MONTMORENCY moved into the Division 1 top five for the first time this season after defeating previously unbeaten Heidelberg by 33 points at Montmorency Park in Round 8.
In Daniel Keenan’s 300th senior game, the Magpies never really looked threatened in a dominant display, leaving Heidelberg in their wake in the 12.10 (82) 7.7 (49) result. The win was their third in succession over the Tigers.
Despite their disappointing start to the season, the Magpies have now clicked into gear, winning two on the trot against quality opposition to get their season back on track. Saturday’s win sent out a message to the rest of the competition that they truly are a contender this season.
Montmorency started well from the first bounce as Patrick Fitzgerald booted the first with a good running goal However, Jordan Treloar was able to reply with a fantastic running goal from the boundary line to square the ledger.
Another goal exchange – which included a beauty to Tiger Paul Bower – saw the Magpies hold a two-point lead midway through the term, but they were able to finish with a flurry. Ryan Willits and Fitzgerald kicking the last two goals of the quarter to give the home side a deserving 15-point quarter-time lead.
The Magpies were able to keep the ball locked in their forward half for the majority of the first term, making it extremely difficult for the Bergers to muster a clear route from defence. Such was the extent of Montmorency’s pressure, Heidelberg managed just two scoring shots for the term, both which resulted in miracle goals.
Despite being forced onto the back foot, the Bergers refused to back down. They kicked the first goal of the second term through Treloar, his second of the day reducing the margin to 10 points.
But Montmorency once again mustered a reply, booting two unanswered goals through Fitzgerald and Willits to amass an impressive 21-point lead midway through the term. The Bergers were able to pull one back late through Kieran Andrew, who quickly snapped it over his body from a stoppage to cut the deficit to 15 points at the main break.
The key difference between the two sides was that Montmorency had many targets to kick to up forward, which was proving too much for Heidelberg’s defence to handle.
The third term saw much of the same, with Montmorency booting the first two of the quarter to stretch the lead to 26 points – the biggest lead of the match to that point.
Andrew was able to kick his second to steady the ship for the Tigers, but the Magpies finished the quarter better and booted two goals to one to head into the final quarter with a 27-point lead.
The main highlight of the third quarter was a mark of the year contender by Fitzgerald, who climbed atop of his teammate and ruckman Joel McLellan to rake in a huge grab which left everyone in the crowd in raptures.
The final term saw Montmorency’s pressure remain at a high level. Jesse Donaldson booted the opening two goals of the quarter to stretch the lead to 40 points and seal the contest.
They would be the Magpies’ only majors of the last quarter, although Heidelberg was only able to kick one itself, through Daniel Cookson.
The Magpies best was Shane Tennant, who intercepted countless Heidelberg movements forward. Ben Fennell was a prolific ball winner, while Luke Jackson was a hard body in the middle and often dished the ball out to his teammates.
The Bergers best in defeat were ruckman Michael Finn, who provided some resistant in the back half, Aaron Crispe and Charles Gaylard who finished with two goals.
Round 9 sees Montmorency take on neighbour Lower Plenty after the Queen’s Birthday weekend. Hawthorn premiership player Campbell Brown will make a cameo appearance for the Bears with fifth place on the ladder at stake.
The Bergers take on new ladder-leader Greensborough, who is coming off a resounding victory over last year’s premier Bundoora. With only percentage separating the two sides after eight rounds, it shapes as a huge contest with the winner to take an outright lead at the top of the table.
Final score: Montmorency 12.10 (82) def Heidelberg 7.7 (49)
