A strong finish to a hard-fought contest resulted in Heidelberg West claiming a brilliant 25-point victory over the Fitzroy Stars at Heidelberg Park on Friday night.
The Stars fought hard to stay in front after leading at the main break, but were no match in the second half, with the Hawks kicking eight goals to four to win 14.13 (97) to 10.12 (72).
Alex Williamson and Alex Hywood were dominant for the Hawks with three goals each, while recruit Max Post had a superb debut game with two majors.
In the middle, Heidelberg West’s Jordan Allen was a highlight, providing his teammates with support while fighting hard for possession. Lachie Evans was another major contributor in the match.
For the Stars, Tyson Pickett proved a brilliant pick up with three goals while also creating multiple opportunities and providing significant contributions for his side throughout the game. Jai Burns also had a major impact in his second game for the Stars with two goals.
The first quarter was low scoring, with the Fitzroy Stars not able to get accurate with their shots on goal.
Heidelberg West were able to take the early lead, purely due to their kicks on goal reaching their targets, while the Stars could only muster one goal and five behinds.
The defensive players for each team were working hard, with intercept marking the main reason why both teams were kept to such low scores. Keith Morgan and Hayden Welsh were highlights for the Stars, while Nick Paton and Daniel Kelly were solid for the Hawks.
Trailing by four points at the first change, the Stars started strong in the second quarter with two goals in quick succession within the opening minutes, putting them in front. Pickett and Burns combined effectively to keep the visitors’ momentum going, while the Stars’ backline also seemed to have a major energy boost.
Emotions were running high with 50-metre penalties and off-the-ball contact being called for both sides, leading to a majority of inside-50 opportunities.
The Hawks’ Louis Hill was a major contributor in the middle and forward line throughout the quarter, and was eventually rewarded with a second term goal.
Williamson was also a highlight for Heidelberg West’s second quarter, whether it was supporting his teammates or carrying the ball forward.
As a result, a momentum shift was palpable going into the major break as the Stars led by four points.
Michael Missen’s side took back control of the game in the third quarter, kicking six majors to the Stars’ three.
The Fitzroy Stars started strong with a goal just seconds after the third quarter commenced, however, the Hawks would be able to keep the ball inside their forward half for the remainder of the term.
Williamson and Evans were key players for Heidelberg West in the quarter, with a goal to the latter and solid offensive contributions from the former helping their side re-take the advantage.
A late goal from Marcus Hill put the home side 14 points ahead at three quarter time.
The fourth quarter started with two Fitzroy Stars scoreboard contributions, with Burns taking an inside-50 mark before kicking what would be his side’s last goal of the game.
Heidelberg West then took over, managing to register eight scoring shots and kick two goals to solidify their lead and the game.
Allan Young and Ayman O’Dowd were brilliant in the final quarter, scoring the two majors for the Hawks, while Allen and Williamson also ensured the ball remained in the Hawks’ possession.
Fitzroy Stars definitely looked like a side to be reckoned with for most of the game, but they were overpowered in the end, with the contest being played almost exclusively in their backline throughout the second half.
It would be Heidelberg West’s dominant offensive work that eventually shut Lionel Proctor’s men down and with the Hawks’ new recruits making the most significant impact, their bid for finals looks promising early.
