Northcote Park relegated back to NFL Division 2 for first time since 1994
Six premierships, five league best-and-fairests, 28 years … it’s been one hell of a time but Northcote Park’s time in NFL Division 1 is over – for now.
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Northcote Park’s 28-year stay at the top has come to an end.
For the first time since 1994 the Cougars will play NFL Division 2 football next season after being relegated.
In that time the club won six Division 1 premierships, the equal most during that span, including a historic four-peat from 1999-2002.
However, it’s been a difficult two years for the club, winning just three games in 30 matches, including a winless 2021 in a COVID-shortened season.
Cougars president Joe Amad said the club would dust itself off and was already looking to bounce back.
“It is what it is, there’s a variety of reasons,” he said.
“When you get kicked in the guts, it’s how you get up and we’re pretty positive around the joint.
“We’ve had a terrible run with injuries but we move on now and get proactive in re-signing all the blokes.
“I reckon hardly anyone will leave, we’ve got most of them done already, and we’re talking to a few recruits.
“There’s some good sides in Division 2, so we can’t take anything for granted.”
Northcote Park’s last premiership came in 2012 when it defeated Heidelberg by 45 points.
John Origlasso won the Cougars’ first Division 1 league best-and-fairest – then called the Frank Smith Medal – in 1996 and ex-AFL star Barry Mitchell followed it up in 1997.
Brett Jeffery won the final Frank Smith Medal in 2006 before it was changed to the Frank Rosbrook Medal with Bronik Davies twice crowed in 2012 and 2014.
The club has also produced one Division 1 leading goalkicker with Damien Yze booting 99 goals in 2000 and a pair of Coaches’ MVPs – Jordan Perry and Paul Dirago going back-to-back in 2017-18.
“Six Division 1 flags in 28 years, an average of one almost every four years, it’s not a bad record,” Amad said.
“You look at it historically, Division 2 started in about 1981, and there’s only been four sides that have been relegated and come back and won (Division 1) flags – us, West Preston, Greensborough and Macleod.
“That’s the nature of footy, no point sooking about it, we’ll stick to our guns and do what we’ve got to do.
Northcote Park has locked in coach Steve Saddington for next season, ensuring stability in the coaching ranks.
Depth has been the Cougars’ major issue with a litany of injuries forcing the club to forfeit the Round 17 reserve grade game against Bundoora.
Back-to-back losses to relegation rivals Whittlesea and Hurstbridge in rounds 15 and 16 condemned them to a third Division 1 wooden spoon.
The Cougars hope to form an under-19s side in the near future to help bolster the club’s stocks.
“Hopefully we can get the 19s up next year or the year after, we’re developing a good relationship with our juniors,” Amad said.
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“You look at Heidelberg, six years ago they had no 19s and now they’ve got an abundance and they’re on top in all three grades.”
“Saddo got reappointed probably six weeks ago, we’ve got faith in him.
“It hasn’t been his fault at all – the Round 17 game against Bundoora we had 17 senior blokes out.”
Northcote Park was last relegated in 1986 and will be hoping it doesn’t have to wait another eight years for a chance in the top flight.
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