Northern Football League just one win away from No.1 ranking in AFL Victoria Community Championships

THE Northern Football League is just one win away from claiming the state’s No. 1 ranking after a 40-point victory over the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league.

Jhye Baddeley-Kelly sets sail for goal. Picture: James Ross/AAP

THE Northern Football League is just one win away from claiming the state’s No. 1 ranking after a 40-point victory over the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league on Saturday.

The home side was wasteful in front of goal but ultimately outclassed its opposition in a 12.17 (89) to 7.7 (49) victory at Preston City Oval.

The result moved Northern to the No. 2 ranking in the AFL Victoria Community Championships, setting up a contest against the Eastern Football League next year for the top spot.

Ramsay said his side could “100 per cent” challenge the EFL, which defeated Geelong to grab the No. 1 ranking.

“I think we landed over 100 tackles in the finish and forced a lot of turnovers,” Ramsay said.

“This list, their style is suited to a high-pressure game and we’re pretty confident what we can bring to the table.”

North Football League coach Garry Ramsay. Picture: James Ross/AAP

The NFL kicked seven behinds before slotting its first goal, which came through the agency of key forward Patrick Fitzgerald early in the second quarter.

Northern had erased a 14-point quarter-time deficit by midway through the second term, keeping MPNFL at arm’s length to three-quarter time before a six-goal final term sealed the victory.

Montmorency’s Fitzgerald finished with four majors, while Eltham best and fairest winner Anton Woods was adjudged NFL’s best player.

After overcoming an inaccurate start, Ramsay said the game turned in his side’s favour after quarter-time.

“That (inaccuracy) was a bit of a concern early, but we were fairly confident all the statistics were saying we were playing well and the way we wanted to play,” he said.

“We just turned the ball over across half-forward a couple of times and let them springboard us back the other way.

“When we fixed that up after quarter-time, things went our way.”

Ramsay said the players who had helped the competition post consecutive wins in the past two years would be given the first opportunity to represent the NFL in 2019.

“They can be confident we’ll look after them. We’ve had two really good results and we don’t want to go too far from that,” he said.

“I think there were 14 (players) the same (from last year) and the only ones who we didn’t have either left the league or are injured, but they were still there watching.

“Everyone is really invested in it, which is fantastic. They get on really well, the fellas.”