Northcote Park appoints Heidelberg premiership assistant as new coach

Northcote Park has completed the NFNL coaching puzzle, locking in a Heidelberg premiership assistant and former North Melbourne draftee.

Northcote Park's new coach Anthony Palmer (left). Picture: Ridewood Photography

Northcote Park has completed the Northern league coaching puzzle.

The Cougars have appointed Anthony Palmer to lead the NFNL Division 2 club in 2024.

Palmer arrives at Bill Lawry Oval with a distinguished resume, having most recently served as assistant coach at back-to-back Division 1 premier Heidelberg.

He coached the Tigers’ under-19s for three years after time as senior coach of VAFA clubs Brunswick, Therry Penola and Bulleen Templestowe, winning a Division 2 title in 2012.

As a player, he was a Teal Cup premiership-winner, captained Essendon Grammar, played under Denis Pagan at North Melbourne Under-19s before being drafted by the Kangaroos in 1991.

Gypsy Hub’s Anthony Palmer and Craft and Co owner Paul Baggio. Picture: Tony Gough

He takes the reins from Steve Saddington, who stepped down this season after three years in the driver’s seat.

Northcote Park president Joe Amad liked what he saw during the coaching search and had no doubt his new coach would succeed.

“He interviewed really well, he’s got a good footy brain, he’s been around a lot time and has plenty of experience and he was a really good player in his day too,” Amad said.

“We’re excited, Anthony knows it will be a challenging coaching gig but there’s a bit of potential there.

“We had a lot of injuries and players overseas this year, we’re just trying to get back up there.

“This has been a period of significant change for our club but with that comes a great sense of excitement and opportunity and we have no doubt that Anthony is the right man to lead us into the future.

“He has a deep understanding of the game and what drives on-field success from a strategic and cultural perspective.

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“Anthony has great energy and is highly competitive and during the appointment process it became increasingly obvious that he was a great fit for our club.”

After suffering relegation last season, Northcote Park missed finals this year, finishing seventh with a 8-0-10 record.

Positively, club captain and best-and-fairest Matt Perry, Team of the Year defender Daniel Tallariti and club champion third-placed Alastair Punshon have all re-signed.

The Cougars have also secured experienced coach Russell Humphreys to lead the reserves.