NFL: Northcote Park key forwards Ash Close and Jackson Starcevich to reunite after Queen’s Birthday bye
NORTHCOTE Park will unleash twin towers Ash Close and Jackson Starcevich after the Queen’s Birthday bye as it targets another premiership tilt.
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NORTHCOTE Park will unleash twin towers Ash Close and Jackson Starcevich after the Queen’s Birthday bye as it targets another premiership tilt.
Starcevich has not played for the Cougars this year as he manages a knee injury, while Collingwood VFL-listed big man Close has only featured in three matches.
Close emphasised his importance to Northcote Park with eight goals in the club’s 37-point win against Montmorency on Saturday.
The Cougars have averaged 105 points per game in matches Close has played this year and just 53 points when he has not featured.
“Not just what he does as an individual,” coach Matt McLennan said.
“He gives us a reference point. Our whole forward line can set up better.
“The midfield have got someone down there that can finish off the job for them.”
McLennan said Starcevich was on track to return in Round 8 against Greensborough.
“He is actually tracking really well,” he said.
“If it was finals, we could probably look at playing him, but there’s no urgency.”
Starcevich and Close were one of the most lethal forward pairings in Northern Football League Division 1 last season, combining for 76 majors as Northcote Park progressed to the preliminary final.
Close was involved in a shootout with Montmorency spearhead Patrick Fitzgerald, who bagged six goals on Saturday but could not prevent the Cougars triumphing 21.12 (138) to 15.11 (101).
“The wheels have perhaps turned in the right direction for us at the moment,” McLennan said. “It’s one good win and a good team needs to put a couple of those together.”
The Northcote Park coach said ruckman Alastair Punshon had been a “revelation” in the past two games and praised the leadership of first-year skipper Paul Dirago.
“Paul Dirago has just had a season out of the box, just a consistent, prolific ball winner,” he said.
The Cougars are sixth on the ladder with a 3-3 record after six rounds and face Hurstbridge away on Saturday.
“We are trying to get things right to have a good second half of the year,” McLennan said.
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