JUST three weeks remain now. Three grand finals to take a look at – it’s all here as the man Northern Football Netball League CEO Daniel Kelly calls “the busiest man in football” goes Around The Grounds.
THE FIRST SENIOR GRAND FINAL
Ivanhoe and Laurimar will do battle for the first piece of men’s silverware on Saturday at Lalor Reserve after the Power proved too good for Watsonia, winning by 56 points.
You can read all about our match report on page 24.
I’m excited about this clash. Both teams put on an absolute rip-snorter two weeks ago – it was a great midfield battle.
However, Laurimar has a trump card.
Jesse Donaldson is back in the nick of time, getting through the preliminary final following a hamstring injury. He is a massive in – and could yet prove the difference at the right time of the year.
Ivanhoe will look for its first premiership since 2022, but its first in the Northern Football Netball League. The much-talked about midfield will need to be on its game and do the job. Coach Wayne Schultz is an elite operator – he’ll get them up and about.
Laurimar is seeking a first flag since 2023. In 2025, it lost to Fitzroy Stars. Revenge is clearly front and centre for Jimmy Atkins’ men.
HISTORY FOR ST MARY’S
What a fantastic effort for St Mary’s to be able to make it to its first ever division 2 decider following a tense second semi-final win over South Morang.
Again, the match report is on page 24, but condensed – it was St Mary’s how much for most of the first half, then all of a sudden, it stopped. South Morang kept the door ajar and asked so many questions in the last quarter, but the defensive unit of St Mary’s kept shutting down attacks.
I spoke to coach Jack Bianchin after the game. His pride was in the ability to build a team through the juniors instead of pure recruitment.
South Morang will be disappointed, but confident they have what it takes to knock off the Burra after dominating much of the second half. They have returnees pushing hard to get back into the team too. The likes of Ethan Lowe, Anthony Bradford and James Hewson all got through in the two’s on Saturday.
OLD PARADIANS TOO
Incredible seeing Old Paradians get through and make a preliminary final in its second year in division two.
I think that makes for a great preliminary final on Saturday with the Raiders looking to get over South Morang.
The Raiders held Northcote Park to a sole goal in the first half, before completely shutting down the game in the last term, winning by 46 points. Job done for coach Ben Turner, who has done a stellar job with this group.
For Northcote Park, it’s not the end it wanted after such a great start to the season. Unfortunately, injury hit the Cougars at the exact wrong time of the year, and clearly, building depth will be a goal for the club in 2027.
MONTY FLEX MUSCLES
A team with plenty of finals experience versus a team with no division 1 finals experience went exactly how it should have on Saturday at Epping, with Montmorency too strong for Diamond Creek, who did fight hard for three quarters.
Twenty-four points up at the final change, the Magpies put the foot down in the last term, kicking seven goals to one to make it a 61-point victory.
Suddenly, Saturday’s assignment against Heidelberg looms as an interesting one. The Magpies did kick 93 points against Heidelberg last time out – the most anyone scored against the Tigers since 2021.
It’s just that they conceded 155. We’ll see how it all plays out on Saturday but one thing is for sure – the Magpies are dangerous.
COULD THE BORO MAKE A PRELIM?
Keen readers will know I almost basically ruled Greensborough out mid-year.
On Sunday, when senior men’s footy returns to Preston City Oval, the Boro should probably start favourites against Diamond Creek in the first semi-final.
It was a simply brutal takedown of Bundoora on the menu for the men in green at Epping, restricting the Bulls to just two goals for the afternoon.
A disappointing end to a much-improved season for Bundoora, but Greensborough are flying at the moment.
ON THE MENU THIS WEEKEND
Rightfully, most eyes – mine are – are on Lalor Reserve on Saturday as we play the first of the three grand finals that will consume the next three weeks.
I look forward to bringing a lot of stories out of these next three weeks.
Laurimar and Ivanhoe in both seniors and reserves.
In division two, South Morang and Old Paradians do battle at Eltham, while Heidelberg and Montmorency will have a good battle at Epping on Saturday, before Greensborough and Diamond Creek fight it out on Sunday.
SHOUT OUT
Junior grand finals brought out some big names – I’ll talk more about my experiences below – but it was great to see Glenn McFarlane – a man I consider to be Australia’s best sports writer – at South Morang on Sunday morning.
I’ve been lucky enough to share the company of Macca a couple of times – he truly is someone I aspire to write like. A true student of the game. He does a fine job at the Herald Sun.
JUNIOR GRAND FINALS
Congratulations to every single junior that not only took the field on Sunday, but all across the year. You help keep the game going well into the future.
I saw some great contests on Sunday – the under 14 girls division 3 decider at South Morang was a beauty, as was the under 15 division 1 boys grand final.
These are the next wave of talents coming through in the NFNL, who are more than capable of making it to the big leagues.
BEST AND FAIREST DATE SET
September 16 at Flemington. I can’t wait – it’s going to be a big night.
I enjoy this time of year. It’s a night where the hair can be let down just the slightest bit, the best of the best get celebrated, and I get to suit up.
Keen followers know I love getting suited up. One can only guess. Red? Copper? Black? Green? White? Plenty of suits to pick from that will catch eyebrows.
