IT’S been another big week in football around the Northern Football Netball League, as we go Around the Grounds.
AN UNSAVOURY INCIDENT
Unfortunately, we must start by addressing the shameful scenes at Preston City Oval on Sunday at half time in the division 1 first semi-final, which left a non-playing division 1 coach in hospital overnight through an alleged cowardly act.
The matter is under police investigation. It is disappointing to see that there are still very much acts such as last Sundays in the crowd in 2026.
IVANHOE’S PREMIERSHIP
History for Ivanhoe – its first Northern Football Netball League premierships delivered with an unbeaten season across both seniors and reserves.
It is an incredible effort – one we see less of nowadays as the leagues continue to get more competitive.
With a heavy breeze favouring the Bowling Club end at Lalor Reserve, it looked as though Ivanhoe were in early trouble after conceding three goals in five minutes to trail by as much as 23 points.
The last 15 minutes or so of the first quarter was probably the most crucial for Ivanhoe, stopping wave after wave of Laurimar’s forward 50 thrusts. The Power’s pressure was awesome in the first quarter.
Wayne Schultz was the guy that got Ivanhoe going in the second term. How fitting it was that it would be the playing-coach.
He kicked a terrific goal from the boundary line, one of two for the term, and helped Ivanhoe hit the front.
FEDDA’S BEST ON GROUND
From there, it was the Alex Federico show as he took over the second half. He kicked two huge goals to start each of the third and fourth and was crucial in the midfield.
Deservedly, he was best-on.
He provided his thoughts to me – a bit harsh on himself, but he has the two medals to show for it.
“I probably haven’t had an amazing year, but to play well in these games is important. We just had to win, which was the whole thing,” he said.
There were plenty of the big performers at their absolute best as well.
Laurimar’s best-on-ground from the 2023 grand final, Josh Leather, had a mighty game, and was named Laurimar’s best. Jesse Donaldson battled bravely after coming back from a bad hamstring injury. Riley Loton was also very good for Ivanhoe, as was Schultz.
THE PLAN FOR DIVISION 2
Ivanhoe’s win means it immediately becomes a division 2 threat. Hear me out.
The club defeated Northcote Park and Old Paradians – both finalists – in practice matches between both teams’ full-strength sides at the start of the year.
The rumour mill already has Ivanhoe recruiting strongly for a crack at double-promotion next year.
Schultz told me on Saturday there was a lot to factor in going forward.
“Anything from remotely a week ahead, we’re excited to get that opportunity in due course. We’ll reflect on the season; we’ll look to retain and think tank everything we need to give ourselves the best opportunity to compete in division 2,” he said.
Federico also hinted the Hoers were going to go all-in.
“It’s a big journey. Next year, we want to go again. We’ll recruit, we already have a few blokes in the works,” he said.
PARADIANS IN THE GRAND FINAL
What an effort from Old Paradians – not only to overhaul minor premier South Morang at the death, but to make the club’s first-ever division 2 grand final, where the Raiders take on St Mary’s at Preston City Oval on Saturday.
Paradians kicked the final four goals of the game to overturn a 13-point deficit midway through the final term.
Lachie Kerr kicked five goals, while Josh Iacobaccio put in a sterling game.
What this means is that technically, regardless of Saturday’s result, every division 1 club in 2027 will be on the eastern side of Plenty Road. Not sure this has ever happened before in league history.
HEIDELBERG TOO STRONG
What an incredible football club.
The Tigers did everything right at Epping on Saturday, kicking goals when needed against the breeze, and holding Montmorency off, before going ham with the wind in both the second term (seven goals) and the last term (nine goals) to win by 88 points.
The usual big names were in the best – Dylan Clarke, Brayden Sier, Luke Bunker, Matthew Signorello among them.
The biggest number in the whole thing is 31 – that’s the amount of points Heidelberg have consistently played on throughout the whole season.
People do complain about Heidelberg’s dominance, but it just simply isn’t possible without the whole club buying in. A lot of respect for that.
GREENSBOROUGH GO THROUGH
While regrettably not the story of the day on Sunday, Greensborough’s football was good enough to end Diamond Creek’s fairytale season in straight sets.
The game was a see-sawing affair for three quarters, and still very much on the line going into the final change, but six goals to four in the last term ensured the Boro go into a preliminary final clash with Montmorency full of steam, having won their two finals well.
For Diamond Creek, what an incredible effort to make finals in its first season in division 1. The job at hand will be very interesting for whoever takes over from Andrew Tranquili, who did a mighty job with the club.
