Whittlesea hopes breakthrough NFL Division 1 win over Northcote Park will be just the start of things to come

WHITTLESEA coach Jim Atkins has declared the club’s breakthrough Northern Football League win is just the start of things to come.

Northcote Park’s Luke Svarc collides with Matthew Atta and Jai Robinson from Whittlesea. Picture: Richard Serong.

WHITTLESEA coach Jim Atkins has declared the club’s breakthrough Northern Football League win is just the start of things to come.

The Eagles climbed off the bottom of the ladder after claiming their first win of the Division 1 campaign against Northcote Park on Saturday at Whittlesea Showgrounds.

The 11.17 (83) to 10.9 (69) triumph was Whittlesea’s first in the top tier since July 19, 2014 — 701 days between victories.

It was also the Eagles’ first win since they won the Division 2 premiership in a thrilling grand final against Lalor last year.

The 14-point victory was enough to lift Whittlesea above Lower Plenty on percentage after Round 9 and give the club hope it can become the first promoted side since 2012 to survive the drop.

“There’s been a lot of pressure on all of us to get that first win and we know we’ve been so close,” Atkins said.

“Everyone was rapt to get that first win but we all know it’s just a starting point for us. We need to capitalise now for the rest of the year.

“We’ve still got plenty of chances to win some games of footy. We’re looking to get a bit of a roll on now.”

Whittlesea’s Nathan Stefanile pushes Aaron Shaw off the ball. Picture: Richard Serong.

The Eagles survived a scare in the final quarter to defeat the Cougars, who got within six points with about five minutes left on the clock.

“They were with us the whole day,” Atkins said.

“It was them in front, us in front, it had the same sort of story of the first six rounds written all over it for us.

“But the boys dug deep and credit to them, they found another way to get through and win the game of footy.”

Janan Daniel kicked the sealer for Whittlesea with 30 seconds left, capping an impressive four-goal performance.

Midfielder Roy Dyson was also pivotal for the victors, relishing the wet conditions.

Whittlesea meets Bundoora, a side it lost to by two points earlier this year, in Round 10.

Heidelberg, Eltham and West Preston-Lakeside were the other winners on Saturday.

In Division 2, Hurstbridge remained unbeaten with a 70-point triumph over Panton Hill, Diamond Creek belted Lalor by 72 and North Heidelberg hammered Thomastown by 72 points.

Epping retained top spot in Division 3 after an 8.13 (61) to 7.7 (49) win over Watsonia, while Banyule downed Kilmore by 33.

Elsewhere, Paul Harrison booted five goals to lead South Morang past St Mary’s by seven points and Matthew Tarr starred with six majors in Mernda’s big win over Heidelberg West.