Too tall, too slick, too good.
The Northern Football League proudly showed its wares at Visy Park on Saturday, knocking off the higher-ranked Essendon District Football League 13.9 (87) to 7.8 (50) in the AFL Victoria Metro Championships.
It was a commanding display from the Northern league, who largely controlled the contest from start to finish.
Although the EDFL was within striking distance in the first half – trailing by 13 at quarter time and 19 at the half – it was clear Northern had set itself for victory.
PICTURE GALLERY: NFL v EDFL metro championships
Montmorency’s Ryan Jackson, captain of the NFL, was a dominating force, continually setting up play. He wore number one on his back and was fittingly awarded best-on-ground.
Ruckman Matthew Dennis gave the NFL an edge in the ruck against former Richmond big man Andrew Browne, while up forward Cameron Cloke and Jesse Donaldson booted three apiece and Gary Moorcroft and Billy Barden two each. A Moorcroft hanger was about the only thing missing on a glorious afternoon for the Northern league.
If there were any players who were going to rip the game open for the EDFL it was former Port Melbourne spearheads Patrick Rose and Dean Galea.
Rose topped the EDFL’s goalkicking last year with 106 for Avondale Heights, while Galea will make his EDFL debut – for Avondale Heights – this Saturday.
But the NFL back six did a sterling job, preventing both key forwards from having a major impact. Rose snared two and Galea one but the pressure from further upfield resulted in many inside 50 entries flying over their heads or falling short or wide.
Northern extended the lead to 32 at three-quarter time and booted another three in the final term to run out comfortable 37-point winners.
“It was up to us to do our jobs and execute and I thought we did that really well,” Northern coach Jason Heatley said.
“We wanted a really balanced team and the luxury of playing 24 players is that it allows you to go in with an extra tall as well as an extra runner off the bench.”
Heatley said the league had been galvanised by the reintroduction of metro championships and held no fear at the prospect of playing the top-ranked VAFA next year.
“It’s awesome … It’s the perfect time of year to play it and all the players are wound up and ready to play in an atmosphere like this.”
