Before the game, both teams sat on equal points on the ladder and were separated only by percentage. The stakes were high and the reward meant a one-game buffer over the other heading into the run home.
Diamond Creek started well – running hard through the centre of the ground, dominating play and capitalising through big forward Ben Garrard who had a massive influence upon the game and ended up kicking five majors by the final siren.
North Heidelberg was quick to respond to the away team’s challenge, winning the stoppages and spreading well off the ball. Its small forwards pounced on loose balls and seized the next three goals courtesy of Stephen Saddington, Shane Harvey and Cameron Miller.
Jason Dean, skipper of North Heidelberg, was used as a utility around the ground and provided a big marking target and won plenty of contested ball. It was brilliant to watch arguably the division’s two best ruckman, Dean and Diamond Creek’s Jai Norman go head to head.
Diamond Creek’s Travis Knight and Ryan Burton proved to be a lethal pair in the guts, linking up well and running hard through the corridor to break the defensive press. The home team did its best to win the tight contested ball but the boys from Creek displayed a touch more class in the first half and were able to take a handy seven-point lead into half time.
With the game on the line and the chance to really cement itself in the top two, it was Diamond Creek who put the foot on the accelerator and continued to show why its work rate and tenacity will make it a serious contender in September.
The away side smashed the midfield contest despite the honest efforts of North Heidelberg’s Sean Kelly and Justin Bentley who ran and tackled hard all day.
The Demons were a team on a mission, booting five unanswered goals in the third term thanks to its impressive forward outfit which included, James Gerbert, Ryan Constance and Brent Gutterson. Compare that to just the three behinds scored by the home team and consider it all downhill from there for North.
Diamond Creek stormed home in the last quarter, booting another six goals to strip the North Heidelberg team of a respectable loss. Whilst the home team found some solace in the good form of Luke Villanti, Leigh Gilbert and a four-goal last quarter effort, it will be hard to look at the vision of an inconsistent performance around the ground and wasted scoring opportunities.
The Demons on the other hand, will be dancing with pure delight. Whilst they are still three games from ladder-leader Epping, the Creek boys can consolidate second position with a win over fourth-placed Fitzroy Stars this Saturday, before taking on Hurstbridge and Thomastown.
North Heidelberg will look to rebound strongly against South Morang in an away game next week. The Lions last week broke a nine-game losing streak when they defeated Lalor by nine points at Lalor Reserve.
Final score: North Heidelberg 9.14 (68) def by Diamond Creek 17.14 (116)
