North Heidelberg marked its return to the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 finals in style with a 32-point win over West Preston-Lakeside in the qualifying final.
After trailing by 10 points at the main break, the Bulldogs rallied to produce a brilliant
second half – booting seven goals while reducing the Roosters to just four behinds to run out 12.4 (76) to 5.14 (44) winners at Preston City Oval.
Having now won 10 of their past 11 matches, the Bulldogs will be full of confidence when they take on minor premier Macleod in the second semi, where the winner will book the first grand final place.
Brent Harvey starred with three majors, which included a goal of the year contender in the first term. Jesse and Brody Tardio were also superb, while Leigh Gilbert and Ryan McGhie took control at both ends of the ground – with McGhie keeping Ahmed Saad goalless
Liam McVeigh and Sam Glover tried hard for West Preston-Lakeside, while ruckman Mark Kovacevic was outstanding in an absorbing battle against Bulldogs big man Michael Florance.
Cold and wet conditions set the scene for a contested affair and it was West Preston-Lakeside who had the early breakthrough via a goal to Ozgur Uysal just three minutes in.
A great crumbing goal from Daniel Valeri extended the Roosters lead to 13 points before Leigh Gilbert converted his set shot at the 10-minute mark to get North Heidelberg on the board.
Jackson Jones closed the margin to just a point with a second soon after, before an influx of inside 50 entries eventually saw the Roosters take the margin back out to nine points thanks to a Josh Novelli goal as time-on approached.
With North Heidelberg looking to bring the game back on their terms just before the first change, it was Brent Harvey who led the charge.
With the ball locked deep inside the Bulldogs’ forward 50, Harvey produced the game’s biggest highlight. With neither ruckman reaching the umpire’s ball-up, Harvey volleyed the ball from mid-air and put it straight through the big sticks.
The miraculous goal sparked the Bulldogs, as Gilbert’s second major late in the term gave them a two-point lead at quarter time.
The Bulldogs’ momentum continued into the start of the second quarter as Gilbert converted another set shot to stretch the margin to eight points just two minutes into the term.
Liam McVeigh had the fast reply for the Roosters one minute later, before a Mark Kovacevic set shot restored West Preston-Lakeside’s lead minutes later.
The Roosters controlled possession for the remainder of the term but couldn’t convert their chances, booting six consecutive behinds to end the half only 10 points ahead – a margin that should have been much greater.
Compounding matters was a hamstring injury sustained by Ozgur Uysal midway through the second term, leaving the Roosters one-man short on the interchange heading into the second half.
As the rain worsened, it was a stagnant start to the third quarter with an Ahmed Saad poster being the only score in the first 12 minutes.
The Roosters were then made to pay the price for their inaccuracy as North Heidelberg went on a goal-scoring frenzy.
Two majors from Shane Harvey and others to Liam McLeod, Billy Hogan and Liam Hunt in a 15-minute burst saw the Bulldogs turn a 10-point deficit into a 21-point advantage by three-quarter time.
With the game slipping out of reach, West Preston-Lakeside needed a fast start to the final term to have any chance of producing a comeback. However, the Roosters could do little to change the course of the game.
Brent Harvey iced the result with a goal at the six-minute mark of the final term, before adding another five minutes from full time.
The result again demonstrated that North Heidelberg is the real deal in 2018. The reigning Division 2 premier is now assured at least a preliminary final place in its first year back in the top flight.
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 5.14 (44) def by North Heidelberg 12.4 (76)
