The AFL has its Adelaide showdowns, West Australian derbies and the traditional blockbusters involving Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond, Essendon and, more recently, Hawthorn and Geelong.
In the Northern Football League it does not get any bigger than the local Darebin derby between Northcote Park and West Preston-Lakeside.
The two clubs are again locking horns under lights to kick off their 2015 campaigns, with Northcote Park hosting West Preston-Lakeside this coming Friday at Bill Lawry Oval, commencing at 7:30pm.
The game again promises to be a classic encounter with the Cougars to be coached for the first time by Harmit Singh, while Leigh Cole makes his debut as Roosters’ coach.
Last year, the corresponding Round 1 night match ended in a pulsating draw. The Cougars took the honours when the sides renewed hostilities in July, prevailing by 32 points.
Since 2004, the two clubs have been playing for the McNiece/Mellerick Cup. This week’s game will be the 25th time they have met for the Cup.
West Preston-Lakeside won the first five encounters, however Northcote Park currently leads the battle 14-9 with one draw – not having lost to its rival since Round 6, 2012.
Both Northcote Park president Peter McNiece and West Preston-Lakeside president Paul McInerney agree the local derby has a tendency to produce classic encounters.
"It’s always a good game. We have played them for many years. There’s a fair bit of a mix between the people involved at the two clubs many of them went to school together," McNiece said.
"The corresponding season opener last year was a good game and I think it will be a very competitive match. Hopefully we can again have the McNiece/Mellerick Cup back in the committee room cabinet at Bill Lawry Oval."
The McNiece-Mellerick Cup was organised after officials from both clubs wanted to recognise two families of boys whose paths had continually crossed.
The families are Northcote Park brothers Jeff, Ian, Dennis and Peter McNiece and West Preston-Lakeside’s Hank, Jim, Mark and Digger Mellerick.
Prior to 2004, Jeff McNiece and Mark Mellerick were opposing captains and led their clubs into many tight battles that often eventuated with games being decided by a goal or less.
The Mellerick brothers were great servants of West Preston-Lakeside Football Club over a sustained period of time.
The eldest two McNiece boys, Jeff and Ian, both started their football careers at West Preston, playing alongside the Mellerick boys before eventually going on to have stellar careers at Northcote Park.
In a poignant moment in Northcote Park history and a proud moment for the McNiece family, all four McNiece brothers all played senior games together, with the very first one being against West Preston!
All four McNiece brothers are members of Northcote Park’s Team of the Century, premiership players and amongst them have won multiple best and fairest awards. Jeff, Dennis and Peter also captained the club.
In scenes reminiscent of Kevin Sheedy returning to Essendon, Peter as president and Dennis as general manager returned to the Cougars in 2011 to administer the club and help it on its journey to again becoming a NFL powerhouse club, respected both and off the field.
In a nice touch leading up to this week’s game, Northcote Park granted permission for West Preston-Lakeside to train at Bill Lawry Oval. The Roosters’ home J.E. Moore Park is currently not available due to redevelopment works.
Pictured are West Preston-Lakeside president Paul McInerney (holding the McNiece/Mellerick Dup) together with Dennis McNiece (left) and Peter McNiece (right).
