The Cougars controlled the play from start to finish, as they ran out victorious 14.12 (96) to Heidelberg’s 5.6 (36) at Bill Lawry Oval.
The win was set up by a dominant display across the half back line, with Nick Carter, Anthony Hogan and Julian Violato thwarting foray after foray, while Mitchell Papas and Koden Colman were both effective in the attacking half, booting four goals each.
For the visitors, Michael Finn battled hard throughout the match, while Blair Harvey led by example as he always does, but there were too few players prepared to do the hard yards.
Despite coming up against the second best attack in Division 1, and the best defence, Northcote Park was the team that struck the board first in the opening quarter with Will Debruin marking uncontested from a Nyaburu Kelly pass, before kicking truly.
What followed was 15 minutes of hard, contested football as the game was played between the 50m arcs, however, the Cougars capitalised on their forward 50m pressure when Colman caught Will Drapac holding the ball at the 20-minute mark.
He converted, and then Papas kicked two goals in two minutes to see the home side hold the Tigers to one behind for the term, and go to the first change with a 26-point lead.
Despite the beautiful winter’s day, the centre wicket area resembled more of a glue pot, meaning that Heidelberg would have to be a lot more effective with its forward movements.
Rhys Healey was able to run into goal and steady from 35m out to get first blood of the second term, however this was answered by a Michael Naldrett goal from after being rewarded for a holding the ball decision.
Colman kicked two goals in four minutes after firstly out-marking Michael Brunelli, and then marking on the lead and converting from 30m. When Papas booted his third at the 20-minute mark, the lead had extended to 44 points.
Allan Young grabbed Heidelberg’s second goal of the game after accepting a Harvey pass, but this was duly answered when Jake Mills grabbed a high bouncing ball and toe-poked it home from the goal line.
Things went from bad to worse before the half time break for Heidelberg, as Jess Sinclair was red carded for an incident in a marking contest, and just before the siren, Debruin gathered the ball inside 50m and ran to the goal square as the Cougars went inside the rooms with a 53-point lead.
The pace went out of the game in the third quarter, as both teams scored just one goal each.
Paul Scanlon, who had been instrumental on the ball all day, was awarded a free kick for holding the man, before a ball up was even in the air, while Danny Nolan answered that with a set shot from 45m.
Both teams went through the motions in the final quarter with the home side winning the quarter by three goals to two.
Colman and Papas both kicked their fourth, while Debruin got his third as Northcote Park continued on its good form from its previous 97-point defeat of Greensborough.
After next week’s bye for all Division 1 sides, Northcote Park faces a proverbial eight point game against Eltham at Central Park with the winner to claim fifth place one the ladder.
Heidelberg – after winning its previous five matches – will be looking to get back on the winners’ list as it hosts Macleod in a local derby at Warringal Park. The Kangaroos will take confidence into the game after defeating Bundoora by 27 points at De Winton Park.
Final score: Northcote Park 14.12 (96) def Heidelberg 5.6 (36)
