Northcote Park makes home ground Bill Lawry Oval a fortress to push toward NFL finals berth

HOME ground advantage can be overstated in local football, but not when it comes to Northcote Park’s 2016 campaign.

Northcote Park and Luke Svarc (centre) have soared into finals calculations. Picture: Josie Hayden.

HOME ground advantage can be overstated in local football.

After all, most sides travel within an hour of their bases when playing away games.

But Northcote Park’s form has fluctuated dramatically this year depending on whether it plays at Bill Lawry Oval.

After 16 rounds, the Cougars have nine wins on the board — seven of which came in home fixtures.

In contrast, six of their eight road trips have resulted in losses.

Northcote Park coach Harmit Singh said inconsistency was an issue his side had been trying to iron out.

“The competition is that even if that if you’re slightly off you’re going to get caught out,” Singh said.

“That’s what’s happened to us in games this year.

“We definitely want there to not be such a difference in our home-and-away record.”

The Cougars’ home form has propelled them into the finals mix.

After successive wins over Whittlesea, Bundoora, Eltham and Macleod at Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote Park sits fifth on the table, one game ahead of Montmorency (sixth) and two clear of West Preston-Lakeside (seventh) and Eltham (eighth).

Cougars general manager Dennis McNiece said the difference in size between the club’s home ground and other ovals could be behind its rollercoaster run.

“Obviously bigger grounds suit us,” McNiece said.

“Our ground being a bigger ground ... our game plan probably works a lot better at home than it does away.

“A lot of the other grounds are a lot smaller, a lot muddier.

“Even with the wet season, our ground except for the cricket pitch has been top notch.

“I think we definitely play in the dry a lot better than we do in the wet.”

Northcote Park claimed its second victory on the road for 2016 against Eltham on Saturday, triumphing 15.6 (96) to 10.9 (69).

Wayne Schultz was best afield for the Cougars, who next meet ladder leader Heidelberg in their last home game of 2016.

In Division 2, Daniel Francis continued his red-hot form in front of goal as Fitzroy Stars hammered Lalor by 76 points, 25.12 (162) to 12.14 (86).

Francis finished with seven majors in the resounding win, while Aaron Clark shone for the Stars and contributed four goals.

Fitzroy will be out to keep its hopes of a double chance alive when it hosts second-placed North Heidelberg this weekend.