Heidelberg took a giant step towards claiming a double chance in the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 finals with a runaway 49-point win over Bundoora at Yulong Reserve.
The Tigers didn’t lead until the second minute of the final term but romped to victory with eight unanswered goals in the final term.
The 11.12 (78) to 3.11 (29) triumph kept the Tigers six points clear in second place after 10 rounds and pushed them three games and percentage clear of the fourth-placed Bulls – all but assuring a double chance in the finals.
The Tigers looked in deep trouble during the first quarter and trailed by as much as 24 points after gifting the home side two of their opening three goals.
They gradually worked their way back into the game to close within three points at three quarter time, before demonstrating why they are a genuine premiership contender with a stunning final quarter blitz.
Sam Gilmore was outstanding in the ruck and provided outstanding service to his midfielders. The heavy conditions meant there were far more stoppages than normal, but Gilmore was indefatigable and clearly the dominant big man on the ground.
Jack Blair relished the heavy conditions and was instrumental in Heidelberg working its way back into the game. Blair won the ball at the coalface and displayed clean skills on a day when even the basics were difficult to execute.
Tom Sullivan and Josh Gribben led the back half and ensured the visitors were impenetrable after the opening 20 minutes. Both intercepted time and again and helped the Tigers keep the home side goalless after quarter time.
It was a hard toil for forwards given the wet and heavy conditions, however the Tigers big men got the upper hand in the fourth term – taking advantage of Bundoora defender Scott Dowell’s absence in the final 30 minutes.
Josh Minogue (three goals) and Chaz Sargeant (two) took several telling marks late in the game and combined for four goals in the last quarter – aided by Matt Schnerring who also booted two.
The loss handed Bundoora its third-successive defeat at Yulong Reserve as its record slipped to 5-5. The Bulls retained fourth place on the ladder but have a host of sides hot on their tail as the race to the finals heats up.
Bailey Thompson again showed good signs and was a leading ball winner on the day, while Gary Moorcroft toiled hard despite limited opportunities in the forward half – often working up the ground to get involved in the play.
Brenton Keating and Scott Dowell kept their side ahead during the second and third terms with great blanketing jobs – however Dowell went down with an injury prior to three quarter time, which proved telling in the end.
Bundoora made a lightning start courtesy of goals to Andrew Sturgess and Brod Gray to lead by 14 points after seven minutes. Sturgess converted from a 50m penalty, while Gray intercepted a poor switch across goal from Josh Gribben to snap through from close range.
The margin blew out to 24 points when Daniel Guccione soccered through a miracle goal ten minutes later – with the home side dominating possession and locking the ball in their forward half.
Heidelberg settled in the late stages of the quarter and got on the board when Josh Minogue kicked truly following another 50m penalty.
The game was heavily congested throughout the second and third quarters, with the contest descending in continuous rolling mauls.
Despite the congestion, Heidelberg did look the more threatening side and managed the only major in each of the quarters, via Fletcher McIvor and Giulian Fable.
The Tigers then blew the game wide open in the last term. Early goals to Sargeant, Minogue and Matt Cecchin gave the visitors a commanding 17-point advantage and they went on with the job with another five goals to storm to a massive victory.
Final score: Bundoora 3.11 (29) def by Heidelberg 11.12 (78)
BUNDOORA
Goal Kickers: B. Gray, D. Guccione, A. Sturgess
Best Players: B. Thompson, G. Moorcroft, S. Dowell, D. Venditti, B. Keating, J. Maynes
HEIDELBERG
Goal Kickers: J. Minogue 3, M. Schnerring 2, C. Sargeant 2, F. McIvor, M. Cecchin, N. Honey, G. Fable
Best Players: J. Blair, S. Gilmore, T. Sullivan, J. Minogue, J. Gribben, A. Bonaddio
