North Heidelberg have overcome a 29-point deficit to win by just a single point in their Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 clash with Hurstbridge at Shelley Street Reserve.
In another thrilling encounter between the Bulldogs and Bridges, the home side were able to claim the four points this time around with a 10.10 (70) to 10.9 (69) victory.
Kasey Duncan’s men now move into fifth spot on the Division 1 table, equal on points with Hurstbridge and only half a game behind third-placed Montmorency.
Brodie White was dominant for North Heidelberg all day but had great support from Liam Hunt and Zack Brown, whilst for Hurstbridge Mitchell Dale was phenomenal on a wing all day and Joel Naylor kicked a bag of five and was also very good.
Both teams came out firing to start the game, applying immense pressure in the early minutes.
Brodie White found plenty of the footy early for North Heidelberg and was a major influence early, while Hurstbridge started the game off with the first goal through Joel Naylor, but North Heidelberg hit back with their first goal of the game through Parker Heatley.
The first quarter was back and forth as no team could break away and it was Hurstbridge who led by a single point at the first break.
The second quarter started with an excellent crumbing goal from North Heidelberg’s Luke Holian and then Liam McKenna kicked one not long after to give them an 11-point buffer, but Hurstbridge then kicked 3 goals on the trot with Joel Naylor kicking 2 of them himself which gave Hurstbridge a six-point lead at half-time and all the momentum going into the third quarter.
Hurstbridge then asserted their dominance over the contest in the third term. Mitchell Dale and Liam Middleton were heavily involved, and though Hurstbridge were peppering the goals early it was without reward, but Joel Naylor finally broke through to push the lead out to 15 points halfway through the third.
He soon added another after drawing a high contact free that led to a 50-metre penalty which made a certainty of the goal, marking his fourth of the day. Brodie White kicked a goal late in the third which saw Hurstbridge’s lead cut to 20 points at the last change.
The final quarter started in a congested, hard-fought manner. Eleven minutes in, Hurstbridge extended their lead to 29 points, and it looked like they were in control.
However, North Heidelberg refused to lie down. They missed an opportunity almost immediately but struck two minutes later, cutting the margin to 22.
Brodie White then continued his dominant game, nailing a running goal from 40 metres out after an advantage call, closing the gap to 16 points. Moments later Zane Souleiman converted to bring the margin back to 10 points.
North dominated the play and especially the clearances late. Brody Bell missed two crucial chances, first hitting the post then missing a snap from the pack. Zane Souleiman also missed after great front-and-centre work.
But finally, Liam Hunt broke through, slotting a goal to bring North within a point with 23 minutes gone. A rushed snap from stoppage added a behind to tie scores. Then, with just 15 seconds left, Lachlan Smith marked on the boundary and had a chance to win it.
He missed, but the point was enough, putting North Heidelberg in front by one with mere seconds remaining and they were able to hold on for an incredible 29-point comeback win.
