IT was a case of fifth-time lucky for Heidelberg as it overcame four grand final defeats in the past six years to win its first premiership since 2009.
In an otherwise even campaign, it was the Tigers who topped the ladder throughout the season – starting life under Charles Gaylard with 10 consecutive wins, before finishing the regular season with a 15-3 record.
2015 grand finalists Macleod and Greensborough were again perched in the upper echelon of the ladder and proved Heidelberg’s greatest challengers for the premiership, despite finishing three wins behind the Tigers on the ladder.
Perennial finalists Bundoora and Northcote Park rounded out the top five, with the Bulls enjoying a strong first half of the season, while the Cougars won six of their final seven home and away games to sneak into fifth spot.
As is always the case, the finals series threw up a number of surprises and classic matches.
Macleod and Bundoora were the winners in the opening week of the finals, before a dramatic weekend of action in the semi finals, which saw the Roos overrun Heidelberg by eight points in the second semi and Greensborough end the Bulls season with a six-point win in the first semi.
The Tigers responded with a bruising 25-point win over the Boro in the preliminary final, before outlasting the Roos in a gripping grand final. The result continued a five-year trend of sides winning the premiership off a six-day break from the preliminary final.
Heidelberg overcame a four-goal deficit in the first quarter to win the grand final, with 17-year-old midfielder Lachlan Wilson winning the best on ground medallion. Wilson had only returned to the Tigers’ side a week prior after not featuring in the second semi final loss.
Montmorency was the best performed side from outside the top five, showing marked improvement from last season, but missing out on the finals after dropping its final game of the home and away season to Northcote Park.
West Preston-Lakeside and Eltham were both in finals contention at the midway point of the season, before falling away in the back half. The Roosters replaced coach Leigh Cole during the season, while the Panthers parted ways with Mario Bandera at season’s end.
Whittlesea enjoyed a successful return to Division 1 and became the first Division 2 premier in five years to retain its place in the top flight, while a tough season for Lower Plenty resulted in a bottom-place finish.
Bundoora’s Matthew Dennis became a two-time winner of the Frank Rosbrook Medal after a runaway win in the vote count. Dennis polled 32 votes to finish 10 ahead of dual winner Bronik Davies. Macleod rover Liam Brandt finished third on 20 votes.
The Coaches Player of the Year also went to a ruckman, with Patrick Flynn taking this year’s award, while Gary Moorcroft claimed his second leading goal kicker award – finishing the regular season with 64 majors, before adding another nine in his two finals appearances.
Continue below for a season review for each Division 1 team:
HEIDELBERG – Premier (17 wins, 4 losses)
After last year missing the finals for the first time in over a decade, Heidelberg responded emphatically in 2016. The Tigers became the first minor premier to win the premiership since 2011 and in the process ended a seven-year premiership drought, having lost their previous four grand finals. Under the new leadership of playing-coach Charles Gaylard, his assistant Jason Heatley and skipper Michael Brunelli, the Tigers produced a dominant start to the season, winning their opening 10 matches to sit four games clear atop the ladder. Despite finishing the home and away season three wins ahead of their nearest opponent, the Tigers were forced to take the long route to the grand final after suffering an eight-point defeat to Macleod in the second semi final. A tough preliminary final win over Greensborough proved to be the perfect preparation for a premiership tilt, as the Tigers overcame an injury to Dan Connors and red card to Josh Gribben to run out 16-point winners against the Roos on grand final day. 17-year-old Lachy Wilson was a revelation on the big stage, winning the best on ground medallion just six days after having a big impact in the preliminary final win. He edged out Marcus Marigliani for the medal, with Marigliani capping of a stellar first season at Warringal Park with three decisive goals on grand final day. The former VFL star slotted straight into the Tigers midfield and worked perfectly alongside the likes of Brunelli, Gaylard and ruckman Sam Gilmore. Tom Sullivan was a revelation in his first season in yellow and black and featured in Heidelberg’s best players in 12 of the final 14 matches of the season, including the grand final. Adam Symes returned seamlessly into the senior side after two years at Mornington and provided sure hands in both defence and attack, while backmen Paul Bower, Callum Lewis and Gribben all had solid seasons. Injury restricted Dan Connors to just 12 games in his first season at the club, however he still topped his team’s goal kicking with 41 majors, which included 18 goals in the four games leading into the premiership decider.
Most times in best: Tom Sullivan (12)
Leading goal kicker: Dan Connors (41 goals)
Team of the Year representatives: Michael Brunelli, Marcus Marigliani and Adam Symes
MACLEOD – Runner-Up (14 wins, 7 losses)
Twelve months after preventing Greensborough winning back-to-back flags, Macleod had to settle for second-best after being outlasted by Heidelberg in the grand final. The 16-point loss on grand final day denied the Roos becoming the first side since Heidelberg from 2006-09 to win consecutive Division 1 premierships. Macleod’s premiership defence had an indifferent start, losing five of its opening 11 matches to sit inside the top five by percentage alone at Round 11. Among the five losses were successive one-point defeats in Rounds 8 and 9, the latter of which came against Heidelberg following an Adam Symes goal with the last kick of the day. Macleod hit its straps in the back half of the year to win eight of its next nine games, before being beaten in the decider. Lucas Hobbs backed up his outstanding debut season at De Winton Park to claim his second-successive best and fairest award, finishing ahead of fellow Division 1 Team of the Year representatives Hamish Paynter and Justin White. Hobbs was named in Macleod’s best players 14 times during the year, but was forced to sit out the opening two weeks of the finals with a shoulder injury. Ned McKeown and Josh Totino each enjoyed strong first seasons at the club, with McKeown named in the Team of the Year and Totino winning the club’s best finals player. Meanwhile, Matthew Clark had his best season for the Roos and finished with 47 goals, while Hayden Seivers impressed across half back. Despite not getting the desired result on the last day of the season, there is much for Macleod to be optimistic about moving into 2017.
Most times in best: Lucas Hobbs (14)
Leading goal kicker: Matthew Clark (47 goals)
Team of the Year representatives: Liam Brandt, Matthew Clark, Lucas Hobbs, Hamish Paynter, Ned McKeown, Justin White and Garry Ramsay (coach)
GREENSBOROUGH – 3rd (13 wins, 8 losses)
For much of the home and away season Greensborough looked the side best positioned to challenge Heidelberg for the premiership. That view was further strengthened when the Boro downed the Tigers in Round 16 to sit two games clear of Macleod in second place. However injuries to key players and a form slump over the last six weeks of the season, which included losses to bottom-two sides Whittlesea and Lower Plenty in the last two rounds, stopped the Boro from reaching a third successive grand final. Despite missing six games through injury, David Ellard’s sole season at Greensborough netted him the club’s best and fairest award. The former Carlton midfielder booted 26 goals in 15 matches and was a high possession winner. Jack Johnston was the only Greensborough player to player every game in 2016 and was a standout in both attack and defence, Jacob Ireland was much improved, while Dan McLinden and Nick Riddle again held down the key defensive posts with aplomb. Riddle was sorely missed late in the season after sustaining an injury in the qualifying final loss to Macleod. While Greensborough’s defence held up, the same could not be said about its forward line. The Boro averaged just 74 points a game this year, scoring 100 points or more in just one match. Ellard (26) and Johnston (25) were the only Boro players to score more than 20 goals, a much different tale to last year when Rhys Boyden and Josh Grubb combined for 112 majors. After parting ways with Ben Turner at season’s end, the Boro will have a new coach at the helm in 2017.
Most times in best: Jack Johnston (11)
Leading goal kicker: David Ellard (26 goals)
Team of the Year representatives: Jack Johnston, Daniel McLinden and Nick Riddle
BUNDOORA – 4th (11 wins, 9 losses)
Phil Plunkett’s fourth and final year in charge of Bundoora ended with a fourth-placed finish. After qualifying for their 16th consecutive finals series, the Bulls’ claimed their first finals win since the 2013 grand final when they downed Northcote Park by 66 points in the elimination final. The Bulls came within a kick of reaching the preliminary final, but were left to rue a slow start in their six-point semi final loss to Greensborough. After falling to a 49-point loss to Macleod in the opening round, Bundoora recovered to win six of its next seven games to sit in third place at the halfway point of the regular season. The Bulls handed Heidelberg its first loss in a 75-point drubbing in Round 11, however they were unable to reproduce that red-hot form consistently in the back half of the year. Matthew Dennis produced a sensational season and claimed his second Frank Rosbrook Medal. After sharing the award with Bronik Davies in 2012, Dennis was a runaway winner this time around, polling 32 votes to finish 10 ahead of his closest rival. It was a huge year for the Bulls ruckman, who also co-captained the NFL’s representative team against the MPNFL. Gary Moorcroft proved that age is just a number, topping the competition goal kicking award with 64 goals in the regular season before adding nine more in his two finals. He also provided one of the highlights of the season with a huge grab in the elimination final win over Northcote Park. Liam Byrne was a standout in his first full season at Yulong Reserve, while 2015 club champion Brendan Carlyon and David Mitchell also had strong campaigns. Young midfielder Jack Furlong impressed in his first year from Hurstbridge, while emerging tall Isaac Muller kicked 17 goals and helped ease the burden on Dennis in the ruck.
Most times in best: Matthew Dennis (15)
Leading goal kicker: Gary Moorcroft (73 goals)
Team of the Year representatives: Matthew Dennis and Gary Moorcroft
NORTHCOTE PARK – 5th (10 wins, 9 losses)
Northcote Park could have been forgiven for thinking a curse had swept through Bill Lawry Oval ahead of Round 1. Pre-season injuries and illness prevented two-time best and fairest Nick Carter, forward recruit Simon Andrews, premiership utility Jake Mills and midfielder Wade Demasi from taking the field in the 2016 season. Just four wins in the first 11 rounds had many putting a line through Northcote Park’s season, before the Cougars produced a back half of the year similar to their 2012 premiership campaign to finish in the top five for the second-straight year. The Cougars won six of their last seven home and away games, which included a 27-point triumph at Montmorency in Round 18, which was effectively an early elimination final. A long injury list coupled with the VFL selection of a number of the club’s best players forced coach Harmit Singh to again recycle players through the senior side. Northcote Park used 48 players throughout the 2016 campaign – the most of any side in the top flight. Skipper Bronik Davies was again been a ball magnet and finished runner-up in the Frank Rosbrook Medal. Jordan Perry was superb in his first season since crossing from the Northern Blues, while Gerard Sutton continued to emerge as a future leader. Mannon Johnston was lively up forward and kicked 25 goals in his first season after joining from Morwell. Despite playing just four games for the Cougars, Collingwood VFL midfielder Jordan Collopy deserves a mention. His three best on ground performances between Rounds 12 to 14 helping the Cougars to three vital wins to get their season back on track.
Most times in best: Jordan Perry (13)
Leading goal kicker: Koden Colman and Mannon Johnston (25 goals)
Team of the Year representative: Bronik Davies
MONTMORENCY – 6th (9 wins, 9 losses)
Montmorency was a big improver in 2016, finishing within one win of the top five after last year managing only five wins a draw. Despite the marked progression shown this season, the young Magpies would have been disappointed to not play finals after losing the final home and away game of the year. Ben Haynes’ side would have fancied its chances of having an impact in the finals after beating each of Heidelberg, Greensborough and Bundoora during the regular season. After losing its opening three games, it was a remarkable come-from-behind win over the Boro in Round 4 that got Montmorency’s season rolling. 41 points behind at the final break, the Magpies booted eight unanswered final-quarter goals to win by seven points. The momentum gained from that win helped the Pies to win five of their next seven games as they pushed inside the top five. However, the long season got to the young side as they faded for a sixth-place finish. After missing the opening two games of the year through suspension, Ben Fennell enjoyed a massive campaign and was named rover in the Division 1 Team of the Year. He also found the big sticks on a regular basis, booting 32 goals. Jesse Donaldson led superbly and was named among Montmorency’s best players more times than anyone else. He also captained the NFL’s representative side against the MPNFL in May, sharing the honour with Bundoora’s Matthew Dennis. Patrick Fitzgerald finished second on the goal kicking table with 59 majors. Daniel Keenan and Stephen McCallum also had strong seasons, while the amount of games Haynes was able to get into the club’s youngsters will hold the Magpies in good stead moving into 2017.
Most times in best: Jesse Donaldson (12)
Leading goal kicker: Patrick Fitzgerald (59 goals)
Team of the Year representatives: Ben Fennell and Patrick Fitzgerald
WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE – 7th (8 wins, 10 losses)
West Preston-Lakeside held high hopes for 2016 after landing prized recruits Patrick Karnezis and Rhett Jordon in the pre-season. However, the campaign didn’t pan out the way the club had desired as it missed out on a place in the finals for the fourth-consecutive year. The Roosters made a positive start to the season and sat in fifth place at the halfway point with a 5-4 record. However, just one win over the next month left the club’s finals aspirations hanging by a thread, as Leigh Cole was replaced as coach by Jordon, who assumed the role of playing-coach. Wins over Whittlesea and Eltham in the last month of the season weren’t enough to push West Preston-Lakeside into the top five, as it finished the year in seventh spot, two wins from of a finals berth. Shaun Gannon was again the club’s best performer, leading by example despite relinquishing the captaincy to Joel McDonald. Gannon was again selected in the Team of the Year, finished equal second in the Coaches Player of the Year award and was a runaway winner of the club’s best and fairest. Former Collingwood and Brisbane Lions forward Karnezis was his side’s leading goal kicker with 50 majors, seven times kicking four goals or more. 18-year-old Liam McVeigh showed plenty of promise and booted 20 goals in 16 appearances, while Luke Lirosi gave his all through the midfield.
Most times in best: Shaun Gannon (15)
Leading goal kicker: Patrick Karnezis (50 goals)
Team of the Year representatives: Shaun Gannon and Patrick Karnezis
ELTHAM – 8th (7 wins, 11 losses)
The 2016 campaign was a disappointing one for Eltham, who slipped to eighth spot on the ladder following last year’s impressive third-place finish. Still in finals contention at Round 14, the Panthers lost their final four games of the season to finish with a 7-11 record. Despite consecutive heavy defeats to 2015 grand finalists Greensborough and Macleod in the opening two weeks of the season, the Panthers looked to have recovered with three-straight wins between Rounds 3-5. However it proved to be the only time all season that the club would record back-to-back wins. Throughout the year the side suffered two 100-point plus losses at home, firstly in Round 6 against Heidelberg, then against Macleod in Round 17. A lack of firepower was a major concern, with Eltham ranked No.9 in the competition for points scored after being unable to find a replacement for 2015 competition leading goal kicker James Kroussoratis. Billy Glasgow was again a standout and was named among the best players in 12 of 15 games. Gavan Connelly made a successful return after two seasons out of the game and was a high possession winner, while Eamon Gilbert was strong in defence and was a part of the NFL representative team against the MPNFL. Injuries to key players certainly didn’t help, with Bradyn Taglieri sidelined for half the season, while livewire forward Jamie Doukas managed only seven games. Meanwhile, Daniel Coffield, a key cog in defence over the past two years, managed just three games for the Panthers after spending much of the season in Richmond’s VFL team.
Most times in best: Billy Glasgow (12)
Leading goal kicker: Josh Merkel (21 goals)
WHITTLESEA – 9th (5 wins, 13 losses)
It was a successful return to the top flight for Whittlesea, who became the first Division 2 premier to retain its place in Division 1 since Lower Plenty in 2012. The club’s 5-13 record didn’t give a fair indication as to how well it competed this year, with the Eagles beaten by three points or less on three occasions – including in Round 1 when they let slip a five-goal lead in the final term against West Preston-Lakeside. The Eagles were competitive in six of their opening eight losses, before finally breaking through for their first win in Round 9 against Northcote Park. It triggered a run of three straight wins, before also adding to their tally in Round 16 against Lower Plenty and in Round 18 when they upset Greensborough by five points. The final-round win was a deserving way for the club to wrap up its first season under Jimmy Atkins, and the aim now will be to build for further success in 2017. After joining on a part-time basis in 2015, Jai Robinson spent the entire season with the club this year and was a star performer. The Eagles also received outstanding service from Riley Dyson and Nathan Stefanile, while Justin Sherman provided great leadership and was the club’s sole representative in the Team of the Year. Andrew Fairchild kicked a team-high 38 goals, while Jaron Murphy, Janan Daniel and Sherman all offered pinch-hitting support to each finish with more than 20 goals.
Most times in best: Jai Robinson (11)
Leading goal kicker: Andrew Fairchild (38 goals)
Team of the Year representative: Justin Sherman
LOWER PLENTY – 10th (2 wins, 16 losses)
Having only just missed a finals berth in each of the past two seasons, 2016 was a challenging year for Lower Plenty. The Bears finished bottom of the ladder with just two wins, bringing to an end their five-year stint in Division 1. Following the departure of a host of key players in the off-season, the 2016 season was all about developing the club’s next crop of senior players. After starting the season with two big losses, Lower Plenty rallied to record one of its greatest wins in Round 3 when it triumphed over Whittlesea by 28 points. After enduring a devastating week following the tragic death of Patrick Cronin and club stalwart Tony Barden, Lower Plenty was able to find something special in the last quarter to overrun the Eagles. Despite some heavy defeats that followed, the Bears were also left to rue missed chances to add to their winning tally. In Round 6 they coughed up a 21-point lead in the final term to lose at Northcote Park by two points, before booting a wasteful 9.24 in a 16-point defeat to Eltham the following week. After a run of 13-straight defeats, Lower Plenty tasted victory again in Round 17 when it upset Greensborough for the Long Tan Cup. Despite his side’s on-field struggles, Patrick Flynn produced an exceptional season to be named the Division 1 Coaches Player of the Year. Flynn polled 31 votes to finish 12 ahead of his closest rival. He was also named in the Team of the Year, alongside Tom Keys – who impressed wherever coach Michael Ryan placed him and finished the year with a team-high 22 goals. Despite the disappointment of being relegated, Lower Plenty heads to Division 2 in reasonable shape, with many of the club’s youngsters getting a season’s experience under their belt in 2016.
Most times in best: Patrick Flynn (14)
Leading goal kicker: Tom Keys (22 goals)
Team of the Year representatives: Patrick Flynn and Tom Keys
DIVISION 1 – 2016 REVIEW
Finals Results
Qualifying Final: Macleod 17.15 (117) def Greensborough 8.8 (56)
Elimination Final: Bundoora 22.7 (139) def Northcote Park 10.13 (73)
First Semi Final: Greensborough 10.15 (75) def Bundoora 10.9 (69)
Second Semi Final: Heidelberg 10.6 (66) def by Macleod 10.14 (74)
Preliminary Final: Heidelberg 12.15 (87) def Greensborough 9.8 (62)
Grand Final: Macleod 9.15 (69) def by Heidelberg 12.13 (85)
Best and Fairest
1st – Matthew Dennis (Bundoora) – 32 votes
2nd – Bronik Davies (Northcote Park) – 22 votes
3rd – Liam Brandt (Macleod) – 20 votes
4th – Sam Gilmore (Heidelberg) – 13 votes
4th – Luke Lirosi (West Preston-Lakeside) – 13 votes
Leading Goal Kicker (home and away only)
1st – Gary Moorcroft (Bundoora) – 64 goals
2nd – Patrick Fitzgerald (Montmorency) – 59 goals
3rd – Patrick Karnezis (West Preston-Lakeside) – 50 goals
4th – Matthew Clark (Macleod) – 45 goals
5th – Andrew Fairchild (Whittlesea) – 38 goals
Coaches Player of the Year
1st – Patrick Flynn (Lower Plenty) – 31 votes
2nd – Bronik Davies (Northcote Park) – 19 votes
2nd – Ben Fennell (Montmorency) – 19 votes
2nd – Shaun Gannon (West Preston-Lakeside) – 19 votes
2nd – Lucas Hobbs (Macleod) – 19 votes
