Northcote suffers late-season collapse to miss Premier Cricket finals

Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdowns left Northcote’s premiership hopes in tatters for a second straight season but the Dragons future still remains bright.

Tearan Gleeson in action for Northcote. Picture: Andy Brownbill

For the second season in a row COVID-19 lockdown has left Northcote’s Premier Cricket premiership hopes in tatters.

The Dragons were preliminary final bound and genuine premiership contenders when the 2019-20 season was called off.

This season the Dragons were riding a six-game win streak, sitting 8-2 and second on the Premier Cricket ladder and leading the club championship after Round 10.

However, Melbourne’s snap five-day lockdown in February saw Round 11 abandoned and with it the club’s momentum and confidence vanished.

In the five completed games since Northcote was 1-4 with Saturday’s heart-breaking eight-run loss to Geelong seeing it slip to ninth and the season over.

Northcote captain Blayde Baker and coach Steven Taylor chat in the field. Picture: Steve Tanner

Mark Phelan was Northcote’s leading run-scorer. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It’s been a long season and we fell off the wave of momentum we had,” coach Steve Taylor said.

“Leading into that one week lockdown we’d won six straight, had the week off, and we couldn’t get back on the surfboard so to speak.

“We put all the pressure on ourselves to win with very little room for error and unfortunately we couldn’t get over the line.”

Taylor did everything in his power to drag his team over the line, scoring a drought-breaking century.

The 2015-16 Ryder Medallist turned back the clock with a superb 120 – his first ton since October 2018 against Camberwell – before being run out in the final over.

Chasing Geelong’s 8-210, Tearan Gleeson (37) and Michael Topp (11) were the only other Dragons batsmen to reach double figures.

“It was a long time coming but it was a bit of a funny one because I’ve never made a hundred and lost at any level,” Taylor said.

“It was a bit strange, a bit numb, especially in a game that was so important.”

Michael Topp in action for Northcote. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Jack Lalor emerged as one of Premier Cricket’s best young all-rounders. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Topp also claimed 4-38 to finish a stunning first season at Bill Lawry Oval with 29 wickets – fifth most in the competition – at an average of 14.38.

The paceman has been a revelation since crossing from Ringwood in the off-season.

“The impact Toppy has had, he’s been tremendous, more than we hoped for,” Taylor said.

“Replacing a spearhead fast bowler is the hardest job in cricket coaching and for Toppy to come in has been fantastic.

“He takes important wickets for us every week, we were hopeful of getting Michael Topp the player but what we didn’t think about was Michael Topp the leader and he’s been tremendous.”

The loss of spearhead Sam Harbinson to Tasmania, leading wicket-taker Joe Medew-Ewen to South Australia and Max O’Sullivan to retirement in the off-season and Solomon Mire to injury mid-season hit hard.

However, young all-rounder Jack Lalor has fill the void admirably with 360 runs and 19 wickets.

Mark Phelan returned to form with 634 runs – eighth most in Premier Cricket – and Josh Sundberg and Taylor both finished in the top 20 run-scorers.

PREMIER: DEMONS TAKE INAUGURAL DEAN JONES CUP

LEADER: GET YOUR PREMIER CRICKET NEWS HERE

PREMIER: FITZROY DONCASTER’S BIG ASK IN FINALS RETURN

“You can’t help but think if those guys were still here but they’ve gone away and reaped the rewards – Joey’s got the opportunity to play state cricket and Harbo’s won two flags,” Taylor said.

“In my mind Joey was the best spinner in the comp by a far margin and that’s been reinforced by his selection in the Sheffield Shield a couple of weeks ago.

“To win six games on the trot, be second on the ladder and lead the club championship for the first time ever speaks volumes of the group.

“Jack and Daniel Lalor, Jaga Koduru, Seamus Keogh, Billy Cootee and Aryaman Bhardwaj, there’s huge potential and we’ve got to keep them together and bring them through.”