It is without doubt one of the most eagerly anticipated contests of the season and a likely Grand Final preview given the results from the first weekend of Division 1 finals.
The Magpies enter September on the back of four consecutive victories, which include superb wins over Northcote Park and Bundoora in the final two rounds of the home and away season.
They have lost just once since Round 7 – that being a two-point loss to the Tigers in a rain-affected Round 14 clash at Montmorency Park – and look to have a side capable of breaking a 32-year premiership drought dating back to 1979.
Standing between them and a Grand Final berth is a Heidelberg side which looks hungry to add to its huge trophy cabinet after close misses in 2010 and 2011.
The Tigers were absolutely ruthless in their 52-point demolition of Bundoora in last week’s qualifying final. Led by a commanding display by Michael Gay and rovers Sean Logie and Chris Cullinan, Heidelberg’s ferocity at the contest was inspiring and made last year’s premier look second-rate.
The Tigers booted the first eight goals of the contest and had the game sewn up midway through the second quarter when they led by 46 points.
They had a plethora of avenues to goal despite Caleb Tiller going down with an ankle injury in the first minute of the game, with Allan Young again underlining his importance since crossing from Watsonia in the off-season.
With Dale Nolan expected to return this Saturday the forward line should become even more dangerous as the Tigers look to book their spot in a ninth consecutive Grand Final. Having said that, the Magpies’ defence has been impenetrable for most of the season with co-captains Craig Flint and Shane Tennant leading the way in their first year in charge.
Montmorency will be without suspended forward Kayne Pettifer but still has plenty of cover in the attacking half, led by Patrick Fitzgerald and Dean Limbach. Fitzgerald has been a standout this year and would be a near certainty to feature in the team of the year, while Limbach’s best performance this season came against the Tigers in Round 5 when he booted seven goals in a 75-point drubbing.
The midfield battle will be gripping with Heidelberg’s star-studded lineup of Blair Harvey, Danny Nolan, Sean Logie set to lock horns with the likes of Daniel Keenan, Ryan and Luke Jackson and Michael Steven. That contest alone is worth the admission fee at the gate.
After smashing Bundoora’s rucks last week, Gay and Michael Finn will work in tandem against Aisakie O’hAilpin in arguably the most important contest on the ground. Given the firepower that both sides possess up forward, the ruckman who can feed his midfielders first use at the stoppages will certainly boost his side’s chances of claiming the first place in this year’s Grand Final.
The match will also pit the master against the apprentice with Heidelberg’s Ryan Smith set to take on Montmorency’s Fabian Carelli. Smith coached West Preston-Lakeside to the 2003 premiership, a side that was captained by Carelli and also featured current Montmorency assistant Chas Sauro.
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2012
Round 14: Montmorency 4.7 (31) def by Heidelberg 4.9 (33)
Round 5: Heidelberg 8. 6 (54) def by Montmorency 20. 9 (129)
