Heidelberg again came through as victor over Northcote Park in the second Grand Final re-match of the year, winning a tightly contested game in perfect conditions.
The Tigers led from start to finish in a polished performance and jumped back into third place on the ladder with the 12.11 (83) to 10.4 (64) result at Warringal Park.
The inclusions of Brad Miller, Josh Houlihan, Michael Finn and Justin Murphy – who has returned from the Murray Football League – strengthened the Tigers after last week’s shock loss to Lower Plenty.
Heidelberg’s clean possession and effective kicking into the attacking 50m was the clear difference between the two sides as Northcote Park struggled to move the ball efficiently when in transition.
While the Tigers hit up leading forward targets, most of the attacks inside 50m by the Cougars were bombed high to packs, giving the Tigers defenders much more opportunity to spoil.
Heidelberg coach Ryan Smith remained calm when addressing his players at three quarter time with a lead of 18 points. The lead could have been more if not for poor kicking in front of goal in the third quarter.
His main message was to remain calm when playing possession footy in order to stop any run on that could hand the Cougars victory.
Once the Tigers got up by 31 points halfway through the quarter, the message was sent out to slow the play down. Unlike their fadeout loss to Bundoora when leading in the last quarter, an improved Heidelberg slowed the play down effectively, putting any last quarter fight back from the Cougars beyond reach.
Tigers forward Lance Oswald was sensational kicking four goals, including the sealer early in the fourth quarter. Oswald provided the small forward option for the Tigers in the absence of injured Mark Favrin.
Jess Sinclair was active up forward as well for Heidelberg providing a lead up target outside the forward 50m and also adding two goals for the Tigers.
With wave after wave of attacks into the Heidelberg forward 50m, Oswald, Sinclair and Jordan Treloar proved too much to handle for the Cougars defenders.
Along with these four players, Josh Houlihan and Brad Miller were instrumental down back, both involved in most scoring passages of play.
A key victory for Heidelberg was the role played by Michael Brunelli who had the tough tagging role on Cougars captain Bronik Davies. He succeeded in the shutdown role as well as winning plenty of the ball himself.
Up forward for Northcote Park it was Pat O’Connell (three goals) and Joe Woonton as the key marking forwards. Fellow key forward Koden Colman had a quiet day with his only major coming in the first quarter.
Woonton and O’Connell fought all day but weren’t presented with enough clean opportunities with a lack of inside 50m entries. Fellow teammates Daniel Ledda, Shaun Lorenzini and Ben McNiece were also amongst the Cougars best.
Northcote Park was without key players in midfielder Brock McLennan and ruckman Oliver McEwen. Both would have been very useful in the middle of the ground, an area where Heidelberg was on top all game.
Heidelberg faces another test next week travelling to War Memorial Park to face the fifth-placed Greensborough who has been close to defeating Bundoora and Montmorency in the past fortnight.
Northcote Park heads back home to play Epping in a game it can’t afford to lose if it wants to stay in the race for a top three spot.
Final score: Heidelberg 12.11 (83) def Northcote Park 10.4 (64)
