NFL 2018: North Heidelberg’s punt on untried coach Jimmy House paying dividends in the Northern Football League
NORTH Heidelberg took a punt hiring Jimmy House as coach, but the gamble is paying off. Here’s how the Bulldogs have gone from Division 2 premiers to top-tier finalists in just one year.
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THE doubts were starting to creep in.
North Heidelberg had taken a punt on untried coach Jimmy House in its first year back in Northern Football League Division 1.
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Its previous foray into the top flight in 2015 resulted in immediate relegation. A month into the season, it appeared the Bulldogs could suffer the same fate.
North Heidelberg started the season 1-4 and was only clear of the relegation zone on percentage ahead of a crunch fixture against last-placed Hurstbridge.
So how have the Bulldogs become the first promoted club to play finals in the top tier the following year after that shaky start?
North Heidelberg has won 11 of its past 12 games to sit a game clear in second, announcing itself as a legitimate premiership contender by securing the final double chance.
“That Hurstbridge game was a pivotal game, it was probably the turning point in our season,” vice-president Warren Haysom said.
“It’s always hard to win up there and they’d been flying. I think they’d won their last two — I think they beat Heidelberg the week before — so they were probably expected to beat us.
“We had the Heidelberg win at home the week after and all of a sudden we were 3-4 and out of that relegation zone and I think it allowed the guys to play with a little bit of freedom.”
A Round 1 win over flag fancy Macleod filled the Bulldogs with confidence.
Narrow defeats against Greensborough and reigning premier Bundoora also didn’t diminish the Bulldogs’ outlook on the season.
“Opposition coaches had thought we were quite a good, quality side,” Haysom said.
Remarkably, North Heidelberg has dropped just one game since that 13-point defeat against the Bulls in Round 5. Momentum and confidence are on its side.
“Not that there were reviews happening with me, but you start to get doubts about yourself whether you’re capable,” House said.
“It was about remaining positive that we were on the right track. They were narrow misses (against Greensborough and Bundoora).
“We could have been thereabouts and they were against top sides, so that was the more positive thing. We just needed to stick to what we were doing.”
The 32-year-old had never coached or played in the NFL but knew champion brothers Brent and Shane Harvey through connections at North Melbourne, where his grandfather Ron House is a life member.
“I knew him through Lindsay Thomas at the Kangaroos and Jimmy sent me a message asking if the job was available. I sent him in the right direction and the rest is history,” Shane said.
“I think a lot of people wouldn’t have expected us to even get this far, but we’re pretty confident we can match it with the best teams in the comp.
“I suppose come finals time, all you need is a bit of luck and who knows what could happen.”
House had previously held assistant positions at Sunbury Kangaroos, Strathmore and Diggers Rest after playing in Lancefield’s 2009 Riddell District league triumph.
He spent 2016 and 2017 as a development coach at TAC Cup club Eastern Ranges.
Haysom said the Bulldogs took a gamble on House.
“Jimmy was probably a little bit down on the list as far as what we felt (we needed) because we did try to land someone with senior coaching qualifications,” Haysom said.
“We put the feelers out far and wide and his name came up but we certainly put some offers out there, potentially for proven coaches, if you like.”
Haysom said House’s appointment had been a “blessing in disguise”.
“We felt, based on his character and referee checks, they stood up quite well and he’d been in the system as a modern coach,” he said.
“He felt we had a playing list that was good enough to survive in Division 1 and we were very confident our recruits, to support the existing list, were going to add some good talent.
“He’s instilled the belief they could more than match it with any other team in the competition.”
House said there was a sense of disbelief at what the Bulldogs were achieving.
“It probably sinks in and resonates with me when on a Saturday night I go back to the clubrooms and people go, ‘another win’,” House said
“We’ve got to stop winning because I keep getting bought beers and I can’t drive home.
“I’m just glad those people are getting to see the boys perform the way they are at the moment.”
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