Who makes the cut in our Northern Football League rep team
The Queen’s Birthday weekend is traditionally time for inter-league football and we’ve put together an all-star team to represent the No.1 ranked Northern Football League.
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The Queen’s Birthday long weekend is traditionally time for representative footy.
The Northern Football League won’t get a chance to defend its crown as the No.1 league in Victoria, a title won in 2019.
With inter-league footy on the backburner Leader Local Footy has picked NFL representative coach Garry Ramsay’s brain to put together an all-star 22.
However, there are a couple of caveats …
CHECK OUT THE TEAM BELOW AND WHO WAS STIFF TO MISS OUT
Firstly, no VFL-listed players were considered, which excludes the likes of Sam Binion who is currently sitting fifth in the Division 1 Coaches’ MVP votes.
Similarly, we’ve also left our Brent Harvey due to his North Melbourne AFL commitments.
And on Ramsay’s advice we’ve picked at least two players from the 10 Division 1 clubs with ladder-leaders Greensborough and West Preston-Lakeside having three players selected.
This has seen some of the stars of the competition miss out but is also a testament to the strength and depth of the competition.
BACKS
Nick Riddle is a walk-up start having won the best-on-ground medal in the NFL’s community championships win over Geelong and as one of the best defenders in the competition for the past decade. The Greensborough champion missed a couple of games at the start of the season but when he’s on the park has been a star, earning three best mentions in four appearances.
Zach Molloy takes a spot in the back pocket after an impressive start to the season with Whittlesea. The young defender has taken on some of the biggest tasks in the NFL, minding the likes of Shane Harvey, Sam Lloyd and Ahmed Saad. In seven games this season, Molloy has been named in the best on five occasions and earned eight Coaches’ MVP votes in the upset win over North Heidelberg.
Reed Jepson is our full-back, returning to Division 1 this season in superb form despite Northcote Park’s struggles. He’s earned the most mentions in the best in the entire competition – seven – and has battled some of the league’s elite. Despite Ahmed Saad kicking six and Josh Minogue bagging eight against the Cougars he was still rated among the best on the day.
HALF-BACKS
West Preston-Lakeside star Jackson Clarke is our centre half-back. The two-time premiership and Division 1 Team of the Year defender has been a key plank in a Roosters backline that has conceded 300 points less than last season in the first seven rounds and leads the club in Coaches’ MVP votes, sitting just outside the top five with 23 votes.
On either side we’ve gone for attacking half-backs who can use the ball but also defend when needed. Northcote Park star Ben McNiece has impressed in his return to the Northern Football League with five mentions in the Cougars’ best in six appearances. McNiece was used as a small defender at AFL level but is also capable of running off and breaking lines.
Similarly, Macleod’s Justin White can tear teams to shreds with his ball use off half-back. Named on the half-back flank in the 2019 Division 1 Team of the Year – his ninth consecutive honour – he’s a must-have in any NFL rep team. Leads the Kangas with 14 Coaches’ MVP votes.
MIDFIELD
On one wing, Montmorency skipper Jesse Donaldson, one of the most consistent and reliable midfielders in the competition. That’s reflected in his six appearances in the best from all six appearances and, despite playing one game less, third place in the Coaches’ MVP votes. Co-captained the victorious NFL inter-league team in 2019 with Matt Dennis and can lead this squad as well.
On the other side is arguably the hottest talent in the Northern Football League, Tom Brindley. The 20-year-old has burst onto the scene this season with a series of eye-catching performances, including BOG in the grand final rematch win over West Preston-Lakeside. He’s played in almost every position on the ground and leads the Coaches’ MVP votes with 32 votes.
Centring our team is Heidelberg’s Matt Smith. The Tigers had a big win when Smith decided to play full-time this season, stepping away from Collingwood’s VFL team and the tenacious midfielder has duly delivered. Sits fourth in the Coaches’ MVP votes despite missing one game with a hamstring injury.
Patrick Flynn claims the No.1 ruck role in a hotly contested field. The likes of Hamish Shepheard, Sam Gilmore and Anthony Daw have all impressed this season. Flynn has returned from a serious ankle injury in style, leading the Macleod midfield. Not only a good tap ruckman but able to make an impact around the ground.
It would look pretty silly if we didn’t have the reigning Rosbrook Medallist in our team. Greensborough’s Tom Bell hasn’t picked up from where he left off in 2019. He’s earned only 16 Coaches’ MVP votes but has polled in four of seven games. He’s also hit the scoreboard with seven goals.
Our rover is Jesse Tardio of North Heidelberg. Has hardly rated a mention in the Bulldogs’ best since a BOG performance in Round 1 yet has the second most Coaches’ MVP votes, just one behind leader Tom Brindley. A ball magnet capable of finding the pill with ease but also one of the hardest contested ball players in the competition.
HALF-FORWARDS
Hurstbridge recruit Joel Naylor has earned his place at centre half-forward with the third most goals in the competition in a brilliant start to life at Ben Frilay Oval. Naylor has booted multiple goals in every outing this season, including a haul of five in the upset win over Bundoora, which earnt him nine Coaches MVP votes.
Sam Lloyd slots onto a half-forward flank. The boom Bundoora recruit has been a dominant force inside 50m this season, booting an equal competition high 23 majors, highlighted by a match-winning eight against Whittlesea. However, he’s also capable of racking up possessions at will through the midfield, so will be given free reign to do as he pleases in this line-up.
On the other side, Tom Schnerring has been brilliant in midfield for Heidelberg but is pushed to a flank in this team. That won’t be an issue for Schnerring who has hit the scoreboard regularly this season. The former Williamstown-listed star has kicked goals in five of seven games, 10 in total, and can rotate through the midfield.
FORWARDS
Shane Harvey moved up the ground in North Heidelberg’s last two games so doesn’t have the goal tally that some of his fellow forwards boast. However, he still has a bag of four against Macleod and eight against Hurstbridge to his name. The Bulldogs legend booted his 1000th goal for the club in the win over the Bridges.
In the goalsquare is Montmorency man mountain Patrick Fitzgerald, a key player in the NFL’s community championships win over Geelong when he five goals. One of the most reliable goalkickers in the competition for more than a decade, Fitzgerald has 21 to his name in the opening seven rounds and beats out Josh Minogue.
Ahmed Saad sitting in the forward pocket is like driving a Ferrari in the slow lane. The focal point in the West Preston-Lakeside forward lane would be almost unstoppable leading up at the ball or sweeping up the crumbs at Fitzgerald’s feet. Despite missing two games due to suspension he sits on top of the goalkicking leaderboard with 23 majors.
INTERCHANGE
Hamish Shepheard has been in superb form in his debut season for Bundoora. Started the season strongly, named as the Bulls’ best in the season-opening loss to West Preston-Lakeside and second best in the Round 2 win over Montmorency. Capable of drifting forward or back depending on what the team needs.
Bailey Jordan is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. The Hurstbridge forward has booted 14 goals and leads Hurstbridge in Coaches’ MVP votes. A danger in front of goals with his ability to win the ball in the air or on the ground.
Reigning Division 2 league medallist Xavier Dimasi has enjoyed his return to Division 1, relishing the contested ball. While the results haven’t come for Whittlesea just yet, Dimasi has still polled 15 MVP votes from the coaches and got forward to kick five goals.
West Preston-Lakeside’s Mr Reliable, Alex Federico can do everything. One of the league’s most talented onballers but seems to fly under the radar. Perhaps a little quieter to start the season than normal but earnt Division 1 Team of the Year honours in 2019 and is more than deserving of a place in this line-up.
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STIFF TO MISS
Billy Bedford, Jack Johnston, Michael Croxford (Greensborough), Ethan Penrith, Max Dreher, Liam McVeigh (West Preston-Lakeside), Billy Hogan, Anthony Daw (North Heidelberg), Josh Minogue, Sam Gilmore (Heidelberg), Nathan Thomas, Kain Proctor (Bundoora), Jai Robinson (Montmorency), Lachie East (Hurstbridge), Ned McKeown (Macleod).
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