As far as transformations in local football go in the past 20 years, it’s not quite Grovedale’s rise from wooden spooner to grand finalist in the GFNL in 2013.
However, one can’t deny that North Geelong’s climb from narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon in 2023 to the GDFNL decider 24 months later isn’t any less impressive.
‘Geelong’s Fabulous Magpies’ had been anything but post-COVID.
Four wins in 2021 were followed by seven wins in 2022, but the season was marred by the sacking of coach Mark Hounslow after a Round 14 win over Corio.
Replacement Michael Boothey was sacked nine games into a two-year contract in the middle of 2023, with caretaker Ayden George engineering a final-round win over Corio that snapped a 17-game losing streak.
Geelong great Peter Riccardi, who had guided Bannockburn to a drought-breaking flag in 2019, was appointed coach ahead of 2024, instantly preaching hard work to the playing group.
North was inconsistent through the first half of Riccardi’s first season in charge.
A win over eventual premier Thomson in Round 6 was the highlight, but a loss to Geelong West in Round 1 would come back to bite the Magpies on the backside when the top-five was settled.
Despite consecutive wins over the Tigers, and finals-bound Werribee Centrals and Belmont Lions to finish the home-and-away season, North was a mere 0.85 per cent shy of fifth spot.
It left some inside the top five breathing a sigh of relief that Riccardi’s men would be watching on during the finals.
With the platform laid, save for a little stumble where it lost three games in four weeks to start the second half of the season, 2025 has played out as hoped for North Geelong.
The Magpies faithful now have their fingers crossed that Saturday’s grand final meeting with East Geelong can deliver a first premiership to Keith Barclay Oval since 2013.
“When Ricco first come on (as coach), I thought he’d take us in a different direction,” captain Zac Schwennesen said.
“But, I didn’t think it’d happen as quickly as it has; it’s been a crazy shift to being that one-win team two years ago to now playing off in a grand final – it’s unreal.
“We’ve got to be proud of where we’re at as a club, for how far we’ve come so quickly.”
After sneaking past the Belmont Lions in the qualifying final, North Geelong took the direct route to the grand final with an 18-point second semi-final win over the Eagles.
Schwennesen says Riccardi has tried to maintain normality despite having the week off.
“We went about training as normal last week,” Schwennesen said.
“(We) had a bit of a quieter review night the Tuesday night. We got a nice session in Saturday, so that’s kept us busy.
“The key is just trying to keep busy so you’re not playing that game in your head because it’s easy to get sucked into thinking about it because it’s a massive game.
“He’s been good, Rico, trying to keep us level-headed.
“He said to enjoy the experience, but just try not let the emotions get a hold of us.”
Also driving Schwennesen is the chance to continue the family legacy at Osborne Park.
He will take to the field alongside brother Thomas as they look to emulate older siblings Kayne and Brent, who featured in the 2013 success.
While Schwennesen’s dad, Tim (Scap), who is a member of the club’s Hall of Fame, featured in four senior flags, captaining the club when it claimed the 1990 premiership.
‘It’d be huge to add to that; it’d be unreal,” he said.,
“It’s what I’ve dreamt of since being named the captain.”
X: @krockfootball
