JUST one ground to visit this week, but there is plenty going on. Let’s go Around the Grounds for the second-last time in 2026.
IT’S THE TIGERS AND BORO
It comes down to division 1 on Saturday at Preston City Oval. Heidelberg and Greensborough. It’s the first time these two will meet in a grand final since 2014 – both have taken various routes to get here.
Heidelberg have taken the road less travelled – one final, one game in a month. The Tigers know what it takes, they’ve done it four times in a row, they now go for five.
Greensborough, mind you, have done it all the way from fifth. Three cut-throat finals in a row, the men in green have got its best team in at the right time of the year.
History says Heidelberg has won both its matches against Greensborough by 10 goals, but it took a lot more work than it appeared. Seven goals in the last quarter the first time around, nine in the last the second time around.
Saturday might be intriguing after all.
BORO IN A CLASSIC
Greensborough’s third cut-throat final mentioned above was against Montmorency on Sunday afternoon, and fair to say it was a genuine classic.
Despite a very heavy breeze favouring the Bell Street end of the ground, both teams were able to utilise the Preston Market end better, which was a real surprise given how notorious the ground is for one end to dominate play.
The margin for much of the day was essentially no more than two goals, save for Greensborough’s match-winning burst in the final term.
The big names stood up for Greensborough. Tom Mitchell, Blake Watson and Will Mitchell among them.
For Montmorency, more disappointment at Preston City Oval. Their record at the ground now sits at a miserable 6-18 since the league started playing at the ground in 2007. And a wait for a first flag since 1979 goes on.
A RAID INTO DIVISION ONE
Who picked this?
Just 59 games after entering the Northern Football Netball League, Old Paradians are in division 1. Wow.
It’s the first time the Raiders will play top division football since 1997, when they competed in Premier A of the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
How the Raiders got there is remarkable.
Needing to win the last game of the division 2 home-and-away season, the Raiders did that comfortably against Fitzroy Stars.
They then beat finals-hardened Whittlesea, dispatched of Northcote Park, then they doubled down on the hard work.
The Raiders kicked the last four goals against South Morang in the preliminary final to overturn a 13-point deficit to win by 11 points.
On Saturday, when St Mary’s kicked the first goal of the last term, it was a 13-point ball game. Parade then went ballistic – eight goals, seven behinds, all in a row, and eventually ended up winning by 42 points. Crazy stuff.
OLD McDONALD’S FARM
Connor McDonald has had it all in 2026. Coaches MVP, and now a best-on-ground medal and a flag. Best-and-fairest loading tomorrow night?
Great to chat to him after his best-on-ground performance, where, like Alex Federico before him, he talked down his influence.
“It’s all that matters. I’m nothing without my whole team – the midfielders make me look good every game. But to win the flag, that’s what we play footy for, it’s all that matters,” he said.
Paradians’ dominant last quarter was all down to his ruckwork against Huon MacGibbon. It was an almighty battle that McDonald got on top of eventually.
The Raiders’ dominance was such that it was 24 inside 50s to four in the last term.
What a result for Ben Turner’s men – a third flag for Turner, a second for Paradians in just three years.
COACHING MOVES
Lots going on.
Heath Scotland has departed Bundoora in a year where the Bulls went from a relegation battle to fourth position. The Bulls’ next appointment is set to be a rather interesting watch.
Hurstbridge has named Jacob Smith as the next coach to take over from Joel Cordwell – Smith having played for the club in 2021 through to 2024, but had been the footy ops manager after concussion ended his playing career.
Macleod are going down the youth route with the appointment of Owen Blizzard and Ari Sciacca as coach and head of development from Old Paradians, respectively.
Lalor’s coaching appointment is very interesting – JJ Cristaudo is the man for the job. Only 26, he has previously served at Glenroy in the reserves, and feels ready to step up for senior level.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Ahead of the last Around the Grounds in next week’s Review, here’s how next week is looking.
I’ll be taking my bright, shiny red suit to Flemington tomorrow night for the best-and-fairest – stay tuned for a review of that.
No grand final breakfast this year, there will be a grand final function during the reserves’ grand final however, which I’ve been invited to. I’ll be in and out inbetween taking photos for that one.
The big event follows, with Heidelberg and Greensborough, and I’ll be all over that without a doubt.
Post-game, I’ll be at the winning clubrooms. Looking forward to finally letting my hair down for that.
SHOUT OUT
Not Northern Football Netball League related, but just wanted to talk about two unbelievable premierships at my old stomping ground in Maryborough on Saturday.
In footy, Harcourt won its third flag in five years – this one the best of the three. Earlier this year, the town almost essentially burned down. The club was saved by the skin of its teeth from the flames. Incredible effort.
But even that was upstaged by the pure emotion of the netball flag. Sadly, a Navarre player lost her life following training for the A grade grand final on Thursday night in a car accident.
But the Hoppers found something on Saturday, playing on pure emotion, to win. It’s probably the most courageous flag I have ever heard about in my life.
My thoughts remain with the club.
