The most dominant seasons of the past decade in the Northern Football League
The Northern Football League has seen some truly remarkable campaigns in the past 10 years. While some clubs tasted the ultimate success, winning a premiership didn’t guarantee a spot on this list.
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As the old saying goes “you can only play what’s in front of you”.
So just because a club plays in a lower tier of the Northern Football League shouldn’t take away from the dominance of a season.
Given the strength and competitiveness of Division 1 it might be no surprise that most of the teams on this list earned a place in Division 2 and 3 seasons.
Winning a premiership doesn’t guarantee you a spot either as you’ll find out below.
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10. HEIDELBERG, 2010 Division 1
H&A record: First (16-2, 206%)
Finals: SF def West Preston-Lakeside by 88, GF lost to West Preston-Lakeside by 21
Heidelberg’s NFL record 48-game winning streak came to an end in Round 11 and its four-year premiership rein came to an end 11 weeks later. West Preston-Lakeside’s 109-point turnaround from semi-final to grand final must surely be a league record. However, with only three defeats on the season, it remains one of the strongest of the decade.
9. BUNDOORA, 2011 Division 1
H&A record: First (13-5, 141%)
Finals: SF def Heidelberg by 73, GF def Heidelberg by 10
While the Bulls’ regular season doesn’t sing “dominance” they earn a spot here for beating the semi-final curse. Remarkably, Bundoora is the only team this decade to win the major semi-final, get the week off and win the grand final a fortnight later. The year also saw the arrival of Gary Moorcroft at Yulong Reserve, one of the best players the league has seen.
8. NORTH HEIDELBERG, 2014 Division 2
H&A record: First (17-1, 196%)
Finals: SF lost to Fitzroy Stars by 26, PF def Mernda by 55, GF def Fitzroy Stars by 36
A preliminary final loss the previous year proved the catalyst for the Bulldogs’ domination. Shane Harvey kicking 91 majors and Marc Lonergan and Jarrod Spurrell locked down in defence probably didn’t hurt either. North got a wake-up call in the major semi-final when they were upset by Fitzroy Stars but they turned the tables in the big dance.
7. ST MARY’S, 2018 Division 3
H&A record: First (15-1, 198%)
Finals: SF def Panton Hill by 23, GF def Panton Hill by 13
A fine achievement for a club only nine years old at the time. The Burras had finished fourth the preceding two years before a breakout campaign in 2018. Panton Hill scored a win in Round 5 but it was the only time St Mary’s tasted defeat for the rest of the year, winning 13 straight games to claim promotion for the first time in the club’s short history.
6. EPPING, 2012 Division 2
H&A record: First (17-1, 165%)
Finals: SF def North Heidelberg by 29, GF def North Heidelberg by 4
Some harsh lessons were learnt in 2011 and they served Epping well in 2012 as the club stamped its authority on the competition. Such was the Pingers’ domination, six players featured in the Team of the Year. Horrific inaccuracy in front of goal almost brought Epping undone in the grand final but its 15.21 was just enough to get over the line.
5. PANTON HILL, 2019 Division 3
H&A record: (First 15-1, 235%)
Finals: SF def Laurimar by 8, GF def South Morang by 40
The Redbacks were locked in an enthralling batting with Laurimar for much of the campaign as both clubs lost just one game in the regular season. After losing the 2018 decider to St Mary’s, Panton Hill would not be denied again. The Power scored a one-point win in Round 4 before the Redbacks then won 15 games straight to return to Division 2.
4. LOWER PLENTY, 2011, Division 2
H&A record: First (17-1, 194%)
Finals: SF def Epping by 25, GF def Epping by 52
After missing out in the 2010 AFL Draft, Darcy Barden returned to Lower Plenty and took our his frustrations on the rest of Division 2. Along with Billy Barden and Patrick Flynn, the Bears were nigh unstoppable. Barden claimed the league best-and-fairest and John Elliott Medal for best on ground in the grand final.
3. THOMASTOWN, 2014 Division 3
H&A record: First (15-1, 207%)
Finals: SF def Reservoir by 75, GF def Reservoir by 79
After reaching the preliminary final in 2013, Thomastown swept all before it on the way to a premiership and promotion. Matthew Cupo and Jacob Osei-Duro claimed the league best-and-fairest and goalkicking double. The grand final win over Reservoir is one of the biggest in league history.
2. GREENSBOROUGH, 2019 Division 1
H&A record: First (17-1, 198%)
Finals: SF def North Heidelberg by 98, GF lost to West Preston-Lakeside by 12
Without doubt the most dominant home-and-away season of the decade. Division 1 hadn’t seen one like it since Heidelberg’s undefeated 2009 campaign. Tom Bell claimed the Rosbrook Medal in his debut season and the club made a statement in the major semi-final by thrashing North Heidelberg. However, they couldn’t complete the job, going down to West Preston-Lakeside in a shock upset.
1. NORTH HEIDELBERG, 2017 Division 2
H&A record: First (16-1-1, 227%)
Finals: SF def Diamond Creek by 70, GF def Diamond Creek by 77
With Brent, Shane and Blair Harvey leading the way, it was almost unfair on the rest of Division 2. Brent would win the league best-and-fairest and Shane the goalkicking with 106 majors. Fitzroy Stars were the only team to take points of North Heidelberg as the Bulldogs cruised to promotion.