A look back over the 2013 Division 1 season.
BUNDOORA – PREMIER (16 wins, 6 losses)
Phil Plunkett’s first season in charge of Bundoora netted the club its fourth Division 1 premiership cup. After playing second-fiddle to Montmorency during the home and away season, the Bulls reversed the tide in September to secure a famous Grand Final win over the Magpies. Bundoora’s final month will be long be spoken about. The threat of missing out on a double chance in September loomed large when they trailed Northcote Park by 35 points during a must-win Round 18 encounter. The Bulls’ reversed that deficit to runaway with a seven-goal win and didn’t look back in the finals series – despite a hiccup in the second semi final when they fell to Montmorency by a goal. Cameron Cloke was the competition’s standout player in 2013, tying for the Frank Rosbrook Trophy with Heidelberg’s Mark Lynch and winning the competition goal kicking award after kicking 93 goals. Gary Moorcroft was again a constant threat up forward and finished the season with 83 goals. His mark in the third quarter of the Grand Final will be replayed for many years to come. Matthew Dennis’ had a huge season and was arguably the best player of the finals series, while down back Trent Barbero, Ben Shelton and Neil Gloury continued to get the job done. The return of lively forward Adrian Papaluca was an unmitigated success, while Ricky Dyson saved his two best games of the season for the final two weeks of the year. Having won two of the past three premierships, there is no doubting Bundoora is setting the standard for the remainder of the competition.
Best and fairest: TBA
Leading goal kicker: Cameron Cloke (93 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Cameron Cloke (17 votes, winner)
MONTMORENCY – RUNNER-UP (16 wins, 4 losses)
Montmorency looked 30 minutes away from breaking its 34-year premiership drought when it led Bundoora by 33 points at three-quarter time of the Grand Final. Unfortunately the lead wasn’t enough, with the Magpies helpless to stop Bundoora’s onslaught in the final term. It meant another heartbreaking end to a season for the club – the second consecutive year they have won the minor premiership without then securing Grand Final success. Aside from the Grand Final heartache, it was an otherwise dominant season for the Magpies who won their opening 13 games of the season – which included two big wins over Heidelberg and an 80-point triumph over reigning premier Northcote Park. Ryan Willits starred in his first season in the black and white jumper. He claimed the club’s best and fairest award and was runner-up in the competition vote count. Ryan Jackson enjoyed the added responsibility that captaincy brought and was named in the centre in the Division 1 Team of the Year. Montmorency was the highest scoring team throughout the season. Remarkably, it was kept below 100 points in only four games this season, with those four occasions coinciding with its only four losses of the season. Ben Walton emerged as a match-winner up forward and booted 51 goals for the season, while Harley Ryan slotted in nicely at half back and was the Magpies’ best player in the Grand Final loss. Named the 2013 AFCA Coach of the Year, Jack Cole will again coach the club next season.
Best and fairest: Ryan Willits
Leading goal kicker: Patrick Fitzgerald (57 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Ryan Willits (16 votes)
NORTHCOTE PARK – 3RD (14 wins, 7 losses)
Despite slipping from premiers to third, 2013 was another successful season for Northcote Park. After again finishing the home and away season in fourth place, the Cougars trounced Eltham and Heidelberg in the opening fortnight of September before falling to Bundoora in the preliminary final. The line-up that lost the preliminary final featured nine players who didn’t play in the 2012 Grand Final win – with most of those players who are still eligible to play under-19 football. The club’s host of talented young stars continue to impress with defender Ben McNiece and Brock McLennan both named in the Division 1 Team of the Year for the first time. Nick Carter again dominated off half back and claimed his second consecutive best and fairest, while Bronik Davies’ strong leadership and ability to find the football remained as consistent as ever. Koden Colman again led the club’s goal kicking with 52 goals, while Mitch Papas kicked 34 majors despite missing the final seven home and away rounds with a broken thumb. In his absence, Patrick O’Connell became a reliable goal scoring option and booted 39 goals – including five in the second semi final win over the Tigers. Defender Damien Galofaro had a huge finals series and covered for the injured Patrick Considine, while the likes of James Hodder, Kane Slater and Harley Short look ready-made senior footballers for the next decade. With coach Jason Heatley and captain Davies already committed for season 2014, the Cougars look to be a strong force for years to come.
Best and fairest: Nick Carter
Leading goal kicker: Koden Colman (52 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Doug Morris (10 votes)
HEIDELBERG – 4TH (13 wins, 7 losses)
For the first time since 2003, Heidelberg failed to reach the Division 1 Grand Final. After finishing the home and away season in third place, the Tigers exited the finals race in straight sets – losing to both Bundoora and Northcote Park. It was a disappointing end to a season that promised so much following the pre-season acquisitions of Jamie Allan, Mark Lynch, Brad Miller and Lance Oswald. Despite twice losing convincingly to Montmorency, the Tigers appeared a genuine threat heading into September. The Magpies aside, Heidelberg held a 5-1 home and away record against their fellow finals combatants but were unable to carry that regular season form into the finals. A dominant second half of the season saw Lynch tie with Cameron Cloke for the competition best and fairest, while Allan was one of the Tigers’ best right throughout the year. Oswald’s x-factor was missed in September after sustaining an injury late in the year. Veterans Danny Nolan and Jason Kennedy led from the front and were joint winners of the club’s best and fairest, while ruckman Michael Finn finished fourth in the league vote count. The off-season shapes as a changing of the guard at Warringal Park with a number of the club’s ageing champions looking likely to hang up the boots. There will also be a change of coach with Craig Hunter named as replacement for Ryan Smith.
Best and fairest: Danny Nolan and Jason Kennedy
Leading goal kicker: Chaz Sargeant (34 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Mark Lynch (17 votes, winner)
ELTHAM – 5TH (8 wins, 11 losses)
Eltham competed in the finals series for the first time since 2010. Although its finals appearance wasn’t a memorable one – losing to Northcote Park by 10 goals – a fifth-place finish marked a second consecutive year of improvement for the Panthers. The club had to overcome a 1-5 start to the year and a long injury list to feature in September. In doing so, it became the only club in the competition to have each of its senior, reserves and under-19s play in the finals. Gavan Connelly looks set to claim a fourth club best and fairest after another dominant season in the midfield. Often underrated by outsiders, Connelly’s efforts caught the eye of opposition coaches in 2013 and he was the clear winner of the Division 1 Coaches Player of the Year. Andrew Sturgess, Brad Perry and Tom Rogers also had big years – with the latter earning selection in the Team of the Year. Jackson Weatherald’s move to defence gave the Panthers plenty of drive off half back, while James Kroussoratis accepted Weatherald’s former position in the forward pocket – booting 26 goals in the final seven home and away rounds. The club’s best win in years came in Round 17 when it beat Bundoora by five goals after an eight-goal to one opening quarter. Eltham heads into 2014 with a new coach, with Mario Bandera replacing Brett Weatherald who stood down after two years in the post.
Best and fairest: TBA
Leading goal kicker: James Kroussoratis (29 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Tom Rogers (11 votes)
MACLEOD – 6TH (7 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw)
What might have been? A Round 18 draw to Greensborough denied Macleod a place in the 2013 finals. Given Eltham’s big loss to Heidelberg on the same day, a one-point win would have allowed the Kangaroos to leapfrog the Panthers in fifth place. Despite the heartache of missing out on their maiden finals appearance since returning to the NFL top flight, Garry Ramsay’s first year in charge of the Roos was a huge success. Throughout the year they beat three of the top four teams in the competition, which included ending Montmorency’s 13-game winning streak with a 10-point upset at De Winton Park. Ultimately, it was Macleod’s inability to beat the sides around it on the ladder which cost it a finals place. The Roos managed just one draw from six matches against Eltham, West Preston-Lakeside and Greensborough. Justin White was rewarded for his superb season with the club’s best and fairest award, while Hamish Paynter, Cathal Corr and Ryan Storey also had big years. Mathew Pow became a crowd favourite in his first season at the club and finished the year with 45 goals, while Brad Leggett had a breakout year in defence – named full back in the NFL Team of the Year as well as earning a top-five finish in the club’s best and fairest. All eyes will certainly be one the Roos in 2014 as they look to take the extra step required to jump into the top half of the ladder.
Best and fairest: Justin White
Leading goal kicker: Mathew Pow (45 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Justin White (11 votes)
WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE – 7TH (7 wins, 11 losses)
A year of marked change at J.E. Moore Park culminated in West Preston-Lakeside missing out on the finals for the first time since 2009. It was always going to be a tougher year for the Roosters, given the departures of stars Jake Williams, Billy Morrison, Kris Bardon and Matthew Vasilevski prior to the season, while Anthony Rocca featured in just two games. Throw in the number of injuries sustained throughout the year and it is a credit to coach Frankie Raso that the Roosters were in finals contention until the last week of the regular season. Raso used in excess of 50 players in the senior side this year, with the side often experiencing more than five changes from week to week. A 1-4 start had the Roosters looking like relegation contenders early in the year, before a mid-year form reversal changed the club’s fortunes. The club headed into Round 16 in fifth place with a 7-8 record, but three consecutive losses to round out the year – including defeats at lowly Lower Plenty and Epping – put paid to the Roosters’ finals hopes. Throughout the year West Preston-Lakeside beat premier Bundoora, while it also kicked two goals in the final two minutes of its away game to Macleod to pinch a win in one of the games of the year. Ali Fahour had a fine year at half back, winning the club’s best and fairest. He was one of two Roosters named in the Division 1 Team of the Year, alongside Alex Gleeson. Despite its seniors and reserves missing out on the finals, West Preston-Lakeside was celebrating on the last day of the season when its under-19s came from fourth to win the premiership.
Best and fairest: Ali Fahour
Leading goal kicker: Alex Gleeson (30 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Alex Gleeson (7 votes)
GREENSBOROUGH – 8TH (6 wins, 11 losses, 1 draw)
With Robert Hyde back in charge, the 2013 season started promisingly for Greensborough who won four of its opening seven games. The Boro sat inside the top five until Round 10, but faded badly in the mid to late stages of the year – losing eight consecutive games between rounds 8-15. Despite not recording a win for two months, the Boro were competitive in most losses. Inspired by a one-off appearance by Michael O’Loughlin, the Boro nearly surprised Montmorency and had their chances against both Bundoora and Heidelberg in rounds 9 and 11. The season ended on a positive note – claiming two wins and a draw from the final three matches. The best of those wins came against Northcote Park, where the Boro twice came back from big deficits to win by 10 points. Matthew Hyde was a standout after crossing from Bundoora to play under his father. He was a clear winner in the club’s best and fairest, winning the award from Josh Griffiths and Tim Bongetti. Rhys Boyden had a solid year up forward and kicked 51 goals, while Josh Grubb found more of the footy and still managed 37 majors. With both the reserves and under-19s playing off in their respective grand finals, the club’s depth is better than most however the search continues for a big ruckman with the Boro height deprived throughout 2013. After a 201-game career, fan favourite Conlan Gunn retired at season’s end.
Best and fairest: Matthew Hyde
Leading goal kicker: Rhys Boyden (51 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Matthew Hyde (10 votes)
LOWER PLENTY – 9TH (4 wins, 14 losses)
For the second year running, Lower Plenty avoided relegation purely by percentage. In 2012 it was 0.81% that kept the Bears in the top flight. In 2013 it was a slightly higher 2.90%. Despite winning only four games throughout the year, it was the quality of opposition that Lower Plenty beat which will give coach Vin Dattoli plenty of optimism throughout the off-season. Without doubt its best performance came in Round 9 when it stunned Heidelberg in a seven-point victory at Warringal Park. The Bears also beat another finalist in Eltham, as well as beating both West Preston-Lakeside and Greensborough. Darcy Barden was exceptional in his first year back at the Cave after a short stint in the WAFL. He captained with distinction and was named in the best in 12 of his 17 matches. His older brother Billy spent time with Collingwood’s VFL team but still led the club’s goal kicking with 21 goals from 11 matches, while Matthew Vasilevski also excelled in his first year at the club and tied for the best and fairest with Darcy Barden. Dattoli was prepared to play youngsters right throughout the year, with a number of those being players from junior affiliate Research’s under-17 team. Scoring was the Bears biggest issue all year – averaging just 66 points a game. They had just one player kick more than 20 goals and just two players kicked more than 12. Having now had two years to test the waters in Division 1, 2014 shapes as a make or break year for the Bears.
Best and fairest: Darcy Barden and Matthew Vasilevski
Leading goal kicker: Billy Barden (21 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Matthew Vasilevski (8 votes)
EPPING – 10TH (4 wins, 14 losses)
After a difficult start to the season – where it lost its opening two matches to Bundoora and Heidelberg by a combined aggregate of 186 points – Epping was a competitive unit in the top flight despite its stay lasting just one year. Injuries didn’t help the club throughout the season. Lively Adrian Totino managed just two games, key forward Peter Shepherd missed a number of games early in the season, while skipper Daniel Moore and Daniel Santoro both were forced out of crucial games at season’s end. The Blues ended the year with three wins in their final seven games of the season. Amongst the four competitive losses was an 11-point defeat against Heidelberg, where an upset win would have kept the Blues in Division 1 next season. Young tall Sean Bolger was a standout in the 11 games he played throughout the year and ended the season playing with the Northern Blues, while Luke Lirosi, John Kreuzer, Josh Stavely and Shane Wood were often named in the best in a tough year. After four seasons at the helm – which included winning the 2012 Division 2 premiership – coach Mario Bandera parted ways with the club and will coach Eltham in 2014.
Best and fairest: Daniel Moore
Leading goal kicker: Peter Shepherd (34 goals)
Most NFL best and fairest votes: Josh Totino (6 votes)
