Who are the main premiership contenders across the Northern Football League
SEASON PREVIEW: Can anyone stand up to the might of Heidelberg in NFNL Division 1? Who are the top premiership contenders in Division 2 and 3?
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A premiership is never guaranteed but, let’s be honest, it looks like everyone’s playing for second.
Heidelberg, already the three-time defending premier, is the unbackable favourite to win the NFNL Division 1 premiership for a record-equalling fourth-time in 2025.
It’s happened twice in Diamond Valley/Northern league history, Northcote Park from 1999 to 2002 and the Tigers once previously from 2006-09.
The Tigers won all three Division 1 premierships last season – seniors, reserves and under-19s – the first time that happened since 1975 and the list has only gotten stronger over summer.
Two-time premiership captain Sam Gilmore is back, one of the best rucks in all of local footy, while several flag-winning teammates are also back – not to mention a host of VFL-listed talent.
You can throw a blanket over the contenders, six teams can realistically consider themselves a contender to take down the champ.
A three-way battle is then expected to avoid relegation.
South Morang step up full of swagger after two flags in three years and arguably the biggest recruit of the NFNL off-season in ex-Richmond forward Noah Cumberland.
If the Lions can replicate what they produced in last season’s finals series then there’s a good chance they’ll survive an immediate drop.
Where there definitely will be new blood is the competition’s goalkicking title with reigning winner Parker Heatley and three-time winner Pat Fitzgerald both departing in the off-season.
Look out for West Preston-Lakeside wunderkind Dante Colosimo, Tiger Zane Barzen, Cumberland and North Heidelberg’s Adam Giobbi.
While there are obvious favourites, the premiership races are far more open in Division 2 and 3.
Will it be third time lucky for Diamond Creek?
Can Fitzroy Stars bounce back and atone for last year?
There’s a host of contenders to the throne in both competitions.
Whittlesea was undefeated until Round 17 last year but lost three of its final four games to crash out of finals in straight sets.
The Eagles will only be better for the experience, led by reigning league best-and-fairest Taidhg Bland, and have added even more talent to a stacked list.
Macleod will step back to Division 2 for the first time since 2009 and will be equally eager to make a quick return to the top-flight.
Northcote Park, St Mary’s, Thomastown and Lower Plenty are all capable on their day and could be surprise risers.
There’s new coaches at the Kangas, Burras and Watsonia – Nick Kent, Jack Bianchin and Anthony McGregor respectively – adding to the intrigue of how the season will play out.
If St Mary’s is to push back into the top-five, a fully fit 2023 league medallist Tane Cotter will be one to watch.
Old Paradians are the team coming up after a dream NFNL debut, winning the Division 3 premiership in its first season in the league.
The Raiders have lost Gilmore but gained Eltham premiership captain Darcy Vallance and have tapped into Parade College’s deep pool of ex-student talent.
The vanquished Fitzroy Stars certainly didn’t spend the summer wallowing in their sorrow.
The club appointed former AFL Demon and current Collingwood assistant Neville Jetta as coach and secured one of the best recruiting classes in the entire league.
Ethan Penrith and Brock Carter are impressive inclusions, while Phoenix Spicer and Roy George are VFL-listed at Footscray and Casey respectively.
Despite an immediate relegation, Laurimar will only be better for the season in Division 2 last year and the Power have added legendary goalkicker Fitzgerald and tough midfielder Steve McCallum.
Mernda has Billy Morrison and Brent Marshall fully fit then, three weeks out for Round 1, added 2023 Division 3 league best-and-fairest Lachie Evans and Nick Gregson to supercharge their premiership hopes.
Then there’s Epping, which lured reigning league medallist and Coaches’ MVP Brent Macaffer – of Collingwood 2010 premiership fame – across along with several other high-profile recruits as it looks to bounce back up a tier.
Could there also be a darkhorse?
Reservoir has recruited strongly, adding the ex-AFL talents Levi Greenwood and Aaron Edwards who delivered premiership glory to Healesville last season.
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Then there’s the likes of Paul Scanlon, Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith, Josh Grabowski, Jack Sandric and Jaise Coleman.
Is it sustainable? Who knows but it should bring a bit more success to a club starved of it.
In the women’s top-flight, expect Diamond Creek Women’s to avenge their grand final defeat last season but St Mary’s could just as easily make it back-to-back titles.
Not sure how Maykaylah Appleby isn’t playing a higher level but she is the standout player in the Northern league after back-to-back league best-and-fairests.
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