Heidelberg have held off a fourth quarter surge from North Heidelberg to claim a nail-biting one-point victory at Shelley Street Reserve in the opening round of the 2023 Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 season.
The Tigers led by a game-high 25 points at three quarter time before the Bulldogs rallied in the final term, kicking five of the last six goals of the game.
Debutant Josh Hamilton kicked a major to put the home side within one-point with minutes remaining, but despite opportunities from the Bulldogs to push the ball forward, the reigning premiers held on to claim the 10.8 (68) to 10.7 (67) victory.
The triumph is Heidelberg’s 17th consecutive win in the top flight, having last tasted defeat in Round 3, 2022.
The Tigers midfield was influential all afternoon with premiership trio Sam Gilmore, Brayden Sier and Lachlan Wilson leading the way.
Zane Barzen and Keenan Posar were excellent in the defensive end, while in his senior debut, 19-year-old Jonathan Tomasiello kicked four majors, including three crucial goals in the third quarter, to stretch Heidelberg’s margin after half time.
North Heidelberg’s afternoon, and indeed the entire match, was soured by a severe leg injury to star Brent Harvey, who was stretched off the ground just 10 minutes into the match before being taken to hospital.
The Bulldogs were still good enough to keep up with the Tigers for most of the game despite Harvey’s absence with Liam Hunt and Jesse Tardio forming an almost unbreakable duo in the middle of the ground, linking up on multiple occasions to send North Heidelberg into attack.
Brock Chircop was lively in all areas of the ground meanwhile Kieran Jaksic played a brilliant forward-ruck role, producing two imperative final quarter goals (kicking three majors in total) to help the Bulldogs create a fourth quarter burst.
Jesse Kane’s second senior goal would prove to be the opening major of the game five minutes in before Brent Harvey’s injury halted play.
The Bulldogs then kicked the next two goals thanks to Jesse Tardio and Brodie White, to hit the lead approaching time on. Brayden Sier soon found the goals with a great finish on the run before Jaksic’s first ensured the home side led at quarter time.
Chricop then found himself out the back of a pack close to goal to extend North Heidelberg’s margin to 10 points at the start of the second quarter, which would prove to be their biggest lead of the game.
Jonathan Tomasiello and Mitchell Dillon exchanged goals from either side before three majors in five minutes from the visitors, two from midfielder Tom Schnerring, suddenly gave the reigning premiers an eight-point half time advantage.
Tomasiello would then steal the show in the third term, kicking three goals, which would be the only goals of the quarter, to give Heidelberg an impressive 25-point lead. His best goal being the third in that period, when he gathered the ball from a low Kai Kearns kick and then sold the candy to an opponent before kicking truly.
The Bulldogs had their chances throughout the quarter but could only muster two behinds in the term.
But while Heidelberg looked in control at three quarter time, the Bulldogs were able to put some scoreboard pressure on and after four majors in the opening 12 minutes, two of those from Jaksic, the home side found themselves just one-point adrift.
Majak Daw had multiple chances to kick goals in the final term, spiling a mark inside the goal square before clunking an impressive, contested mark but just missing his set shot which would’ve put North Heidelberg in front but instead tied proceedings 15 minutes in to the quarter.
Jed Rule, who was a prominent target for Heidelberg midfielders throughout the match, converted a tough set shot to settle things for the Tigers and give them a seven-point lead approaching time on.
North Heidelberg debutant Josh Hamilton then calmy passed through a couple of Heidelberg opponents and converted a nice shot on goal on the run to again give the Bulldogs a sniff in the final minutes.
But the Tigers did enough to hold on, forcing multiple stoppages, to claim a one-point victory away from home.
