MONTMORENCY continued to stake its claim for a 2016 finals berth with a nine-point boilover against Heidelberg in a dour affair at Montmorency Park in Round 14.
With seven of the game’s first eight goals, the Magpies jumped out of the blocks to stun the Bergs before managing to withstand a Tiger comeback in the second half and eventually hold on to post a 9.9 (63) to 8.6 (54) win.
After just two wins in the opening seven games, Montmorency has won five of its past seven to sit percentage clear of Eltham and Northcote Park inside the top five – continuing its resurgence under Ben Haynes.
With Heidelberg missing skipper Michael Brunelli, Sam Gilmore, James Magner and Charles Gaylard from its much-vaunted midfield, Montmorency was able to expose the Tigers and win a number of damaging clearances off the back of ferocious tackling and deft ruckwork from Joel McLellan.
Captain Jesse Donaldson led from the front once again, managing to find space in the clinches time and again to surge the Magpies forward.
Aside from Donaldson, Stephen McCallum and James Brooker also played vital roles with their run and spread from the contest, whilst spearhead Patrick Fitzgerald chimed in with three majors.
Tiger defenders Aaron Crispe and Callum Lewis were steadfast in defeat, whilst at the other end of the ground Chaz Sargeant played a lone hand with three second-half goals.
However, Heidelberg left itself with too much to do after half time and despite holding Montmorency to just two second-half goals, its own return of two first-half goals saw the Magpies open up a 35-point lead at the main break.
Montmorency’s manic attack on the ball suffocated the Bergs and prevented them from creating any free flowing attacks whatsoever, with the Magpies forcing the ladder leaders into uncharacteristic turnovers.
Repeat forward 50 entries enabled Mont to impact the scoreboard in the first term and its return of four goals from nine scoring shots meant the 23-point margin at quarter time should probably have been greater – with a late Luke Hodgkin goal saving the Tigers from their first scoreless quarter in 2016.
The pressure on the Bergs only heightened in the second term as goals to Luke Collins, Tom Davis and Fitzgerald’s second pushed the margin out to seven goals.
With the game slipping away, Heidelberg began to find more of the footy but despite a goal from Tom Sullivan, Montmorency was able to keep the Tigers at bay entering half time.
Conditions worsened as rain began to fall, however Lewis was able to pull one back early for Heidelberg.
A long-range effort from Donaldson was followed by two quick goals to Sargeant to breathe life into the Bergs and cut the margin to 23 points at the final change.
Heidelberg continued to press with a late flurry of goals, but Montmorency held sway with Fitzgerald’s smart checkside to condemn the Tigers to their second defeat of 2016.
Montmorency’s finals credentials will be further examined with a trip to Greensborough in Round 15, whilst Heidelberg returns home to face Eltham.
Final score: Montmorency 9.9 (63) def Heidelberg 8.6 (54)
