The Magpies rallied from 20 points behind midway through the second quarter to record a 15.16 (106) to 13.16 (94) away win in front of a large Bundoora crowd.
Daniel Keenan was at his skilful and tenacious best and smashed Bundoora’s midfield who was without key playmakers Micheal Farrelly and David Mitchell.
Keenan was instrumental in mounting Montmorency’s fight back late in the second term, before dominating the centre clearances at the beginning of the last term when Montmorency kicked four consecutive goals.
His dominance enabled the Magpies to turn a two-point three-quarter time deficit into a 24-point advantage.
Aisake O’hAilpin was also superb playing across a number of positions. The Irishman quelled Cameron Cloke’s influence in the second quarter before dominating in the ruck in the third term. He was then thrown forward in the final stanza and booted the first two goals of the quarter to help Montmorency establish its match-winning lead.
Speaking after the game, Montmorency assistant coach Chas Sauro said the match-winning move to switch O’hAilpin forward came solely from senior coach Fabian Carelli.
“We (assistant coaches) were all hesitant to move him forward because he was doing so well in the ruck,” Sauro said.
“Fab got his way, rightly so, and put him forward and Scotty (Nugent) into the ruck and it worked out to be the decisive move.”
O’hAilpin’s goals both came from 40m set shots after twice marking powerfully on the lead. It was the second time this season he has dominated against a premiership contender, after producing a best afield display against Heidelberg in the Magpies’ 75-point win in Round 5.
The Magpies started well and raced to a 13-1 lead after nine minutes on the back of goals to Michael Steven and Dean Limbach.
Poor discipline by Ryan Jackson led to Bundoora’s much-needed first goal after the utility was yellow-carded for felling Cameron Cloke who duly converted from 20m out.
It began a run of three consecutive goals for the big forward before Gary Moorcroft marked on a strong lead to establish a 10-point lead for the home side.
Steven neatly roved an O’hAilpin hitout inside forward 50m to register Montmorency’s third before Paul Harrison nailed a long bomb late in the term to give Bundoora a 13-point buffer at the first break.
Kayne Pettifer reduced the margin to eight points with his first goal early in the second quarter, but Bundoora quickly responded when Brayden Shaw capped off some persistent team play with a 30m snap. Moorcroft then followed that with his second when he received a 50m penalty after he was shoved after marking 20m out from goal.
Ryan Jackson netted one back for Montmorency but when Michael Mitchell found his way forward for the easiest of goals, it appeared Bundoora was destined for its eighth win of the season.
The Magpies persisted and late goals to Ben Walton and Patrick Fitzgerald brought the visitors to within eight points at half time.
Montmorency dominated the opening ten minutes of the third quarter and drew level after Sammy O’Meara snapped truly from 30m out.
However, two pieces of Gary Moorcroft brilliance helped restore a 12-point lead for Bundoora. The second of his goals came from a left foot snap after marking deep inside the forward pocket 45m out from goal.
From there it was all Montmorency as the Magpies kicked seven of the next eight goals to race to a 24-point lead at the 15-minute mark of the final quarter.
Fitzgerald and Limbach made their presence known up forward, while Keenan, Ryan Jackson and Ben Sinclair where benefiting from fine ruckwork from O’hAilpin and Nugent.
Bundoora mounted a late comeback and late goals to Shaw and Cloke reduced the margin to 12 points with five minutes remaining on the clock.
Cloke then had a 60m set shot touched on the goal line which ended any hope of a miracle fight back by the reigning premier.
The result leaves the sides both at 7-2 after the opening half of the season, with the duo locked in a three-way battle for top spot with Heidelberg.
Bundoora’s superior percentage keeps it in first place just ahead of the Tigers, with Montmorency in third and six points clear of fourth-placed Eltham.
Next week Bundoora travels to J.E. Moore Park for a massive clash against West Preston-Lakeside, meanwhile Montmorency hosts resurgent Macleod at Montmorency Oval.
The Kangaroos earned their fourth consecutive win at the weekend with a 21-point victory over Northcote Park at Bill Lawry Oval which pushed them up into sixth place on the ladder.
Final score: Bundoora 13.16 (94) def by Montmorency 15.16 (106)
