Montmorency overrun Northcote Park in the rain to keep NFL Division 1 finals hopes alive

Montmorency hopes the recent wet weather sticks around through finals after a strong win over Northcote Park and the Magpies are out for revenge this weekend.

Blake Murphy in action for Montmorency. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Look out for Montmorency if the rain continues to fall this season.

The Magpies have relished the slippery conditions in recent weeks and blanketed Northcote Park after half-time to win by 35 points on Saturday.

The Cougars led by seven points at the main break but were kept to just 0.5 after the rain arrived at Bill Lawry Oval as Montmorency prevailed, 9.10 (64) to 4.5 (29).

The win leapfrogs the Magpies ahead of Northcote Park into sixth, percentage behind West Preston-Lakeside in fifth and two premiership points back of Macleod.

Coach Garry Ramsay said the club’s NFL Division 1 finals ambitions were there for the taking.

Jesse Donaldson is wrapped up. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“We lose we start looking over our shoulder with relegation, we win and we look forward and look at fourth or fifth,” he said.

“It’s going to be an exciting finish, it’s nice to have your destiny in your own hands.

“(Northcote Park’s) ball use was very good in the first half and when the rain came we were able to force more turnovers.

“It’s interesting, our best footy this year seems to have been in the wet. We might be a wet weather team.”

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Jai Robinson and Jesse Donaldson were again outstanding for Montmorency, while Ramsay praised the development and impact of young midfielder Blake Murphy.

“Blake has come on in leaps and bounds in the midfield,” he said.

“He’s going to be a very good midfielder in this competition, he’s learning each week.”

The Magpies will certainly hope the wet weather sticks around this weekend with a clash against second-placed Heidelberg.

Lachlan O'Brien in action for Montmorency. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The Tigers claimed a convincing 125-point win in Round 5, holding Montmorency to just 2.7 (19), and Ramsay was looking for revenge.

“There’s probably only one side I feel we haven’t had a real crack at, Heidelberg beat us by 100 points in Round 5,” he said.

“We were terrible … we feel it’s a big challenge but we’re ready to go because we want to win our respect back.”

In what looms as a critical weekend, West Preston-Lakeside and Macleod clash at JE Moore Oval, while Hurstbridge hosts Bundoora and Northcote Park faces Lower Plenty.

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