A four-point home win over Lower Plenty pushed North Heidelberg back into first place on the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 ladder.
In a low-scoring and physical battle, the Bulldogs managed to outlast their determined visitors to hold on for a 10.6 (66) to 8.14 (62) win at Shelley Reserve.
Lower Plenty will rue missed opportunities during the four-point loss, with the result pushing it outside the top-four for the first time this season.
After taking an outstanding diving mark, Tom Keys had a set shot from 45m in the dying stages of the game. The shot narrowly missed to the left, with the Bulldogs able to hold on in a desperate final minute.
Despite only 18 goals being kicked for the day, the match was played with finals-like intensity with few easy possessions to be had throughout the day.
Blair Harvey was superb across half back for North Heidelberg and used his precise foot skills to regularly set-up attacking chains from defensive 50m.
Nicholas Matthews and Daniel Bramich were also strong in defence for the Bulldogs and were able to restrict in-form Lower Plenty forwards Darcy Barden and Mark Favrin to three goals.
Brent Harvey enjoyed an absorbing battle against Fabian Dorbolo. The Bear tagger was able to limit Harvey’s damage, however the AFL games record holder still managed to have an influence on the game.
Matthew Duckworth was standout for the visitors, particularly in the third term when he found plenty of the ball and kicked a superb goal in congestion.
Laurie Naismith won his battle against Shane Harvey, keeping the North Heidelberg superboot to a solitary major. Naismith received strong support from his fellow defenders, who often dropped back to outnumber the Bulldogs star.
No side was able to kick a goal in a dour first quarter, with Lower Plenty heading into the first change leading 2-1.
The ball pinballed between the two 50m arcs for much of the term, with both sides lacking a quality final kick inside 50m.
The beginning of the second term was similar to the first, with both sides’ defensive lines absorbing pressure tremendously.
Favrin broke the stalemate with the first goal of the day at the 14-minute mark of the second quarter. North responded with its first through Leigh Gilbert five minutes later, before Marcus Hill slotted another soon after to put the Bulldogs ahead entering time-on.
A superb set shot from the pocket from Darcy Barden gave his side a two-point lead at the main change, however the Bears were down to two on the bench following a knee injury to Sam Paterson and head knock to Tim Duckworth.
The game opened up during the third quarter, with Brody Tardio getting North off to a fast start after a clever assist from Brent Harvey.
The sides traded goals throughout the term, with a major to Keys on the siren locking the scores at 40-apiece at three-quarter time.
The opening ten minutes of the last quarter was again an arm-wrestle until Marc Lonergan stamped himself on the game. The big man was swung forward and kicked two goals in two minutes, before another to Marcus Hill gave the Bulldogs a match-high 17-point buffer.
Lower Plenty bravely fought back and two goals in two minutes to Jordan Sacco and Dorbolo cut the Bears’ deficit to four points entering time-on.
Despite finishing the match with the momentum, the visitors were unable to find a goal to take the lead, as North Heidelberg held on for its seventh win of the season.
Final score: North Heidelberg 10.6 (66) def Lower Plenty 8.14 (62)
