NFL: Ash Close brings out ‘The Moose’ celebration after booting 10 goals in Northcote Park’s win over Hurstbridge

THERE was a moose on the loose in Hurstbridge on Saturday.

Ash Close kicked 10 goals for Northcote Park on Saturday and performed his moose celebration. Picture: Hamish Blair.

THERE was a moose on the loose in Hurstbridge on Saturday.

Northcote Park spearhead Ash Close brought his famous moose celebration out for the first time in the Northern Football League after kicking 10 goals in his side’s 44-point win over the Bridges.

Close was given the nickname ‘Moose’ after he celebrated three 10-goal hauls with VAFA side Ivanhoe Amateur Football Club by performing moose antlers with his hands.

The Collingwood VFL-listed tall did not disappoint the Northcote Park faithful when he brought up double figures on Saturday.

‘Every time he kicks 10 goals he does ‘The Moose’,” Cougars coach Matt McLennan said.

“That was the first time I had witnessed ‘The Moose’, so it was good.

“It was definitely a highlight and a bit of fun.”

Close has bagged 18 goals in the past two weeks to help Northcote Park jump to sixth on the Division 1 ladder.

“It’s also his work he does up the ground,” McLennan said.

“(But) 10 goals is the reward and it looks good on the stats. They will be there forever.”

The Cougars coach said small forwards Brock McLennan and Ricky Fandrich’s best form of the campaign had coincided with Close’s return to the side.

“It just makes everyone in the right position and more confident,” he said.

“If you have got support like that around you, you walk a bit taller.”

Close will be united with fellow tall Jackson Starcevich after the Queen’s Birthday bye, when his forward partner is due to return from a knee injury.

McLennan said his side had reached a “turning point” in its season and was on an upwards trajectory.

“That first quarter, Macleod really touched us up three games ago,” he said.

“There was a shift at that point.

“We had one bad quarter last week against Montmorency and this week we were getting to that point where we were playing four consistent quarters.”

Northcote Park kicked eight goals in the opening term at Ben Frilay Oval, taking control of their Round 7 contest from the outset.

Tyson Old and Jordan Perry provided drive further up the ground, however Close was the matchwinner.