Montmorency shot to the top of the Division 1 ladder with a 71-point thrashing of Heidelberg at Montmorency Park in Round 4.
Despite trailing by 19 points at the first change, the Magpies piled on 18 of the game’s last 22 goals to record a 20.13 (133) to 9.8 (62) victory.
With stars Blair Harvey, Jess Sinclair, Michael Finn, Dale Nolan and Josh Houlihan all watching from the sidelines – the Tigers were powerless against Montmorency’s onslaught in the final three terms.
Montmorency piled on 10 consecutive goals from midway through the second term until late in the third as it turned a 19-point deficit into a 42-point lead.
Remarkably, Heidelberg did not register a score during this period, until Rhys Healey converted from a free kick right on three-quarter time to make for a 36-point margin at the last change.
With their opponents already on the ropes, the Magpies were ruthless in the final term – dishing out the knockout blow in the opening five minutes of the term.
Tiger Joel Harris kicked the first goal of the final term to bring the deficit back to 30 points before Patrick Fitzgerald (four goals) responded with two goals in the next two minutes.
Resulting goals to Ryan Jackson, Rowan Nayna and Luke Jackson blew the Magpies’ buffer out to 60 points midway through the term. The Magpies went on to kick seven goals in the final quarter as they eventually claimed a percentage-boosting win.
Incredibly, Heidelberg led for the entire first half with Montmorency only taking the lead when Fitzgerald kicked truly after the half-time siren to give the home side a one-point advantage at the main break.
The Tigers got off to a flying start when Mark Favrin crumbed beautifully off a pack and kicked truly in the opening minute of the game – a goal synonymous of his career in the yellow and black jumper.
The lead was doubled just moments later when Jamie Allan was left vacant outside of a forward stoppage and converted from 40m out.
Despite Montmorency having the best of the next 10 minutes it could make no genuine inroads on the scoreboard.
Heidelberg’s midfield pressure didn’t allow the Magpies any quick movement forward which enabled Jason Kennedy to peel off in defence and cut off many Montmorency forays forward.
Kennedy was instrumental in the first half, taking many marks inside defensive 50m and constantly giving his fellow defenders a helping hand against big forwards Fitzgerald and Ryan Willits.
However as the Magpies midfield began to get on top midway through the second quarter, the complex of the game changed completely.
Daniel Keenan and Ryan Jackson were in the thick of everything through the middle of the ground and their quicker ball movement forward provided Fitzgerald and Ben Walton (four goals) one-on-one opportunities against their Heidelberg defenders.
Walton booted three goals in the third quarter alone as his contested marking became a feature of the game.
Fitzgerald also came to the party. He took a massive leaping mark in the third term which helped set up a Walton goal, before taking a handful of big grabs in the final quarter as he hit the scoreboard heavily.
Yet again the Magpies defence was resolute, keeping the Tigers to nine goals for the day and just four majors after the opening quarter.
Craig Flint and Shane Tennant intercepted many Heidelberg forward movements and offered creativity and rebounded out of the back half throughout the final three quarters.
Michael Fitz-Gerald and Daniel Coghill did the job on the Tiger talls – with Brad Miller, Chaz Sargeant and Jordan Treloar kept to just one goal between them.
Unfortunately Treloar left the field early with what appeared an ankle injury and may add to Heidelberg’s already extensive injury list.
Montmorency faces another top of the table clash in Round 5 when it plays host to second-placed Bundoora, while Heidelberg will look to rebound when it takes on ninth-placed West Preston-Lakeside at Warringal Park.
Final score: Montmorency 20.13 (133) def Heidelberg 9.8 (62)
