THE Northern Football Netball League season continues to deliver some stunning twists and turns as we go Around The Grounds.
FIRST GRAND FINALS SET
The first lot of grand finals have been set for Sunday at Preston City Oval, with the women’s taking centre stage with three terrific battles set out.
It looked for all money that division 3 would see the giant-killing Eltham 2 continue its stunning run for much of last Sunday’s preliminary final at Tony Sheehan Oval, leading for much of the day against minor premier Macleod.
But a wasteful Kangaroos eventually got going just at the right time. Fittingly, it was 150-gamer Teneisha Fiore who helped kick the goal that got Macleod in front, before another goal at the end meant the Roos now move on to a clash with St Mary’s 2 to decide the division 3 premiership.
Division 2 was a lot more straight-forward, with Ivanhoe making light work of Darebin 1’s brave finals run, eventually finishing up 80-point winners.
That means the two best teams will battle it out in the second division grand final, and it’s been unbelievable seeing some great contests between Ivanhoe and Fitzroy Stars this year.
I get the feeling this could be the pick of the grand finals. Both teams will love the wider expanses of Preston City Oval.
Division 1 delivered a stunning preliminary final full of twists and turns.
After Montmorency 1 led for much of the game, Eltham 1 hit back hard and hit the front early in the last term, before extending the lead to seven points midway through.
However, Montmorency 1 found another gear to tie the game as the siren went, before extra time was required.
It was Montmorency 1 who kicked a goal to eventually hit the front, before winning by seven points, and will play St Mary’s 1 in what is a big day for the Burra next week for the division 1 premiership.
THE DIVISION 2 DRAMA
What a finish to Melbourne’s best competition this year.
Every single spot in the top five was not locked in – and nor was every spot on the ladder except for the relegated Panton Hill.
Seven teams simply couldn’t fit into five.
Here was the equation – South Morang needed to win to finish top – probably the simplest equation of the lot. If the Lions lost, it benefitted Macleod, who would play finals. But if Macleod lost, they needed Old Paradians to win against Fitzroy Stars, and St Mary’s to beat Whittlesea.
If Paradians win, they play finals. A loss would have required South Morang beating Macleod, and St Mary’s beating Whittlesea (or Whittlesea winning, but by only a small margin).
St Mary’s could have still finished top, but needed Macleod to win comfortably, while also winning comfortably themselves, while Northcote Park needed to beat Thomastown and hope Macleod beat South Morang for top spot.
Fitzroy Stars simply needed to win and it was in.
As it transpired, there was drama aplenty.
Old Paradians were simply too good for Fitzroy Stars – the Raiders’ game a simple case of dominating the second half onwards and winning by 33 points.
The Stars were out, percentage their undoing.
Macleod were behind at half time by 34 points but would have felt good with around-the-grounds scores – Whittlesea trailing by 14 points at half time (and by as much as 30 during the second term), while Paradians led. At half time, the Roos were still in.
But it was Whittlesea – playing to extend coach Garry Ramsay’s tenure in the finals – that lifted.
The Eagles kicked six goals to zero in the third term to turn the game around completely and added the first two of the last to make it 28 points, before winning by 15.
There was still drama at Mill Park Lakes as Macleod asked questions of South Morang, reducing what was once was a 41-point lead to 12 early in the last, but South Morang kicked six goals in eight minutes to kill the game completely.
That also meant Northcote Park’s 53-point win over Thomastown solely sorted out the home rooms for the qualifying final next week, while in a game that had no ramifications for either team, Panton Hill showed it is one of the stiffest teams to ever get relegated, winning its fifth game of the season with a 20-point win over Lower Plenty.
Once looking to challenge for the minor premiership, the Bears lost their final eight games after a five-game winning run.
FINAL FIVE SORTED IN DIVISION 1
And so, with one round to play, the final five has been set in division 1, with just the small matter of who plays the qualifying final and the elimination final.
Diamond Creek have secured the double chance but have the chance to make the almightiest of statements if it wishes to secure the home rooms at Epping Recreation Reserve in week one.
It did it to Heidelberg earlier in the season – if the Demons can do it again, it would be a statement of intent that this premiership isn’t a one-horse race as many have suggested throughout the season.
Montmorency have the opportunity to pinch second spot if Heidelberg get a win, however, hosting North Heidelberg to finish the home-and-away season.
If the Magpies lose, however, the door opens for Bundoora to snatch the double chance, with the Bulls travelling to War Memorial Park to take on Greensborough.
A Greensborough win would mean it secures the home rooms for the elimination final, and it would mean the two teams take the field again the following week – which is a possibility, even if Bundoora win.
It could mean a tricky psychological battle is in play this week.
Banyule have finished the season strongly and will just miss out – unless the Bears and Bulls both win by something around 300 points each (it won’t happen).
Hurstbridge will miss the finals after making the grand final last year – injury has destroyed the potential of a good team, and same with Eltham, who would have no doubt hoped for a bit more than a 6-11 record, but again, injury played its part.
North Heidelberg can still finish eighth, while West Preston will be hoping to get the weekend over and done with and plan for a division 2 assault in 2027.
THE FINALS FLING THIS WEEKEND
Plenty happening.
The first spot in the division 3 grand final gets decided on Saturday between Ivanhoe and Laurimar at Lalor.
Laurimar has snuck closer and closer throughout the season – 35 points in the first meeting, 20 points just a couple of weeks back.
From speaking to Ivanhoe coach Wayne Schultz this weekend, there will be a lot of thought into what will undoubtedly be a tight selection call – as many as six to possibly come back into the team.
Mernda and Watsonia will be a ripper. Speaking to coach Anthony McGregor for Watsonia’s win over Heidelberg West on Sunday, there’s certainly been an axe to grind with the way Watsonia have been written off for much of the year. They are certainly in it to make a preliminary final.
In division 2, Northcote Park and St Mary’s will do battle at Eltham. The Cougars have been stronger in the two meetings this year, winning both of them, but do come in with some small form-related question marks, losing two on the bounce before getting up on Saturday against Thomastown to quell some concerns.
St Mary’s will be disappointed with the manner of which it lost to Whittlesea. The Burra kicked the first four goals in just five minutes, and it looked like they were still looking good when up 30 points in the second term, before the Eagles kicked the next 10 goals of the game.
On Sunday, Whittlesea will look to keep its run going against Old Paradians – who have flown under the radar a bit actually, in my opinion.
What a remarkable run it’s been for the Raiders to make the finals in their second year in the division 2 competition. They are a very well-run club.
When Old Paradians beat Whittlesea in round 12, the Eagles were also in the relegation battle. But since Taidhg Bland’s return, the Eagles have accounted for Fitzroy Stars, Panton Hill, Lower Plenty, Northcote Park and St Mary’s, and in a manner of which the ridiculous division 2 campaign has been conducted, their one loss in that time was to ninth-placed Thomastown. Phew.
What a season. And there’s still so much more to come.