The top Northern Football League blockbusters to watch in 2022 season

Premiership rivals West Preston-Lakeside and Bundoora will kick off the Northern Football League season in 2022. Check out the best matches to watch.

Max Dreher under pressure. Picture: Steve Tanner

A blockbuster between 2021 minor premier West Preston-Lakeside and runner-up Bundoora will kick off the 2021 Northern Football League season on April 2.

It’s a replay of Round 1 this season, which the Roosters won by 48 points.

The clash at Moore Oval will also mark David Zaharakis’ Bulls debut, while Lin Jong will play his first game for Montmorency against Northcote Park and Heidelberg will unveil Brayden Sier against Hurstbridge.

After their date with the Roosters, Bundoora will have to back up against Montmorency at Yulong Reserve in one of the most anticipated matches of the year in Round 2.

Then with Easter falling just before Anzac Day, Round 3 will be played over 11 days.

David Zaharakis in action for Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

Lin Jong at Western Bulldogs training.

It begins with a Good Friday triple header on April 15 – Greensborough v Macleod, North Heidelberg v Bundoora and Thomastown v Epping – and ends with a standalone Anzac Day clash between Whittlesea and Hurstbridge.

Macleod and North Heidelberg have also been given a standalone game, the Kangas and Bulldogs to meet on the Queen’s Birthday weekend, Saturday, June 11 at De Winton Park.

Meanwhile in Division 2, footy fans will have to wait until Round 4, April 30, for the highly anticipated clash between 2021 front-runners Banyule and Lower Plenty.

The minor premier will have the first advantage at Beverley Road.

Then in Division 3, the minor premier-runner-up grudge match between South Morang and Laurimar will be held in Round 6, May 14, at Laurimar.

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TOP 10 MATCHES TO WATCH IN 2022

WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE v BUNDOORA

Saturday, April 2 at Moore Park

The 2021 minor premier v the runner-up. What a way to start the season. Both teams will be looking to start the season with four points and take whatever edge they can over a premiership rival. Will also see David Zaharakis make his Bulls debut.

BUNDOORA v MONTMORENCY

Saturday, April 9 at Yulong Reserve

A much-anticipated clash between the two teams that have been the most active across the past two off-seasons. The Bulls possess Sam Lloyd and David Zaharakis plus three Team of the Year players while Montmorency have added Lin Jong, Liam Buxton, Mitch Honeychurch and Danko Bzenic.

BANYULE v THOMASTOWN

Saturday, April 9 at Beverley Road

Banyule is expected to be the team to beat again in 2022 so this will be an interesting test to see where Thomastown have improved. Thommo didn’t get a crack at their fellow Bears this season and have added three-time Division 3 league best-and-fairest Jarryd Coulson.

ELTHAM v DIAMOND CREEK

Saturday, April 9 at Central Park

On the same weekend Eltham host neighbouring rival Diamond Creek with the big question being … how will Eltham fare without Brent Macaffer? Diamond Creek will be keen to atone for a 68-point thrashing in their last meeting. Both teams have plenty to prove.

HEIDELBERG WEST v OLD ELTHAM COLLEGIANS

Saturday, April 23 at Heidelberg Park

COVID ruined what promised to be a terrific battle between the Hawks and Turtles with fourth place on the line. We now have to wait until April 23 and both teams will be desperate for an early-season win to set them up for a historic finals appearance.

Tom Cleary in action for Old Eltham Collegians. Picture: George Salpigtidis

WHITTLESEA v HURSTBRIDGE

Monday, April 25 at Whittlesea Showgrounds

The Eagles and Bridges have the honour of playing a standalone game on Anzac Day. Whittlesea Showgrounds might not be the MCG but it should still be a full house. A good chance to see new Eagle Jarrad Waite in action.

BANYULE v LOWER PLENTY

Saturday, April 30 at Beverley Road

Genuine blockbuster. Possibly an early-season grand final preview. The grand final we were likely robbed off this season. The two teams split the season series, Banyule claiming a nine-point win before Lower turned the tables by 41 points. Ex-Lower coach Ben Turner joining Banyule only adds to the spice.

HEIDELBERG v NORTH HEIDELBERG

Saturday, May 7 at Warringal Park

The first Heidelberg derby of the season. The fixture is always match-watch footy and the 2022 version promises to be no different. The Tigers and Bulldogs finished fourth and fifth this season and are expected to once again battle for finals in 2022.

GREENSBOROUGH v WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE

Saturday, May 14 at War Memorial Park

The rivalry continues. The two teams have a healthy respect/dislike after the Roosters upset grand final win in 2019 and Greensborough’s one-point thriller in 2021. How will new Borough coach Saade Ghazi fare in his first outing against master coach Rob Maiorana?

LAURIMAR v SOUTH MORANG

Saturday, May 14 at Laurimar Reserve

We’ve got to wait six weeks before the two biggest teams in Division 3 face off. South Morang claimed the minor premiership but Laurimar was hot on its heels after claiming an 18-point win in what ended up being the penultimate game of the season. Expect these two to again be vying for the premiership and promotion.