Northcote will play Premier Cricket finals after defeating Essendon
After two seasons of heartbreak, Northcote will play Premier Cricket finals after a commanding win over Essendon.
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Northcote’s finals hoodoo is over after a commanding nine-wicket win over Essendon.
After two seasons of heartbreak, falling out of the top eight in the final round of the Premier Cricket season, the Dragons flipped the script to lock in finals in 2022-23.
The victory at Bill Lawry Oval – a man who terrorised Essendon in his playing days – saw Northcote jump from ninth, leap-frogging the Bombers, back into the eight.
Dragons coach Warren Pereara was proud of his players resolve under immense pressure.
“We’ve waited three years since that Melbourne Uni win in 2020, so it’s a great feeling,” he said.
“As we’ve said all year, the only competition is ourselves, there was a lot of pressure on us coming in and to get a team out for 90 and bat with freedom was great.
“The only thing we can control is our standards and it’s not just the last couple of weeks, it’s the last three years, they’ve trained their bums off and given everything, we can talk about bad luck but you make your own luck, so I was rapt for them.
“You never know, you play three good weeks of cricket and who knows what can happen.”
A dominant bowling display on day one set up the win as Essendon were skittled for just 90 runs with Mick Edwards (4-13) and Jack Lalor (3-16) doing the damage.
Northcote then reached the first innings target one wicket with Jaga Koduru top-scoring.
The Dragons finished seventh, finishing ahead of Prahran on percentage, to lock in an elimination final against St Kilda.
The Saints’ win over Footscray ensured Essendon missing finals, finishing ninth, two points outside the top eight.
Pereara said it felt like a different team this match.
“It felt like they got their buzz back, sometimes you’ve got to go through these lulls, but they’re good enough and it’s up to them to play with freedom and enjoy themselves,” he said.
“Mick getting four-for, Toppy bowled beautifully, Jack’s getting back into his bowling and got his mojo back and Joe got the key wicket of (Michael) Hill.
“We threw Jonty up to open, like he did in the one-dayers, and he tore the game apart quickly.
“Even last week he hit 14 or 15 before we went off and that changed the momentum of the game and then Jaga, who’s 19, came out and made 60 and batted beautifully.
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“We go in with momentum, our ones and twos are in, the thirds missed out on percentage, and our fours and fives are in, so it’s been a pretty consistent year for the club.
“It’s almost like you start the season again, you give yourself a chance to just go and have a crack, back our ability and play with freedom.”
Skipper Liam Molloy was Essendon’s best with the bat in the first innings, top-scoring with 33, while Chris Williams hit a quick-fire 48 in the second innings.
Tom O’Donnell claimed 3-37 to finish second on the competition’s leading wicket-taker charts.
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