It will be a ninth-successive Grand Final appearance for the Tigers as they look to claim a 20th premiership and atone for consecutive losses on the last Saturday of the season over the past two years.
The Cougars return to the biggest stage after a ten-year absence and will be looking to add an eighth premiership to their trophy cabinet. They last tasted Grand Final success in 2002 when they won a fourth successive flag, and fifth in six years – a then league record which was matched by the Tigers later in the decade.
After finishing the home and away season in second position, behind only Montmorency, Heidelberg earned the first passage into this season’s premiership decider following comfortable wins over Bundoora and the Magpies in the opening two weeks of the finals.
Despite faltering in Round 18 in a shock loss at Greensborough, the Tigers have played arguably their best football of the season over the past fortnight – with their fast starts telling in both finals victories.
They booted the opening eight goals of their 52-point qualifying final victory over the reigning premier and the next week raced out to a 25-point lead after 10 minutes against the minor premier.
Dale Nolan’s performance against Montmorency upon return from a two-month injury would have warmed the hearts of every Heidelberg supporter, with the key forward booting seven goals in a match-winning effort. He kicked four of those in the opening quarter to set the tone for the Tigers.
Heidelberg’s attack has been in superb form of late and will be crucial in determining Saturday’s result. Standing alongside Nolan, Allan Young has been a revelation since crossing from Division 3 club Watsonia in the off-season and has 39 goals for the year.
His hard leading and ability to take contested marks has ensured the Tigers are a consistent aerial threat when entering their forward half, with his qualifying final game against Bundoora highlighting his importance to Heidelberg’s structure since joining from the Saints.
Caleb Tiller has had a goalless finals campaign but should be back to full fitness following a week’s rest to recover from a lower leg injury sustained against the Bulls three weeks ago. The former AFL-listed forward booted five goals in Heidelberg’s 19-point win over the Cougars in Round 3 – an equal season-best in 2012.
Tiller and Young are just two of a number of important recruits the Tigers have brought in this season in a quest to go one step better than in 2010 and 2011.
The club’s list is almost unrecognisable than at this time last season. Of the side that will run out this weekend, the following were acquired this season: Tiller, Young, Ben Cosgriff, Chris Cullinan, Geremie Ganino, Rhys Healey, Sean Logie, Justin Powick and John Shiels, while star ruckman Michael Gay also returned to the club.
It is a huge turnaround and the team’s ability to gel quickly and acquit themselves to new coach Ryan Smith’s game plan deserves to be credited.
Since joining from West Coburg, club legend Smith has shown great faith in his 22 each week and hasn’t been afraid to blood youngsters – including Powick who has cemented his place in the senior side and Daniel Kelly who is a player for the future.
The club’s veterans continue to amaze – with Blair Harvey, Jason Kennedy and Danny Nolan all showing no signs of slowing down. Nolan took out his third senior best and fairest this season ahead of captain Harvey, while Kennedy has regularly shut down the oppositions best forwards.
Sadly, Harvey won’t be able available for what would have been a 10th Grand Final appearance after suffering a serious knee injury in the Tigers’ second semi final win. Arguably the most respected player in the competition, Harvey is not a player whose presence can easily be replaced – however Heidelberg’s midfield depth makes it the club best equipped to cover a loss like his.
Coincidentally, Jason Kennedy – who missed last year’s 10-point Grand Final loss to Bundoora through suspension – will assume the captaincy role in Harvey’s absence.
Northcote Park’s emergence as a genuine premiership contender has become one of the surprises of the season after not featuring in September last year.
In his first season as head coach at Bill Lawry Oval, Jason Heatley has his side playing a fast and skilful brand of football which has been close to unstoppable in the second half of the season.
Heatley’s performance to turn Northcote Park from an underachiever into a Grand Finalist earned him the 2012 AFCA Northern Region Coach of the Year and at 5pm on Saturday he could claim an even bigger honour if he claims a premiership medal.
His on-field leaders have been inspirational all season long with Bronik Davies claiming the Frank Rosbrook Medal alongside Bundoora ruckman Matthew Dennis as the best and fairest player in Division 1 – despite missing the final three home and away games with an injured hamstring.
Paul Scanlon has had another exemplarily season through the middle of the ground and was the dominant player on the ground in last Sunday’s preliminary final win over Montmorency. His ability to win the hard ball and continually hit targets over long distances makes him the most dangerous player on the ground from a Heidelberg perspective.
Davies and Scanlon are the genuine stars of the Northcote Park side but it has been the improved contribution of the entire playing list which has enabled the Cougars to win 10 of their past 11 matches.
Anthony Hogan and Nick Carter are certainly now A-graders across half back, while Doug Morris provides a hard edge in the middle of the ground. All three possess superb foot skills and quickly turn defence into attack.
Morris’ form in the second half of the year has helped to fill the void left by Will Debruin who sustained a season-ending injury against Eltham in Round 13. Debruin had been exceptional as a goal-scoring midfield earlier in the year and booted 16 goals in 12 games – including three against the Tigers in the 60-point demolition in Round 12.
Along with its ability to spread quickly and retain possession even under immense pressure, another of Northcote Park’s genuine strengths has become its wide range of goal kickers.
Mitch Papas is the club’s leading goal kicker with 44 for the season – which includes 33 over the past 11 matches – however Koden Colman, Joseph Woonton, Daniel Rajab, Nyaburu Kelly and Jake Mills are all able to score hit the scoreboard.
Colman was exceptional last week and kicked a game high three-goals and was one of 10 goal kickers for the Cougars.They recorded 12 individual goal kickers the week prior against Bundoora, and eight in a 28-point win over West Preston-Lakeside in the first week of the finals.
Brock McLennan is playing a similar role to Heidelberg teen Justin Powick in the forward half and has found a knack of kicking important goals, while his pace at ground level makes defenders nervous when they have the ball in their hands.
Down back, Patrick Considine has elevated his standing in the competition over the past three weeks and has done the job on Anthony Rocca, Cameron Cloke and Dean Limbach – an outstanding achievement for a player who lost his place in the senior side earlier in the year.
He and Julian Violato will be sent to Dale Nolan and Caleb Tiller but will also have to spend time standing Michael Finn when he pushes forward.
After finishing the home and away season in fourth place, the Cougars will have to defy history to claim the 2012 premiership, with no side ever winning the flag from outside the top three under the NFL banner.
However, having already beaten the previous two Division 1 premiers – Bundoora and West Preston-Lakeside – and minor premier, Montmorency, in September there’s no reason why the Cougars can’t go on and topple another NFL giant on the biggest stage of all.
The two sides have without doubt been the form sides of the competition in the second half of the season and are deserving of their place in the Grand Final – a game which has all the hallmarks of being one of the all-time classics.
Interestingly, the two will be the only Division 1 teams to claim a victory in the 2012 finals series regardless of the outcome on Saturday – a statistic which clearly demonstrates their dominance this September.
The beginning of what could become one of the great rivalries in the League begins at 2:30pm and for the victor awaits the sweetest prize of all. In the battle of the big cats, the Tigers and Cougars will both fancy their chances.
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2012
Round 12: Northcote Park 14.12 (96) def Heidelberg 5.6 (36)
Round 3: Heidelberg 14.11 (95) def Northcote Park 11.10 (76)
