The 8.7 (55) to 5.5 (35) result on a heavy and wet Epping Recreation Reserve handed the Blues their first loss of the 2012 season, bringing to close a 17-game winning streak.
It also ensured the Bulldogs finished the season in second place and earned a double chance in the finals series. They will now head into September on the back of five-straight wins and confident of earning promotion straight back into the top flight.
Big man Dave Florance was instrumental for the visitors and changed the game when moved into the ruck midway through the first quarter.
Against the best ruck duo in the competition, Florance continually thumped the ball forward from the ruck stoppages to give his side the ascendancy from the middle of the ground.
Trent Scannell was also sensational, while Leigh Bentley and Daniel Bramich earned plenty of possession through the midfield. Up forward, Shane Harvey showed glimpses of brilliance and kicked three first-half goals.
In a preview of the second semi final, it was the home side that started the game much better.
Cameron Campbell kicked a goal in the opening minute of the match courtesy of a 50-metre penalty, before Aaron Willitts strolled into an open goal to give the Blues a 13-point lead after six minutes. That lead could have been greater but for two misses by Jarrod Tilley within 40m.
With the clearances and inside-50m count well in the home side’s favour, it looked like Epping was about to romp to victory. That was until Florance moved into the ruck.
His dominance in the air allowed the Doggies midfield to begin getting their hands on the football as the tide began to change.
Harvey got his side on the board after marking and snapping truly off just one step from 20m out. Given the difficult conditions and heavy football, the mercurial forward certainly made the goal look easier than it was.
The major spurred the Doggies into action as they piled on the remaining four goals of the quarter.
Bramich converted from 25m after earning a free kick before Paul King put them in front after receiving a handball from Luke Villanti and streaming into goal. Once the away side had the lead, it never relinquished it again.
Leigh Gilbert booted a thumping 50m set shot to make it four goals in 15 minutes, before Harvey booted his second with the last kick of the quarter after intercepting a kick-in.
Leading by 19-points at quarter-time, the Doggies then controlled the opening half of the second term.
Harvey soccered through another goal six minutes into the quarter following three fine efforts, before Stephen Saddington was found unmarked 20m out. On reflection, the veteran’s goal was the sealer with the Doggies 31-points ahead with the ground surface rapidly deteriorating.
After conceding seven consecutive goals, Epping managed to stem the bleeding late in the half and a slick goal from on-baller Luke Lirosi gave his side some hope of maintaining its unbeaten season heading into the main break.
The Blues had the best of the third quarter but simply couldn’t convert their high possession count into scoreboard pressure.
Their only goal for the term came from a free kick and resulting 50m penalty to Lirosi, which was later cancelled out from a classy snap by young Bulldog Matthew Mahony – keeping the margin at 28 points at the final change.
Les Adams managed to trim the gap to less than four goals when he converted from yet another 50m penalty early in the last. However, when no goals were kicked by either side in the 10 minutes that followed, the game petered out in the dying stages.
While the conditions made for a difficult day for both sides, the win will provide North Heidelberg genuine belief of repeating the dose when it comes up against the Blues in a fortnight.
With Simon Kefalas well contained, North managed to deny Epping genuine avenues to goal, with three of the Blues’ five goals coming directly from 50m infringements.
Given their dominance this season, the Blues will still head into September as the premiership favourite. However, as exemplified by the weekend’s performance – North Heidelberg has certainly emerged as a bona-fide contender.
Final score: Epping 5.5 (35) def by North Heidelberg 8.7 (55)
