The Blues led by 26 points at quarter-time but then had to overcome a 26-point half-time deficit to prevail 15.21 (111) to 17.5 (107).
Josh Stavely put the Blues in front 10 minutes into the final quarter when he converted from a high free kick before follow up goals to Dave Florance and Stephen Saddington gave North Heidelberg a nine-point lead with five minutes to play.
However, majors to Matthew Garland and Daniel Santoro in the dying stages enabled Epping to snatch back the lead and claim its first premiership since 1990.
Shane Harvey was adjudged best afield in a losing side after putting on a clinic in front of the huge crowd at Preston City Oval. He booted nine goals – all before three-quarter time – and booted six in a remarkable second quarter where North Heidelberg kicked 10 goals to one.
His sixth, after dancing around two opponents, was his 100th for the season and was one of many remarkable efforts that had the fans cheering in amazement.
He had seven goals at half-time then kicked another one minute into the third quarter when he received a handball from Louis Hill 50m out from goal.
His ninth was the highlight of the afternoon. After taking a hanger over two Epping defenders, he let rip of a torpedo from 55m to keep his side 27 points in front heading into three-quarter time.
It was Epping’s run and ability to win the ball from the clearances in the final 40 minutes of the game that proved decisive.
Les Adams and Luke Lirosi were able to extract from the middle and win the hard ball which enabled the Blues to move the ball quickly to key forwards Simon Kefalas (four goals), Matthew Garland and Aaron Willitts.
Daniel Moore was also instrumental around the ground while Cameron Campbell didn’t waste a possession off half back.
Sean Kelly was superb in the defensive half for North Heidelberg, while the Bentleys – Leigh and Justin – also gathered plenty of important possessions.
Epping started the game brilliantly and looked to have the premiership sealed at quarter-time after kicking the opening five goals of the game.
North had thrown away two golden opportunities to kick the first goal of the game, but Kefalas wasn’t as wasteful down the other end and kicked the opener after marking on the goal line.
He soon had another after marking strongly from an Aaron Johnson pass before Josh Totino cut through traffic to kick a wonderful running goal from 30m.
Everything was going Epping’s way as Moore wobbled through another after he and Harley Nancarrow managed to find themselves in space 40m out from goal and the lead was then stretched to 31 points after Willitts worked his defender under the ball before gaining possession and unloading from 50m.
Harvey finally kicked the Bulldogs first on the stroke of quarter-time but nobody at the ground could have anticipated what was to come in the second quarter.
In a complete reversal of what had transpired in the first, North Heidelberg came out inspired and booted four goals in the opening 11 minutes of the second term to trim Epping’s lead to three points.
Harvey rotated between full forward and midfield and kicked goals from everywhere.
Matthew Mahony gave the Bulldogs the unlikeliest of leads after converting from a 25m set shot, and the buffer was extended to nine points after Harvey’s fourth.
Totino pegged one back for the Blues however North kicked the final four goals of the term – including three to Harvey – to take a 26-point lead into the main break.
The Bulldogs looked headed for a return to Division 1 after their lead was stretched to 32 points at the beginning of the third term, however the move of Garland and Dornauf to the forward line began to reap benefits for the Blues.
The sides traded goals for the quarter before Epping managed two in succession to Dornauf and Kefalas deep in time on to trim the margin back to 14 points at the last change.
The Blues then dominated the opening 10 minutes of the final term as the Bulldogs began to look leg-weary. The minor premier kicked three of the opening four goals of the term and missed several other simple chances, which left the door ajar for the Bulldogs.
North was ruthlessly efficient when its chances arose and took what looked like a match-winning nine-point lead following the aforementioned goals to Florance and Saddington. In fact, the Bulldogs had just five scoring shots in the second half – all of which were goals – in comparison to Epping’s 9.12
.But the late goals to Garland and Santoro ensured the Blues’ season of dominance was rewarded, following victories in 19 of their 20 games this season, and atoned for a disappointing 52-point loss to Lower Plenty in last year’s premiership-decider.
Final score: Epping 15.21 (111) def North Heidelberg 17.5 (107)
