grand finalists Macleod and last year’s preliminary finalist Whittlesea in its run home. It will need to pinch a win somewhere to avoid the drop.
ST MARY’S TO SECOND
St Mary’s are a legitimate challenger, showcasing what it can do with its best team on the park, putting away Panton Hill by 52 points at AE Cracknell Reserve.
A seven-goal to one first term basically had the game sewn up in the early stages, and despite putting together a much more competitive final three quarters, the Redbacks had no answers for the Burra.
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RESERVOIR MOVE UP ON ITS BYE WEEK
Weird happenings in division three, with Reservoir moving up to third despite not even playing. Such was the devastating nature of Ivanhoe’s second half against Mernda, the 73-point loss the Demons had moved them down to fifth, behind Reservoir and Watsonia.
With a kinder draw, the Demons will back themselves to reclaim fifth spot, and it likely comes down to their clash with the Saints at Waterview Reserve.
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BEST AND FAIREST FANCIES
We have a month and a half left before the finals begin – it might well be worth looking into who the competition best-and-fairests might be going forward.
Despite Banyule winning only three games, there is a strong case that Jean-Luc Velissaris could be a genuine contender to win the Frank Rosbrook Medal. He is a star, a constant for the Bears after the undoubted tough times following Preston Bullants’ VFL tribulations last year.
Bundoora will have a number of players vying for votes, with Peter McEvoy, Mallia, Jesse King and Moncrieff all having stellar campaigns, and as ever, so will Heidelberg, who are just so incredibly balanced.
In his first year back after his serious infection, Nash Holmes has also had a great run for Montmorency – expect him to be around the mark too.
Division two will be close. Old Paradians’ Connor McDonald is my pick at this stage – he dominates around the ground, he wins the ball in the ruck, clearance machine and impacts the game in so many ways.
There are also cases to be made for Fitzroy Stars’ Ethan Penrith, Whittlesea’s Bailey Robinson – the reigning division three best and fairest, and perhaps Northcote Park’s James McArdle, who does stand out at half back for the Cougars.
Division three seems to be clearer cut.
Jesse Donaldson has to be the clear favourite, made more emphatic by his four-goal haul that seemed to single-handedly get Laurimar over the line against Watsonia on Saturday.
He is simply a fantastic player; the Power are much richer for his services and has been in the best in every game he has played.
Ivanhoe will dominate the votes in just about every game, but it may be a case of players taking votes off one another – how could you decide between the likes of Riley Loton, Kane Veliou and Alex Federico for instance?
The likes of James Tadd, Billy Morrison and Josh Grabowski should also be around the mark, as should someone like Nathan Hallyburton as well.