The season that was - Division 3 | Northern Football Netball League

MERNDA – PREMIER (15 wins, 3 losses)

Could not have imagined a more impressive season after a difficult 2011 which saw it relegated to Division 2 following only two wins. Brett Wilson’s first year as coach saw the Demons finish second on the ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season before two comprehensive finals wins over Panton Hill – including a 93-point Grand Final win – saw it claim the 2012 premiership cup and promotion back to Division 2. Wilson’s achievements saw him named coach in the Division 3 Team of the Year and earn a nomination for the 2012 AFCA Northern Region Coach of the Year. Skipper Rohan Davies had a stellar season and was the runaway winner of the competition best and fairest award. He polled 30 votes – made up of eight best on ground performances and three two-vote games. His efforts also won him an equal share of the Mernda’s best and fairest award with Luke Howard. Down back, the Demons defence was resolute all season and conceded just 836 points during the regular season – the least of any team in the competition. It also stood tall in the finals series where it leaked a total of just 88 points in two finals against the Redbacks. Veteran Matthew Rees was a consistent performer all season and was a fitting recipient of the best on ground medal on Grand Final day.

Best and fairest: Rohan Davies and Luke Howard

Leading goalkicker: Cameron Curlis (35)

Most NFL best and fairest votes: Rohan Davies – 30 votes (winner)

PANTON HILL – Runner-Up (16 wins, 3 losses)

Claimed its first minor premiership since 1972 but couldn’t maintain its regular season form in the finals. Won 15 of 16 games during the home and away campaign but only just scraped into the Grand Final following a come-from-behind four-point win over Reservoir in the preliminary final. Despite receiving a belting from Mernda in the premiership decider, the season must still be seen as a success given the improvement the club made on the field in Dean Haydock’s first season in charge. The Redbacks had five players named in the Division 3 Team of the Year, with Haydock, Will Box, Tristan Kreymborg, Jonathon Byron and Brendan O’Connor all earning selection. Byron was a standout all season and won the competition goal kicking award with 96 goals in the regular season – the most of any player in the four-year history of Division 3. He booted his 100th goal in the preliminary final win over the Mustangs and was a clear winner of the club’s best and fairest award ahead of Benn Parker. Kreymborg missed a significant part of the early season through injury but was superb when he returned to the side and was Panton Hill’s best on Grand Final day.

Best and fairest: Jonathon Byron

Leading goal kicker: Jonathon Byron (96)

Most NFL best and fairest votes: Jonathon Byron – 15 votes (3rd)

RESERVOIR – 3RD (13 wins, 5 losses)

A year of marked improvement for the Mustangs under first-year coach Ross Terranova. After missing out on the finals in 2011, Reservoir finished the regular season in third place and eventually missed out on a Grand Final place by less than a kick. The club’s recruits all performed wonderfully, with Toby O’Meara, Ashley Flavel, Cameron Rooney and Jarrod Skinner all making a serious impression in their first season at Crispe Park. O’Meara and Flavel led the forward line and combined for 99 goals in the home and way season before kicking a further 18 goals in the finals, with Flavel booting 12 of those. Along with Panton Hill, Reservoir had an equal-high five players named in the Division 3 Team of the Year, those being Ryan Docherty, Skinner, Flavel, O’Meara and Rooney. The Mustangs began the season with four successive wins, and lost just twice after Round 8. Arguably its best win of the season came in Round 14 when it defeated Mernda by 12 points – ending a run of nine consecutive wins for the Demons.

Best and fairest: Cameron Rooney

Leading goal kicker: Toby O’Meara (54)

Most NFL best and fairest votes: Jarrod Skinner – 23 votes (2nd)

ST MARY’S – 4TH (6 wins, 11 losses)

It’s not often a side registers only six wins in the regular season yet earns a finals berth, but that’s exactly the position St Mary’s found itself in this season. The Burras had to endure the agony of sitting out the final round of the season with a bye and wait on the Reservoir v Parkside result to confirm their place in the finals. As it played out, Parkside lost and St Mary’s ended the season in fourth place. Brenton Kinnear’s young side was competitive all season but managed to beat a top-three side just once in 10 attempts – that being a 21-point win over Reservoir in Round 8. Its fourth-place finish provided an accurate indication of where the club sits – it is better than the bottom three, but still has work to do to reach the top-three and become a premiership contender. Dillan Ronalds had a fine season and was a worthy winner of the club’s best and fairest award, while skipper Michael Costanzo finished fourth in the competition best and fairest and earned selection in the Team of the Year, along with defender Adam Lucci and Ronalds on the half forward flank. It’s been an exceptional effort for St Mary’s to play in two finals series in its first three years in the competition, now the goal is to win a final after two semi final loses in succession.

Best and fairest: Dillan Ronalds

Leading goal kicker: Haydn Bryce (21)

Most NFL best and fairest votes: Michael Costanzo – 12 votes (equal 4th)

PARKSIDE – 5TH (6 wins, 10 losses)

A difficult year for the boys at Pitcher Park as they failed to play finals after three consecutive Grand Final appearances. Pre-season signing Darren Turner departed immediately after booting eight goals against St Mary’s in Round 2, while 2011 leading goal kicker, Dallas King, followed suit in mid-May after playing just three games. It left the Devils’ attack vulnerable as they managed an average of just 74 points a game, down significantly on 2011 when they averaged 100 points a match. Lost matches to Panton Hill and Mernda by triple-digit margins across the course of the year, but ultimately should have still played in the finals series after beating St Mary’s on two occasions. A shock loss to Heidelberg West in Round 18 and a 32-point defeat against Reservoir in the final round put paid to an unlikely finals berth. On the positive side, skipper Brad Hockey continued to perform admirably through the middle of the ground, Darren Gresham was rock solid in defence and Andy Bennett was lively up forward with 37 goals but missed the final two games of the year. After many years in the top job, Peter Dean announced he won’t be returning as senior coach in 2013.

Leading goal kicker: Andy Bennett (37)

Most NFL best and fairest votes: Brad Hockey – 10 votes (eq. 6th)

HEIDELBERG WEST – 6TH (3 wins, 13 losses)

After a forgettable opening seven weeks, Heidelberg West’s form improved dramatically in the second half of the season as it claimed three victories in its final 10 matches. The Hawks lost their opening six games by an average of 105 points before breaking through for their first victory of the season against Watsonia in Round 8. They defeated the Saints again in Round 15, before stunning Parkside by 17 points in Round 18. Youngster James McLean-Brunton was exceptional in his first season at the club after crossing from North Heidelberg and took out the senior best and fairest award. Still eligible for the under-19s, McLean-Brunton also finished second in the Division 3 Coaches Player of the Year behind Watsonia’s Joel Buckley. Work commitments forced playing-coach Bennett Osborne’s departure following the second win against Watsonia, but there’s plenty to like about this Hawks outfit moving forward, particularly after a successful debut year for the club’s under-19s team, Warringal Hawks.

Best and fairest: James McLean-Brunton

Leading goal kicker: James McLean-Brunton (22)

Most NFL best and fairest votes: James McLean-Brunton – 5 votes (eq. 11th)

WATSONIA – 7TH (1 win, 15 losses)

Not a memorable year for the Watsonia Football Club as it claimed the Division 3 wooden spoon. After winning just two games in 2011, the Saints looked destined for an improved season following a 52-point win over Heidelberg West in Round 1. Unfortunately that would be their only triumph for the season as they succumbed to 15 consecutive losses to finish the year in bottom place. The Saints fell to a number of close losses in the early stages of the season and let slip a golden chance to claim a victory in Round 3 after kicking ten behinds in the last quarter against Parkside to fall to an eight-point loss. Coach Gavan Taylor departed after the Round 8 loss to Heidelberg West and was replaced by Dean McCluskey, however the change didn’t yield a desperately sought second win. Matt Crompton took out the Michael Walsh Award as the club’s best and fairest player in his first season at the club after crossing from Macleod,, while Joel Buckley was named the Coaches Player of the Year after polling 22 votes.

Best and fairest: Matt Crompton

Leading goal kicker: Jeremy Bennett (24)

Most NFL best and fairest votes: Paul McConnell – 6 votes (10th)

DIVISION 3 2012 SEASON WRAP

Grand Final

Mernda 19.18 (132) def Panton Hill 6.3 (39)

Best and Fairest

1st. Rohan Davies (Mernda) – 30 votes

2nd. Jarrod Skinner (Reservoir) – 23 votes

3rd. Jonathon Byron (Panton Hill) – 15 votes

4th. Michael Costanzo (St Mary’s) and Dean Haydock (Panton Hill) – 12 votes

5th. Toby O’Meara (Reservoir) – 11 votes