Heidelberg West trailed at every change but hit the front late and hung on to win against South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve in Round 3 of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.
Kyl Ewart booted six for the Hawks and was well supported by Jack Marris who slotted five. They each kicked three goals in the final term to snatch what appeared, for most of the day, to be an unlikely 14.12 (96) to 14.7 (91) win.
Ewart was right on target in the final term – taking one-grab marks and slotting goals from challenging angles. He also gave another away to Marris who ran into the open goal.
Further afield, the Hawks got on top in the midfield late in the game, with Ben Fogarty finishing the game strongly.
Ruck Jarryd Coulson connected beautifully with midfielder Masaki Miki twice in the final term from centre bounces for clean inside 50 entries. When the Lions went forward late, the Heidelberg West defence stood up well.
Miki racked up a ton of possessions and had help from the busy Billy Wright.
“We believed in each other enough and got the win,” a delighted Heidelberg West coach Cam van Florestein said. His team grabbed second spot on the table with it’s third-successive win to start the season.
The game was very scrappy early, with tackling pressure high and both teams turning the ball over when attempting to go inside 50.
The Lions were looking like winners when they booted five unanswered goals either side of the main break. A brilliant goal by Mitchell Dickson gave his team a game-high 26-point lead.
Dickson picked the pocket of his opponent and snapped from the outside of his foot on a tight angle and the ball split the major uprights.
Lachlan Golledge was a target up forward and booted two huge goals from set shots outside 50. He finished with three for the day.
South Morang coach Gary Hall would have been happy with the effort of 17-year-old Liam Jolly. He spent time in the ruck, kicked a goal and almost had another but just missed a running shot under pressure.
Alex Colaidis struck a purple patch in the third term – kicking three of his four for the day in a five-minute period. His other major in the second term was a terrific snap from wide in the dead pocket.
The Lions went within a whisker of putting the game away, but a goal to Ewart late in the third term kept the Hawks within striking distance and gave his team momentum going into the final break – trailing by 20 points.
The South Morang defence – led by Jake Potter and Ben Muscat – excelled until late in the contest. Tye Hall took some excellent intercept marks.
The Hawks came from 26 points down late in the third term to soar to a 12-point lead late in the match.
A goal by Luke Shelton with a few minutes to go made it a one-goal game. The Lions registered a behind soon after, but that was the final score.
It was a bitter disappointment for the local fans who were hoping for redemption after a poor showing against Panton Hill the previous round.
The undefeated Heidelberg West hosts Lalor at Heidelberg Park in Round 4. South Morang sits sixth on the ladder and has back-to-back home games at Mill Park Lakes Reserve when it plays Old Eltham Collegians for the first time.
Final score: South Morang 14.7 (91) def by Heidelberg West 14.12 (96)
SOUTH MORANG
Goal Kickers: A. Colaidis 4, L. Golledge 3, M. Dickson 2, L. Nicol, L. Shelton, B. Marinkovic, L. Jolly, M. Robinson
Best Players: M. Dickson, L. Jolly, J. Potter, T. Hall, B. Muscat, L. Nicol
HEIDELBERG WEST
Goal Kickers: K. Ewart 6, J. Marris 5, M. Reinke, C. Taylor, R. Offer
Best Players: B. Fogarty, C. Taylor, B. Wright, J. Marris, K. Ewart, M. Miki
