A LOOK back at all the highlights from the 2015 season.
At the senior level, it was a season to savour for Macleod, Whittlesea and Reservoir who all won premierships in their respective divisions.
Macleod’s first Division 1 premiership since 1971 meant the top flight premiership cup headed to its sixth home in seven seasons – with no NFL club winning successive flags since Heidelberg rounded out its four-peat in 2009.
The Roos proved too good for 2014 premier Greensborough on grand final day, breaking the game open late in the third term to set-up a 21-point win. Midfielder Liam Brandt was adjudged best afield for the premiers.
After a remarkably even Division 2 season, where very little separated the top five sides for most of the season, Whittlesea eventually took the spoils to claim its third Division 2 flag in six years.
The Eagles triumphed over Lalor by three points in a thrilling grand final, leading for the majority of the day before falling behind with five minutes to play. However, they were able pinch the lead back courtesy of a late goal to Nick Horman, before holding on in the dying minutes.
Division 3 welcomed Banyule to the fold and enjoyed its most competitive season since its inception, ending with Reservoir lifting its first senior premiership cup since 1984.
The Mustangs timed their run to the finals perfectly, winning their last six regular season matches before beating South Morang in the second semi and Epping in the grand final to claim their first senior flag in 30 years.
Division 3 will become an eight-team competition in 2016, after Kilmore transferred from the Riddell District Football Netball League in November.
Prior to the 2015 home and away season commencing, the NFL’s senior representative team suffered a heartbreaking loss to the VAFA in the battle for the No.1 ranking at the AFL Victoria Metropolitan Championships.
Considered the outsider heading into the game, the NFL led for the opening three and half quarters, before losing hold of the lead with five minutes to go and suffering a five-point defeat.
Following their impressive performances for the NFL, Jason Kennedy, Matthew Dennis, Jesse Donaldson, Lucas Hobbs and Nick Riddle were all selected to represent Vic Metro against AFL Queensland.
Kennedy was captain of the side that claimed an 87-point win at Brisbane’s Moreton Bay Sports Complex over the Queen’s Birthday weekend.
The NFL’s junior competitions continued to showcase the league’s outstanding junior talent, with teams from all but one club represented in the finals series.
Four Northern Football League players were drafted to AFL clubs, which included three players being selected inside the top 32 picks.
South Morang’s Jade Gresham was selected by St Kilda at pick 18, Greensborough and Research’s Brayden Fiorini was picked by Gold Coast at pick 20 and Banyule’s Brayden Sier was drafted by Collingwood at pick 32.
Diamond Creek’s Darcy Macpherson was also taken in the rookie draft, joining Fiorini at the Gold Coast Suns.
On the coaching front, Diamond Creek under-17 coach Caine Lowrie was named the 2015 Stan Alves Youth Coach of the Year by AFL Victoria, while Montmorency under-15 girls coach Natalie Stuart was a finalist for the Peta Searle Female Coach of the Year.
Fifty-eight teams competed across a league-record nine sections of netball each week of the winter season.
The nine senior netball premierships were shared among nine clubs, with Diamond Creek claiming its sixth consecutive Section 1 premiership after overcoming North Heidelberg by a goal in the premiership decider.
2015 saw the league’s first foray into representative netball, which proved to be a huge success with two wins over the Southern Football Netball League during the Queen’s Birthday weekend.
In the first game of the night the NNL’s B-Grade team overcame an early first-term deficit to runaway with a 45-25 victory. Greensborough goaler Chantelle Power was adjudged best on court for her supreme shooting performance.
A win never looked in doubt for the A-Grade team, who raced to a five-goal advantage early in its match. The NNL extended its lead at every break, finishing with a convincing 47-34 win. Captain Stacey Gannon claimed the best on court medallion in the 13-goal win.
Continue below for a review of all the major results from every NFL competition in 2015.
DIVISION 1 SENIORS
Premier: Macleod
Grand Final: Greensborough 10.6 (66) def by Macleod 13.9 (87)
Best and Fairest (Frank Rosbrook Medal): Matthew Vasilevski (Lower Plenty) – 24 votes
Best on Ground in Grand Final: Liam Brandt (Macleod)
Leading Goal Kicker: James Kroussoratis (Eltham) – 65 goals
Coaches Player of the Year: Lachlan McQuilken (Greensborough) – 19 votes
Team of the Year: 
Click Here
DIVISION 1 RESERVES
Premier: Greensborough
Grand Final: Greensborough 14.9 (93) def Northcote Park 6.4 (40)
Best and Fairest: Henry Mason (Northcote Park) – 17 votes
Best on Ground in Grand Final: Scott Conte (Greensborough)
Leading Goal Kicker: Scott McLaughlin (Lower Plenty) – 48 goals
DIVISION 1 UNDER-19
Premier: Greensborough
Grand Final: Greensborough 14.12 (96) def Montmorency 3.3 (21)
Best and Fairest: Mark Pavlovski (Bundoora) – 30 votes
Best on Ground in Grand Final: Cailin Kett (Greensborough)
Leading Goal Kicker: Julian Maloni (West Preston-Lakeside) – 74 goals
DIVISION 2 SENIORS
Premier: Whittlesea
Grand Final: Lalor 14.10 (94) def by Whittlesea 14.13 (97)
Best and Fairest: Shane Jacobs (Lalor) – 26 votes
Best on Ground in Grand Final: Todd Behan (Whittlesea)
Leading Goal Kicker: Todd Hughes (Lalor) – 76 goals
Coaches Player of the Year: Shane Jacobs (Lalor) – 30 votes
Team of the Year: Click Here
DIVISION 2 RESERVES
Premier: Thomastown
Grand Final: Thomastown 8.12 (60) def Whittlesea 8.7 (55)
Best and Fairest: Ashley Foxwell (Whittlesea) – 25 votes
Best on Ground in Grand Final: James Robinson (Whittlesea)
Leading Goal Kicker: Andrew Gray (Diamond Creek) – 53 goals
DIVISION 2 UNDER-19
Premier: Whittlesea
Grand Final: Whittlesea 13.20 (98) def Banyule 7.10 (52)
Best and Fairest: Matthew Langford (Whittlesea) – 14 votes
Best on Ground in Grand Final: Nicholas Pupillo (Whittlesea)
Leading Goal Kicker: Brendan Baird (Diamond Creek) – 55 goals
DIVISION 3 SENIORS
Premier: Reservoir
Grand Final: Reservoir 15.9 (99) def Epping 10.10 (70)
Best and Fairest: Daniel Moore (Epping) – 15 votes
Best on Ground in Grand Final: Judd Darby (Reservoir)
Leading Goal Kicker: Kyl Ewart (Heidelberg West) – 62 goals
Coaches Player of the Year: Daniel Bailey (Heidelberg West) – 20 votes
Team of the Year: Click Here
DIVISION 3 RESERVES
Premier: Banyule
Grand Final: Banyule 8.6 (54) def Epping 6.11 (47)
Best on Ground in Grand Final: Michael Kruze (Epping)
Best and Fairest: Tore Valvo (Banyule) – 12 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Nathan Mittica (South Morang) – 41 goals
UNDER-18 GIRLS
Premier: Montmorency
Grand Final: Montmorency 7.11 (53) def Darebin Women’s 2.4 (16)
Best and Fairest: Shazi Cappello (Diamond Creek Women’s) – 24 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Kasy Batten (Epping) – 28 goals
UNDER-17 BLUE
Premier: South Morang
Grand Final: South Morang 8.7 (55) def Mill Park 6.15 (51)
Best and Fairest: Anthony Cardamone (Mill Park) – 23 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Patrick Lipinski (Eltham) – 49 goals
UNDER-17 RED
Premier: Whittlesea
Grand Final: Whittlesea 11.8 (74) def Epping 6.6 (42)
Best and Fairest: Corey Middleton (Epping) – 17 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Joel Naylor (Whittlesea) – 36 goals
UNDER-16 BLUE
Premier: South Morang
Grand Final: South Morang 14.6 (90) def Epping 10.6 (66)
Best and Fairest: Marcus Lentini (Diamond Creek) – 21 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Ben Peterson (South Morang) – 46 goals
UNDER-16 RED
Premier: Research
Grand Final: Research 5.6 (36) def Greensborough 3.13 (31)
Best and Fairest: Daniel Horsfield (Eltham) and Adrian Kalcovski (Eltham) – 19 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Jack Fitzpatrick (Research) – 57 goals
UNDER-15 BLUE
Premier: South Morang
Grand Final: South Morang 8.9 (57) def Montmorency 7.8 (50)
Best and Fairest: Lachlan Agnew (Greensborough) – 28 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Zachary Lucas (Montmorency) – 40 goals
UNDER-15 RED
Premier: West Preston-Lakeside
Grand Final: West Preston-Lakeside 8.12 (60) def Research 8.11 (59)
Best and Fairest: Jaylon Williamson (West Preston-Lakeside) – 21 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Lachlan Jamieson (Laurimar) – 36 goals
UNDER-15 GIRLS
Premier: (Blue): Diamond Creek Women’s Blue; (Red): Greensborough
Grand Final: (Blue): Epping 1.2 (8) def by Diamond Creek Women’s Blue 2.8 (20); (Red): Montmorency 0.3 (3) def by Greensborough 3.7 (25)
Best and Fairest: Bridgette Hallal (West Preston-Lakeside) – 27 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Adele Burn (Diamond Creek Women’s) – 33 goals
UNDER-14 BLUE
Premier: South Morang
Grand Final: South Morang 9.9 (63) def Whittlesea 8.3 (51)
Best and Fairest: Lachlan Potter (South Morang) – 23 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Joshua D’Intinosante (South Morang) – 41 goals
UNDER-14 RED
Premier: Mernda
Grand Final: Epping 9.8 (62) def by Mernda 13.7 (85)
Best and Fairest: Eren Gover (Yarrambat) – 18 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Nathan Baccega (Mernda) – 39 goals
UNDER-14 GREEN
Premier: Northcote
Grand Final: Northcote 13.14 (92) def Wallan 8.6 (54)
Best and Fairest: Tyler Wallace (Research) – 23 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Tyler Wallace (Research) – 49 goals
UNDER-13 BLUE
Premier: Research
Grand Final: Eltham 6.4 (40) def by Research 8.4 (52)
Best and Fairest: Joel Trudgeon (Research) – 30 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Giacomo Thomas (West Preston-Lakeside) – 36 goals
UNDER-13 RED
Premier: Greensborough
Grand Final: Mernda 6.5 (41) def by Greensborough 6.13 (49)
Best and Fairest: Connor Miller (Mernda) and Metuaone Tou (West Preston-Lakeside) – 21 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Connor Miller (Mernda) – 35 goals
UNDER-13 GREEN
Premier: Yarrambat
Grand Final: Yarrambat 10.7 (67) def Laurimar 3.5 (23)
Best and Fairest: Samuel House (Laurimar) – 36 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Samuel House (Laurimar) – 61 goals
UNDER-12 BLUE
Premier: Yarrambat
Grand Final: Montmorency 3.3 (21) def by Yarrambat 5.6 (36)
UNDER-12 RED
Premier: Mernda
Grand Final: Mernda 8.7 (55) def Epping 2.3 (15)
UNDER-12 GREEN
Premier: Whittlesea
Grand Final: Whittlesea 12.4 (76) def Bundoora Park 2.3 (15)
UNDER-12 SILVER
Premier: Reservoir
Grand Final: Reservoir 4.5 (29) def Kinglake 1.9 (15)
UNDER-12 GIRLS
Premier: (A): Research; (B) Montmorency
Grand Final: (A): Research 8.4 (52) def West Preston-Lakeside 3.2 (20); (B): Montmorency 4.3 (27) def Diamond Creek Women’s 0.1 (1)
UNDER-11 BLUE
Premier: Eltham
Grand Final: Eltham 8.6 (54) def South Morang 3.6 (24)
UNDER-11 RED
Premier: Diamond Creek
Grand Final: Diamond Creek 6.8 (44) def Research 4.1 (25)
UNDER-11 GREEN
Premier: Wallan
Grand Final: Wallan 6.2 (38) def Mill Park 2.1 (13)
UNDER-11 SILVER
Premier: Yarrambat
Grand Final: Yarrambat 5.5 (35) def West Ivanhoe 3.1 (19)
NETBALL SECTION 1
Premier: Diamond Creek 1
Grand Final: Diamond Creek 1 (60) def North Heidelberg 1 (59)
Best and Fairest: Kate Butler (North Heidelberg 1) and Isabelle Conroy (Greensborough 1) – 18 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Bronwyn Taylor (Diamond Creek 1)
Leading Goal Shooter: Bec Colwell (North Heidelberg 1) – 599 goals
NETBALL SECTION 2
Premier: Watsonia 1
Grand Final: South Morang 1 (30) def by Watsonia 1 (37)
Best and Fairest: Rhiannon Maxwell (Watsonia 1) and Emma Rendell (Heat 1) – 15 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Rhiannon Maxwell (Watsonia 1)
Leading Goal Shooter: Rhiannon Maxwell (Watsonia 1) – 263 goals
NETBALL SECTION 3
Premier: Whittlesea 2
Grand Final: St Mary’s 1 (22) def by Whittlesea 2 (41)
Best and Fairest: Tracey Beaton (St Mary’s 1) and Clare Derham (St Mary’s 1) – 16 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Angel Mann (Whittlesea 2)
Leading Goal Shooter: Lauren Kearney (Whittlesea 2) – 272 goals
NETBALL SECTION 4
Premier: Greensborough 3
Grand Final: Lalor 1 (29) def by Greensborough 3 (31)
Best and Fairest: Stephanie Oakford (Epping 1) – 28 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Thea Nicolaou (Greensborough 3)
Leading Goal Shooter: Nadine Kelly (Lalor 1) – 369 goals
NETBALL SECTION 5
Premier: Hurstbridge 1
Grand Final: North Heidelberg 3 (17) def by Hurstbridge 1 (24)
Best and Fairest: Emma Thomas (Hurstbridge 2) – 23 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Millie Barden (Hurstbridge 1)
Leading Goal Shooter: Ashlee Ozimek (Bundoora Comets 3) – 280 goals
NETBALL SECTION 6
Premier: Thomastown 2
Grand Final: North Heidelberg 4 (23) def by Thomastown 2 (28)
Best and Fairest: Avril Stanley (North Heidelberg 4) – 15 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Lauren Newstead (Thomastown 2)
Leading Goal Shooter: Kate Keating (Laurimar) – 210 goals
NETBALL SECTION 7
Premier: St Martin’s
Grand Final: Heat 3 (35) def by St Martin’s (38)
Best and Fairest: Bianca Perry (Heat 3) – 15 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Monique Barbanera (St Martin’s)
Leading Goal Shooter: Lauren Pendlebury (Heat 3) – 213 goals
NETBALL SECTION 8
Premier: West Ivanhoe
Grand Final: South Morang 3 (32) def by West Ivanhoe (34)
Best and Fairest: Tamara Howlett (South Morang 3) – 19 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Stefanie Symes (West Ivanhoe)
Leading Goal Shooter: Jessica Dzioba (South Morang 3) – 268 goals
NETBALL SECTION 9
Premier: Bundoora Comets 4
Grand Final: Fitzroy Stars 4 (16) def by Bundoora Comets 4 (33)
Best and Fairest: Holly Ditchfield (Montmorency 2) – 20 votes
Best on Court in Grand Final: Lauren Grimes (Bundoora Comets 4)
Leading Goal Shooter: Cheryl Caruso (Fitzroy Stars 4) – 242 goals
OTHER 2015 AWARD WINNERS
NFL Senior Club of the Year: Greensborough
NFL Junior Club of the Year: Northcote
Volunteer of the Year: Max Grant (Bundoora)
Senior Umpire of the Year: Daniel Compton
Most Improved Senior Umpire: Jesse Baird
Junior Umpire of the Year: Elias Kafritsas
Most Promising Junior Umpire: Jarryd Cripps
AFL Victoria Golden Whistle Award: Samuel Lever
Northern Knights Under-15 Rookie of the Year: Rayden Garrard (Greensborough)
Most Consistent Representative Player (Under-14A): Lachlan Potter (South Morang)
Most Consistent Representative Player (Under-14B): Daniel Ferranato (Greensborough)
Most Consistent Representative Player (Under-15A): Jake Richards (Laurimar)
Most Consistent Representative Player (Under-15B): Ryan Godino (Epping)
Most Consistent Representative Player (Under-16 Girls): Alexandra Pronesti (Epping)
