Who makes the cut in our dream Northern league representative team

How would a Northern league rep team stand up against the best in local footy? We’ve named our All-Star team at the (almost) half-way point of the season.

We name Leader's Northern league All-Stars.

The King’s Birthday long weekend is traditionally, rep footy time.

The Northern league was ranked No. 1 when the community championships were shelved after 2019.

And we reckon this team would be pretty hard to beat.

The talent squeeze is immense, so much so ex-AFL gun Brent Macaffer just missed out, while leading Division 1 goalkicker Zane Barzen is also extremely unlucky.

While three-time reigning premier Heidelberg dominates, with four inclusions, there are 15 clubs represented from across the three divisions.

Check out the team below.

Daniel O'Dwyer in action for Heidelberg. Picture: Field of View Photography

BACKS

Hamish Murphy (North Heidelberg)

Daniel O’Dwyer (Heidelberg)

Lachie East (Hurstbridge)

Jeez, good luck getting past this lot. Murphy, O’Dwyer and East are three of the best intercept-marking key defenders in the Northern league, feasting on high balls on a weekly basis. They’re also capable of completely shutting down opponents one-on-one.

HALF-BACKS

Neville Jetta (Fitzroy Stars)

Jackson Davies (Greensborough)

Jack Johnston (Greensborough)

Greensborough coach Matt Hyde called Davies an intercept-marking machine. Combine him with the dashing run-carry and ball use of Jetta and Johnston and this line could cut opposition sides to shreds. Jetta brings ex-AFL experience and represents Division 3.

Jack Johnston in action for Greensborough. Picture: Andrew Batsch

CENTRES

Dylan Clarke (Heidelberg)

Luke Bunker (Heidelberg)

Josh Grabowski (Reservoir)

There is no better one-two midfield combination in Division 1 than Clarke and Bunker, if one doesn’t win the clearance then the other probably will. Clarke’s versatility sees him push out to a wing. On the other side, Grabowski has been a revelation at Reservoir with his speed and line-breaking run. He leads the Division 3 Coaches MVP despite the Mustangs sitting sixth.

Darcy Barden in action for Macleod. Picture: Andy Brownbill

HALF-FORWARDS

Jacob Booth (Diamond Creek)

Darcy Barden (Macleod)

Will Cookson (Hurstbridge)

Barden and Booth represent Division 2, sitting one-two in the Coaches’ MVP voting. Barden has moved to attack this season with superb results, booting 41 goals in eight appearances, second only to Pat Fitzgerald across the NFNL. Booth and Cookson are equally adapt at winning clearances on the inside, doing damage on the outside and finishing in front of goals.

FORWARDS

Patty Farrant (Fitzroy Stars)

Patrick Fitzgerald (Laurimar)

James Kayrooz (Banyule)

Quite frankly, this is a terrifying front three for an opposition defence. Fitzgerald provides the goalsquare anchor and had dominated Division 3, booting 43 goals in seven outings, including two bags of 10. His fellow Division 3 talent, Farrant, is VFL-listed at Port Melbourne and showed what he is capable of in last year’s finals, with two hauls of eight. An on the other side, the young apprentice, Kayrooz is capable of pushing up the ground and using his speed on the counter-attack or sitting on someone’s head.

Patrick Farrant in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Field of View Photography

FOLLOWERS

Matt Harman (West Preston-Lakeside)

Noah Wheeler (Banyule)

Marcus Lentini (Montmorency)

There’s plenty of competition but we reckon Rooster Harman is the No. 1 big man in the competition. Wheeler has been a sensation in his return from an ACL reconstruction at Banyule, winning plenty of the ball in midfield. Meanwhile, Lentini continues to rack up the disposals and Coaches’ MVP votes and, having stepped up in Nash Holmes’ absence, will again be a Rosbrook Medal contender. Both rover and ruck-rover are sitting in the top-five in the Division 1 Coaches’ MVP voting.

INTERCHANGE

Jesse Tardio (North Heidelberg)

Ewan Macpherson (Diamond Creek)

Tom Keys (Heidelberg)

Taidhg Bland (Whittlesea)

23rd: Ben McCarthy (Bundoora)

Fully fit, Tardio is enjoying a renaissance season at Shelley Park and is among the league leaders in a number of midfield metrics. Macpherson has been just as impressive in his return to Diamond Creek after a season in Queensland and has been hitting the scoreboard too. Keys is the reigning Rosbrook Medallist and he’ll again be among the favourites if his early season form continues. His versatility is critical. And, Taidhg Bland is coming off a league medal is his own, in Division 2, and continues to be a developing young leader as Whittlesea eye a premiership. We’ve also included a 23rd man – a 21 or under talent. McCarthy has impressed everyone at Yulong Reserve after arriving from Queensland in pre-season and has produced a number of eye-catching performances despite the Bulls struggles.

UNLUCKY

Brent Macaffer (Epping), Zane Barzen (Heidelberg), Dante Colosimo (West Preston-Lakeside), Mitch Moschetti (Hurstbridge), Darcy Vallance (Old Paradians)