Greensborough have won consecutive finals for the first time since 2014 in the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 competition, recording an impressive 19-point win in the first semi-final at Preston City Oval to knock North Heidelberg out of the finals in straight sets.
After surging to a three-goal lead at the first break, the Bulldogs looked to be at their damaging best, but a resurgent Boro outfit would pile on five goals to lead narrowly at half-time, before remarkably kicking a further six goals in the premiership quarter against a slight breeze.
With a 21-point deficit precariously balancing the fate of their season, North Heidelberg produced a last quarter onslaught that brought the margin under a goal, until Greensborough steadied and kicked the closing two majors, helping them see out a 16.13 (109) to 14.6 (90) victory.
After scraping into the top five on percentage on the final day of the season, the Boro are now one match away from their first Grand Final appearance since 2019, with a mouthwatering preliminary final encounter against Montmorency booked in for next Sunday.
The result marks Jason Heatley’s last game in charge of North Heidelberg after four seasons, highlighted by a preliminary final appearance from fourth position in 2023.
Winning the toss and electing to kick with the wind, the Bulldogs were slow to get off the mark, as Benjamin Fisher capitalised on the Boro’s quick ball movement to slot back-to-back goals to start the game.
But from the following centre bounce, North Heidelberg would lay claim to the rest of the quarter.
Brock Chircop’s immediate rocket from beyond the 50-metre arc kickstarted a flurry of five consecutive goals, all of which came from unique goalkickers.
Jack Mapleson swept across the defensive line whenever threatened, while Brodie White and Liam Hunt continued to dominate within midfield.
After kicking 12-goals from his two previous encounters against Greensborough, Parker Heatley lined up against key defender Will McFawn and was the main focus of the Boro defence.
While often finding himself in two on one situations, the competition leading goalkicker worked tirelessly to bring the ball to ground, where his teammates repeatedly lurked dangerously.
But on the back of an 18-point quarter-time deficit, the Boro clicked back into gear to begin the second term.
Nathan Howard battled fiercely against Michael Florence in the ruck, often tapping to the awaiting hands of Jackson Hasler and Kristian Ferronato.
Continuing his role as the leading Boro midfielder, Ferronato put his body on the line time and again, leading his side’s clearances and being an ever-reliable workhorse from the centre of the ground.
Zak McCubbin broke the Bulldog’s goal streak within two minutes, before Brody Glenn snapped a high-floating ball to start what would be another prolific afternoon for the star forward.
Brent Harvey responded with his first clearcut opportunity, expertly reading the flight of the ball from the hands of Parker Heatley to stroll into an open goal.
Knowing they needed to make the most of the wind advantage, Brody Glenn and Zak McCubbin both joined the multiple goalkickers list, as Greensborough ended the term with three of the final four goals to provide them with a three-point lead at the main break.
Finally in a one-on-one situation, Parker Heatley relished his opportunity to take a contested mark at the top of the goal square and put his side in front to start the third term, but this would be the last time the Bulldog fans would cheer until the quarter’s final moments.
Led by the colossal effort of Thomas Brindley in their defensive half, Greensborough lifted to an electrifying level of run and pressure. The Richmond VFL star took mark after mark, making himself the integral cog in transitional play which rattled the Bulldogs.
Benjamin Fisher made the most of his moment for the third time in the match, before lumbering tall-forward Jamie Smith crept through a contested kick to assure the momentum firmly stayed with Greensborough.
Harrison Andronaco, Thomas Brindley, and Zak McCubbin all piled on the misery, making it five unanswered goals and a game-high 26-point margin for Matthew Hyde’s men.
With their season in crisis-mode, North Heidelberg had to respond. Dane Whitnall won a free-kick 20 metres from goal and slotted it, before Liam Hunt scored another within a minute to give the Bulldogs some hope.
But such was the theme for the afternoon, it was Greensborough who would find a way to respond. This time it was Brody Glenn, who slotted a crucial set-shot with 28 minutes on the clock to secure a 21-point buffer at the final break.
Sensing the impeding danger, the Bulldogs could not have started the last quarter any better. A move of Jesse Tardio into the midfield proved to be a masterstroke from Jason Heatley, as the star commanded the centre circle with bursts of pace and physicality.
Two minutes in and Brent Harvey had already kicked two goals as the boys in red, white and blue looked up and about.
McCubbin would slot his fourth of the afternoon, but this was only a hurdle for North Heidelberg, who continued to barrel towards the finish-line.
Brent Harvey caressed a set-shot left to right from 40 metres out, before another position-change worked wonders.
Defender Brody Bell drifted forward for the Bulldogs and clinically speared a ball in congestion over the goal umpire’s head to move the margin under a goal at the 15-minute mark of the last quarter.
However, that was the final run of momentum North Heidelberg could manage, as Glenn lifted his afternoon total to four goals for the second consecutive finals match.
Kristian Ferronato’s brilliant performance was capped off by a sealing goal in the game’s dying moments, rounding out a statement victory and jubilant afternoon for Greensborough.
