Finals Week 1 match reports by Stephen Marson
Reserves:
The Cougars defeated Macleod by four points in a fiery contest to advance to the semi-finals to take on Heidelberg next Sunday.
Both sides showed a lot of promise in the first half, as the Kangaroos took a small eight-point lead into the half time break.
Northcote Park managed 13 shots at goal in the third quarter to just two from Macleod, but could only kick three majors, with one of those on the back of a huge Marcus Picken hanger in the goalsquare!
10 behinds in the quarter cost the Cougars a chance at a huge three quarter time lead, but they still went into the final change up by eight points.
In a tense final term, it was the youngsters who were the ones to step up and push the side over the line.
Janus Waldron kicked the side’s first of the quarter, and Nik McNiece kept the Cougars in front late on with a goal of his own.
Brandon Brown snapped one through with under two minutes to go, as the Cougars held on to keep their premiership chances alive.
Seniors:
In another frantic finish, Northcote Park held on to defeat Bundoora in the elimination final, meaning the Cougars will face Eltham in a semi-final on Sunday.
The Cougars led at half time after opening up a 13-point lead on the back of a five goal to three second quarter.
Bundoora came out firing after the main break, kicking the first four of the third term to give themselves the lead.
Three of the next four went the way of the Cougars, and both sides were deadlocked on 69 points heading into the final change.
Both sides traded goals to begin the final quarter, before unanswered goals to Mitch Papas, Gerard Sutton and Aaron Shaw gave the Cougars some breathing space midway through the term.
Shaw then goaled again with 10 minutes to go to give the Cougars a 17-point lead, but two late Bundoora majors saw the margin slip to under a goal with a few minutes left.
A crucial smother by Bronik Davies with a minute to go kept his side in the lead, and when Ricky Dyson hit the post for Bundoora with just 30 seconds remaining, the Cougars hung on for a fantastic win.