NORTHCOTE PARK has worked on enhancing its scoring power as it looks to advance deeper into this year’s finals series.
An improved defence was the catalyst in the Cougars reaching the first semi final in Harmit Singh’s first season as coach, following an eighth-place finish in 2014.
The Cougars conceded the third-fewest points of any Division 1 club in 2015, however struggled at times inside attacking 50, averaging just 85 points a game – the fewest of any of last year’s five finalists.
Speaking to NFL.org.au, Singh said his side had spent the summer working on ways to improve its scoring efficiency.
“We need to score a few more points and be around the 100-point mark every game,” Singh said.
“We definitely want to work on our scoring efficiency and our ball movement and we also want to work better when we don’t have the ball in our front half, force some turnovers to get some scores.”
Northcote Park has secured the services of North Heidelberg’s Simon Andrews, who finished sixth on the Division 1 goal kicking table last year with 43 goals.
The 28-year-old returns to Bill Lawry Oval after four years away, following stints with Foster, Mallee Eagles and the Bulldogs.
Also joining Andrews are Myrtleford forward Brody Ricardi and Morwell goal sneak Mannon Johnston.
Ricardi has previously spent time in the Northern Football League and kicked 49 goals for Watsonia in 2013, while Johnston has kicked 105 goals in the Gippsland League over the past three years.
Singh is confident the trio will provide the Cougars more targets inside forward 50, working in tandem with Ash Close and Aaron Shaw.
“With Close playing VFL footy and Shaw only coming onto the scene late, we we’re probably lacking that target,” he said.
“We think we’ve added a bit of class into that forward mix and Simon is that key tall when Close and Aaron Shaw aren’t around.
“He’s really committed with all our training sessions, he’s even been doing the extra sessions on the Saturday morning so we’ve been really pleased with how he’s been going.
“Simon is a smart bloke and we think he’ll be able to teach a lot of the younger guys how to play in the forward line quite well.”
Collingwood VFL trio Josh Turner, Nick Gray and Marty Hoare have also come on board for the upcoming season, along with Greenvale’s Ricky Fandrich – who has enjoyed an excellent pre-season.
But with as many as 10 players aligned to VFL clubs, Northcote Park will again be forced to select its side around VFL commitments.
It’s a situation Singh has learned to embrace, as demonstrated last year when he used 49 players through the Cougars’ senior team.
“It would obviously be fantastic to have them available every week, but we’re really pleased that they’re playing high level footy and learning a lot along the way,” he said.
“That’s allowed them to come back and have a really good influence back at Northcote Park.
“Whenever we have them it’s a bonus, but we’ll just play it by ear in terms of when they’re available.
“This year we’ll hopefully have a clean bill of health and won’t have as many players enjoying the European summer, which was a bit of an issue last year.”
Singh confirmed his side would be without Tom Walliss this year, with the tall swingman heading to Yarrawonga. However, his departure will be offset by the return of defender Damian Galofaro.
Meanwhile, ruckman Oliver McEwan has recommitted to the Cougars despite moving to the country and will commute to matches each weekend – ensuring the club’s ruck stocks aren’t too badly diminished following the departure of Joel West to Airport West.
Bronik Davies will lead the club for a sixth consecutive season, with the dual Frank Rosbrook medallist enjoying an uninterrupted pre-season after missing the beginning of 2015 while appearing as a contestant on the TV show House Rules.
Singh said he again anticipated last year’s fellow top five sides – Macleod, Greensborough, Eltham and Bundoora – to remain in premiership contention, and expected to see improvement from Heidelberg and West Preston-Lakeside given their success in the transfer period.
The 29-year-old has also committed to the Northern Football League’s senior representative side, joining Robert Hyde’s coaching panel ahead of the May 21 clash with Peninsula Football Netball League in the AFL Victoria Community Championships.
