West Preston-Lakeside opened its 2017 Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 campaign with a thrilling 13-point win over reigning premier Heidelberg at J.E. Moore Park.
A match filled with gripping intensity, the Tigers led by 11 points midway through the final term before Ahmed Saad took the game by the scruff of the neck – kicking three of his seven goals late in the final quarter to hand his new club a monumental win.
The former Saint was lively all day but became deadly as the intensity in the match grew, stepping up when it mattered most as the Roosters snuck home 12.10 (82) to 10.9 (69).
Saad was joined by ex-AFL stars Andrew Walker and Mathew Stokes, who both had a major impact in the Roosters’ win, while Luke Lirosi and Jackson Clarke were just as damaging.
For the visitors, former Hawthorn and Essendon player Sam Grimley provided a strong target and finished with well-earned four goals.
Midfielders Michael Brunelli and Marcus Marigliani continued their premiership-winning form, dominating the clearances and covering plenty of the field.
But it was defenders Paul Bower and Aaron Crispe who were the Tigers’ best players, rebounding off half-back on countless occasions.
Inspired by ruckmen Jake McNamara and Michael Finn, the Tigers seized control of the midfield battle and did much of the attacking, but inefficiency going forward will have them viewing the match as a missed opportunity.
The tone of the game was set early with both sides trying to move the ball quickly, but manic pressure from either side was denying the contest of being high scoring.
Aided by a slight breeze for the first quarter, Heidelberg was unable to capitalise, kicking just one goal, via Will Knight, from four scoring shots.
Sam Grimley flew out of the gates in the second term with the first two goals of the quarter. He was the chief beneficiary of a dominant start by the Heidelberg midfield.
The rest of the quarter belonged to West Preston-Lakeside, with Saad and Lirosi converting their respective chances to go into the main break with an 11-point lead.
The sea-sawing affair continued after half-time as the reigning premier began to assert itself with vital run and carry. Knight and Finn both kicked long-range goals, while Grimley rose in a pack to take a strong grab and boot his third of the game.
The Roosters’ midfield, influenced by Patrick Karnezis, began to turn the tide once they were trailing, with their vaunted forward line starting to see some improved supply.
Two quick Saad goals once again ensured the Roosters had their noses in front at three quarter time.
It was a sense of déjà vu as the Tigers began the final stanza stronger than the home side, with a Marigliani major and Knight’s third giving the visitors a crucial 11-point lead.
But just as the composed Heidelberg looked set to outlast the Roosters, the home side rallied.
The individual brilliance of Saad was too much for the Tigers to handle as he slotted through a goal of the year contender to put his side in ahead.
The goal was challenged by another piece of magic as he dribbled through a clutch goal in the dying stages.
Lirosi capped off a brilliant performance by converting a set shot on the final siren to give his side a 13-point win.
The Roosters head to Bill Lawry Oval to take on Northcote Park on Friday night, while the Tigers will look to bounce back when they take on Bundoora at Warringal Park.
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 12.10 (82) def Heidelberg 10.9 (69)
Photo by Jarryd Strafford
