Heidelberg proved why they sit undefeated on top of the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 ladder with a commanding 59-point win over second-placed Greensborough at Greensborough War Memorial Park.
In a game that was tight early, the Tigers put together another second half masterclass to run out 16.14 (110) to 7.9 (51) winners.
Heidelberg now move 20 points clear of the Borough atop the Division 1 table and have sealed a fourth consecutive minor premiership in the top flight.
Kai Kearns was electric with three goals and Matthew McInerney and Joel Kleiman were very good all day.
Sam Gilmore’s work in the ruck and Tom Keys’ ball-winning ability were also standout features of the Tigers’ second-half surge.
For the Borough Jackson Davies continued his excellent season alongside Nathan Howard, William McFawn and Ben Ham, the latter kicking three goals to make it 10 goals from his last three games.
It was billed as a blockbuster clash between first and second, and for the opening half, it lived up to the hype.
Greensborough opened the match with great intent, locking the ball in their forward half through relentless pressure and structured defence.
That allowed them to generate repeat entries and early scoring opportunities, but it was Heidelberg who struck first.
After settling into the contest, the Tigers got on the board through Matthew McInerney, who launched a long bomb from outside 50. That was quickly followed by two more majors as the visitors jumped out to an early lead.
But the Borough responded impressively, lifting around the stoppages to get the game back on their terms.
Nathan Howard kicked their first from the goal square before Ben Ham lit up the game with two brilliant goals, one tight on the boundary and another on the run, to bring the margin back to a point.
The two sides traded late goals, with Greensborough taking a slender three-point lead into quarter time.
The tight arm wrestle continued early in the second, with Greensborough striking first to extend their lead to ten.
But from the midway point of the term, Heidelberg flicked the switch. They began to win the contest and spread from stoppage with intent.
Brayden Sier snapped truly from front and centre, Joel Kleiman finished from a quick clearance, and Kai Kearns soared for a hanger to set up another.
The Tigers kicked four of the last five goals of the term to flip the game on its head and take a 12-point lead into the main break.
From there, it was all Heidelberg. The third quarter saw the Tigers assert total control.
Gilmore dominated in the ruck and Keys found the ball at will, as Heidelberg kept the Borough scoreless save for a single behind, while piling on three goals themselves to blow the lead out to 33 points by three-quarter time.
The final term followed the same script, with Heidelberg turning the contest into a procession.
They slammed home five final-quarter goals to Greensborough’s one, finishing full of running and sending a clear message to the rest of the competition.
