Boro make major statement

Greensborough climbed to the top of the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 ladder after romping to an 88-point victory over North Heidelberg in Round 7.

In what was expected to be a tight contest, the Boro booted 13 goals to two after the main break to secure the 16.14 (110) to 3.4 (22) at Greensborough War Memorial Park.

On a spectacular autumn day, it was a hard-fought and at times error-riddled first half, with just four goals kicked. However, the Boro opened the game wide open after the main break to storm to their best victory of the 2021 season.

The goals were shared for Greensborough, with nine players registering a major. That included three spectacular goals from Ben Fennell and three for young forward Tom Phelan, who provided a strong target inside 50m.

Greensborough’s immense forward pressure helped push them to victory, constantly locking the ball inside their attacking half and never giving North Heidelberg an easy exit out of defence.

The Boro backline was once again outstanding, with Billy Bedford, Jack Johnston, Adrian Cataldo and Michael Croxford all among the better players, while Nick Riddle was brilliant in shutting down Shane Harvey, with the North superstar kept goalless.

Nathan Hrovat won plenty of the football and was also a threat up forward, playing from the goal square and wreaking havoc with two goals and providing plenty more.

Tom Brindley continued to shine in his breakthrough season, plucking marks, making smart decisions and adding an extra dimension in the ruck due to the Boro’s depleted ruck stocks.

Representative defender Brandon Bailey was a shining light for North Heidelberg on the last line of defence, while captain Kyle McDonald fought hard in the midfield.

But despite patches of brilliance from Jesse Tardio and some good ruck work from Anthony Daw, most of the North Heidelberg team were well down on their normal output.

The game wasn’t without its casualties for both sides. Greensborough’s emerging ruck-forward Rayden Garrard dislocated his knee in the second term which led to a slight delay in the game, while fellow ruck Jake McNamara didn’t feature in the final term.

The Bulldogs suffered a massive blow late in the first half, with superstar Brent Harvey limping from the field and take no part in the game thereafter.

It was a tight affair in the first quarter, with a combined 1.8 kicked between the two sides. Nathan Hrovat scored the only goal to give Greensborough a 10-point lead at quarter time.

North Heidelberg coach Jason Heatley, as composed as ever in his quarter time address, urged his players to be more controlled and mindful rebounding from defence and when kicking into their attacking 50m.

The game continued to be tight in the second quarter, with only three goals scored, including a decisive goal on the half time siren by Zak McCubbin, which pushed the Borough’s lead to 16 points.

It was from there that Greensborough completely broke away, kicking 5.5 in the third to North Heidelberg’s one goal. Among the majors were two ripsnorters from star midfielder Ben Fennell, who converted snaps from tight angles after sharking ¬¬the ball from stoppages.

North was unable to produce a final quarter burst as it so often has this season, with the Bulldogs conceding 8.2 whilst only kicking 1.1 to fall to their heaviest loss since the 2019 second semi final.

The result will boost Greensborough’s confidence ahead of a clash with arch-rival Heidelberg at Greensborough War Memorial Park next week.

The task gets no easier for North Heidelberg, with the Bulldogs set to host West Preston-Lakeside and Heidelberg over the next fortnight.

Final score: Greensborough 16.14 (110) def North Heidelberg 3.4 (22)

GREENSBOROUGH

Goal Kickers: T. Phelan 3, B. Fennell 3, Z. McCubbin 2, N. Hrovat 2, T. Bell 2, C. Clark, B. Pannam, M. Haynes, J. McNamara
Best Players: B. Bedford, J. Johnston, B. Fennell, A. Cataldo, T. Brindley, N. Riddle