Kilmore came from behind to win a thriller over Heidelberg West in Round 15 action of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 football.
The Blues were as much as 30 points adrift late in the second term but showed great resolve to stay in the hunt.
It was an entertaining first term. Mitchell O’Dwyer edged out his opponent and ran into the open goal to get Kilmore on the board first.
The Hawks replied immediately when Waylon Davey snapped a great goal from wide out in the right pocket at the northern end. Soon after, his teammate Max Post marked within range and passed to James Condello who was on a more severe angle. Condello justified Post’s faith in him by splitting the middle from near the boundary.
Louis Hill marked in the forward pocket and kicked truly to give Heidelberg West a handy early 13-point break. Then the Blues hit back with goals to William O’Dwyer-Richards and another to Mitchell O’Dwyer who this time slotted one from wide out at about 40 metres. Zack Ferguson kicked a late major to send Kilmore into the first break with an 8-point lead.
The second and third terms saw eleven goals kicked at the southern end and only one at the other end. There was no wind, but each team dominated an entire quarter in the middle stages of the contest.
Hawk Bryce Barnes booted three goals for the game, all in the second term. His team turned an eight-point deficit into a handy 29-point lead in a seven goal to one term. Connor Dunne, who came into the side after missing the previous week, was taking numerous intercept marks in defence. With the home ground advantage and the chance for a maiden finals berth, it appeared that the home team was bound for a big win.
Nothing much changed for a lot of the third term. Neither team had managed a goal by the 15-minute mark. Hawks fans were cheering at the 7.30 mark of the term when Ronald Fejo ran, dodged a couple of players and kicked the ball through the big sticks. But he was penalised for running too far.
Finally, a great tackle from Kilmore’s teenager Chase Dennis won him a free and he slotted a goal. The Blues booted another two majors to reduce the deficit to ten points late in the quarter. Then Dennis stepped up again, swopping on the ball, evading a tackle and slotting a goal from close range.
The visiting side went into the last break a mere 4-points behind and with considerable momentum.
While there was energy in the Kilmore huddle, Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen was urging his charges to lift as they aim to play finals for the first time.
The last quarter was a continuation of the third. Lachlan Chesser slotted a goal for the Blues. Liam Monaghan snapped another soon after.
With the FIFA World Cup Final approaching, Jared Crosbie show his soccer skills by booting the ball off the ground from near the behind post and seeing it go through for full points.
Kilmore had kicked seven unanswered goals to take the lead out to 16 points. With all the momentum, it was hard to see the Hawks lifting.
But Louis Hill kicked his third for Heidelberg West soon after, then Fejo kicked a great goal from the boundary to reduce the margin to 2-points with plenty of time left on the clock.
Both teams were desperate as they tried to get their team over the line. Joshua Coe took some great intercept marks deep in defence to keep his team in the lead. Despite all the striving, neither team troubled the scorers for the final 8-minutes, and the Blues recorded a famous win.
“We were up for a fight, but on the ropes at half time,” said Kilmore coach Mick Marrett. “But then we were able to get off the ropes and throw a few punches.”
Marrett gave credit to 17-year-old Eammon McLaughlin-Matthews who played deep in defence and won lots of one-on-one contests. He also lauded the repeat efforts of Chase Dennis and the efforts of Maddox McManus as well as Lachlan Chesser, Grant Paxton and captain Chris Barton.
The narrow loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the home side. “You get what you deserve in footy and today, we copped it”, said Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen. He liked the work of Fletcher Parkinson in the ruck and Mitchell Thompson in defence. Missen also gave a tick to James Condello, Louis Hill, Brad Moore and Michael Italia.
With the loss, the chances of the Hawks playing finals have been severely dented, although both teams have a small chance of playing finals if they win all their remaining games.
