Heidelberg have made a massive statement in the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 competition, claiming a convincing 50-point victory over Montmorency at Montmorency Park North Oval.
In a highly anticipated top of the table clash, Saturday’s match was expected to be one of the games of the season, but the Tigers ran away with the match in the second half, kicking seven goals to three to prevail 15.10 (100) to 7.8 (50).
Turning the tables on their one-point defeat against the Magpies earlier in the season, the Tigers have now gained a two-game gap on top of the ladder and look all but assured of the minor premiership while Montmorency remain in second but lost over 16 percent as a result of the heavy defeat.
Benjamin Nikolovski was brilliant throughout the midfield and up forward for the visitors, doing well to make up for the loss of late out, Matthew Smith. The 21-year-old put through three majors while being an excellent link up player on the wing all afternoon.
Josh Minogue led the way up forward once more with four majors to increase his season tally to 41 goals whilst Sam Gilmore got the better of Liam Wale-Buxton in the ruck duties, winning crucial hit outs and finding teammates often.
For the Magpies, Patrick Fitzgerald also managed four goals despite the limited entries inside 50, while Sam Binion and Jai Robinson fought hard all day in midfield and defence.
On a beautiful day at Montmorency Park North Oval the start of the contest was reminiscent of a finals game, with both teams piling on the pressure across the ground.
It was the Tigers kicking the first two majors of the game at the 12th and 18th minute marks of the first term through Minogue and Charlie Wilson.
The scrappy first term ended with Fitzgerald getting on the end of an excellent inside 50 entry before converting to avoid a goalless quarter from the home side.
Leading by 10 points at quarter time, Heidelberg had the early running in the second term, kicking three majors inside the first six minutes to quickly extend their margin. Nikolovski led the way, kicking two of those three goals.
Jackson Jones then responded for the Magpies shortly after before Gilmore found his way up forward to convert truly and give the visitors a 23-point advantage at the late stages of the second term.
But an injection of confidence from Montmorency saw them produce the last two majors of the half, with solid efforts from both Fitzgerald and Jones, reducing the deficit to 12 points at the main break.
Any momentum established by the Magpies late in the second term quickly vanished throughout the third quarter as the visitors kicked five of next six majors to completely blow out the margin to 38 points at three quarter time.
Already on the backfoot heading into the last term, Montmorency suffered a huge blow after Lin Jong was ruled out for the remainder of the match due to a knee injury and following Minogue’s third major at the beginning of the final quarter, the Tigers were well on their way to claim their most impressive victory of the 2022 campaign.
