The Cougars trailed the eventual wooden spooner by as much as 11 goals in the mid-season clash at Whittlesea Showgrounds in a result that left Heatley’s side languishing in eighth position with just three wins and a draw from its opening 10 matches.“
Probably the second half of Macleod and the Whittlesea game were the real turning point,” Heatley said after Northcote Park’s emphatic 45-point Grand Final win against Heidelberg on Saturday.
“The guys really committed from there moving forward and once we got on a role they actually believed they could win and I think that was something this footy club really need to do.”
Northcote Park went on to win seven of its remaining eight home and away matches to finish fourth on the ladder, before claiming four consecutive finals victories against West Preston-Lakeside, Bundoora, Montmorency and Heidelberg to win its eighth A-Grade premiership and first since 2002.
In doing so, the Cougars became the first side since the inception of the Northern Football League in 2007 to win the premiership from outside the top-three.
Heatley’s pride in his side’s achievement was evident as he revealed a number of players had to overcome adversity to even run out on Grand Final day following a gruelling 10-point preliminary final win over Montmorency.
“It’s massive to get up and play for games,” he said.
“We had some really sore and sorry boys last Sunday night (after the Montmorency game) when we went back to the club for rehab and then again on the Monday.
“There was probably any one of half a dozen guys who were really feeling the pinch. For them to get themselves up and will themselves for one more effort was enormous and that’s what leadership is all about.
“They’ve now taught these young guys a whole lot so hopefully it’s the beginning of some promising times for the footy club.”
Northcote Park never looked troubled in its Grand Final triumph and won all four quarters in the 17.12 (114) to 9.15 (69) result.
Heatley said his side’s good start – where it kicked the opening three goals of the game – and run and spread were pivotal in the victory over the Tigers.
“We started well and that went a long way towards the final result.
“Heidelberg came out early and really dished it up to us and I was really proud of how we kept our composure.
“They are a big and strong side in close and have some terrific targets down forward so we knew we had to get away from the contest. If we could do that, we wanted to run.
“We probably didn’t use the football as well as we could have but at the end of the day I think we had them looking for some petrol tickets there towards the end of the third quarter and I was confident we would hang on from there.”
Heatley, who was named the 2012 AFCA Northern Region Coach of the Year, also paid tribute to the even contribution from all his players on the day.
“I think it was a good spread we had and I didn’t think anyone was a real standout. I mean ‘Hoges’ (Anthony Hogan) got the medal but I think that could have gone to any one of four or five guys.“
Koden (Colman) kicking six goals was a match winning effort. I’m just pleased for all of the guys. This was a real club effort so I’m really happy.”
He also made special mention of Michael O’Connell who was unlucky to lose his spot in the Grand Final side to Nyaburu Kelly.
Kelly missed the preliminary final through injury but was an important inclusion on Saturday and kicked three second-half goals to seal Northcote Park’s victory.
“That’s the tough part about coaching,” Heatley said.
“The worst thing for Micky (O’Connell) was that he’d done nothing wrong. In his first couple of finals he was extremely serviceable but we just had to make a decision which was in the best interests of the side. It was great Narby (Kelly) coming in and filling a role but he had Mick out there playing by his side all day don’t you worry about that.”
Heatley said his side would now duly celebrate its premiership breakthrough but said the mission was to now make it a successful era at Bill Lawry Oval, not just a one-off success.
“We’re going to be really humble because we know we’re the new kid on the block and we look at Heidelberg and that’s sustained excellence.
“You don’t play in nine Grand Finals and not be a good footy club. They’re fantastic and we respect them a lot and I’m sure they’ll be back next year and if they are we’d certainly love to be there with them.”
