The big issues and star players we’re looking forward to seeing in the Northern Football League in 2021
From potential history-makers and hopeful drought-breakers to some elite talent taking the field, these are the things we’re looking forward to seeing in the Northern Football League in 2021.
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The 2020 season might have been cancelled but that doesn’t mean we can’t still talk about footy.
Here’s just some of the big issues and star players we’re looking forward to in the Northern Football League in 2021.
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FOOTY’S BACK
The waiting game was the only game played this year after COVID-19 struck at the sporting scene and all else in Victoria. If it happens, footy’s return in the region is going to be sweet in 2021. The wait has been that little bit longer for Northern Football League clubs after the league pulled the pin on June 3 but that will only make the first bounce that much sweeter. Every club is counting down the days until the new season.
CAN THE ROOSTERS BECOME LEGENDS?
Only four clubs have won three straight Division 1 premierships in Northern Football League history. Heidelberg twice, Lalor and Northcote Park. Ironically, West Preston-Lakeside ended both Northcote Park (1999-02) and Heidelberg’s (2006-09) premiership runs and in 2021 have the chance to join them in the exclusive three-peat club. The Roosters can never be counted out but Greensborough will be out to avenge its grand final loss, Montmorency are building an elite unit and Heidelberg, North Heidelberg and Macleod are ever present dangers.
PROMOTION RACE I
Division 2 was shaping up as a corker before the season was called off with a host of genuine premiership contenders. Having reached the grand final in 2019 Banyule will be desperate to atone and make the move to Division 1 for the first time in club history. Relegated Lower Plenty and Eltham will be leading the chasing pack that includes Diamond Creek, Thomastown and potentially Epping after the Pingers’ recruiting blitz over summer. St Mary’s and Panton Hill loom as a top-five darkhorses.
PROMOTION RACE II
With Panton Hill promoted and no team dropping down from Division 2 last season, the premiership window is wide open. Who’s ready to step up and take the opportunity? Laurimar will be warm favourites but will have to do it without Justin Sherman after he departed the club. Beaten grand finalist South Morang are perennial contenders with their elite junior pathway combined with some key veterans. Kilmore, Mernda and Heidelberg West loom as surprise packets if they can put everything together. The Blues made finals for the first time last year after crossing to the NFL in 2016 and will be looking to build on that experience.
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PART 2: NORTHCOTE PARK’S FIGHT TO SEAL FOUR-PEAT
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PART 2: FOUR-PEAT ETCHES HEIDELBERG INTO FOLKLORE
SURPRISE PACKETS
You could argue the likes of Hurstbridge, Old Eltham and Kilmore performed well above expectations in 2019. So who will it be in 2019? Promotion winners Whittlesea and Panton Hill are obvious candidates. If the Eagles can hang onto former St Kilda midfielder Bailey Rice they’ll make some waves in Division 1. Epping’s recruiting raid over summer attracted several high-quality talents to the Division 2 club, so don’t expect another one-win season for Aaron Johnson’s men. Heidelberg West have teased in Division 3 before but there is a growing confidence the Hawks can finally end their finals drought in 2021.
MONTY’S POWER COUPLE
For sheer star power, hard to argue Montmorency didn’t win the summer recruiting campaign after luring Ben Kennedy back to the club and securing former Collingwood and Carlton goalkicker Alex Fasolo fresh out of the AFL system. If the former AFL Magpies teammates re-commit to the NFL Magpies then one might suggest they’ll be flag favourites. Add in the likes of Patrick Fitzgerald, Jesse Donaldson and Jai Robinson and coach Garry Ramsay has some serious talent at his finger tips.
DIV 2 FINALS RACE
The Division 2 finals series was expanded to a top five this season. While we didn’t get to see how it unfolded, we can look forward to 2021. For the past two years Diamond Creek have finished fifth by half a game and 1.33 per cent respectively. The Creekers will certainly be glad of the decision but it also keeps more teams in finals contention for longer and hopefully leads to more meaningful matches late in the season.
CAN HAWKS STAR MAKE IT FOUR STRAIGHT?
No player has won four straight league best-and-fairests in Northern Football League history. Heidelberg West’s Jarryd Coulson joined Diamond Creek legend John Elliott (1957-59) as the only men to have won three straight last season and history beckons. The Hawks’ ruckman is determined to help his club end its finals drought and will has a big part to play if he is to achieve his goal. Laurimar’s Michael Brennan and Mitch Thompson loom as major dangers after finishing runner-up and winning the Division 3 Coaches’ MVP respectively last season.
CAN ANYONE KICK THE TON?
Goal machine Shane Harvey aside, no one in the Northern Football League has kicked 100 goals in the home-and-away season since Cristian Brandt booted 109 majors for Macleod in Division 2, 2007. Harvey has done it four times since – 108 in 2008, 102 in 2009, 120 in 2013 and 106 in 2017 – but that’s it. Are multi-pronged team-first strategies taking over the same way they have in the AFL? Surely community footy is the one place the old school spearhead can still thrive!
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Speaking of Harvey, the North Heidelberg legend is just a handful of goals away from 1000 majors. The Bulldogs spearhead has been a superstar since joining the club in 2008, kicking more than 100 goals in six of his 11 seasons at Shelley Park. Harvey will be 38 when he suits up for the 2021 season and you’d like to his teammates will be looking for him as often as possible to help him break the magical milestone.
DROUGHT BREAKERS
There’s a few monkeys to be shaken off backs in 2021. We’ve spoken about Heidelberg West’s finals drought above, with the cancelled season that has now extended to 26 years. Also in Division 3, Reservoir will be chasing its first senior win since 2017. The Mustangs’ losing streak currently sits at 35 games. In Division 1, Montmorency is desperate to end its premiership drought, a streak that dates back to 1979 and sadly includes five grand final defeats.