Heidelberg moved within percentage of second spot after convincingly accounting for West Preston-Lakeside in windy conditions at J.E Moore Park.
Wearing the old Lakeside jumper, the Roosters challenged the Tigers for parts during the first half, even taking the lead at stages, before Heidelberg’s experienced heads got their team over the line in a 14.15 (99) to 8.10 (58) result.
Heidelberg did all the early attacking early but missed some simple opportunities. After missing two shots in front of goal, the Tigers finally kicked truly when Mark Favrin took a contested mark and nailed the set shot.
West Preston-Lakeside responded when Glenn Robertson kicked the home side’s first goal in his return from a long layoff. The Roosters then leaked a goal soon after, but replied with two quick goals through Ashley Bardon and Damien Smith to take the lead.
The Tigers put a stop to the Roosters’ momentum after Chaz Sargeant used the wind to brilliantly swing back a goal, before another major to Adam Coff – courtesy of a nice build up by Lance Oswald and Mark Favrin – gave the visitors a 10-point lead at quarter-time.
The Roosters started the better in the second term and kicked the first goal after James McInerney intercepted a Heidelberg switch kick and handpassed it off to Kane Heaney who finished with a goal to reduce the margin to five points.
Another major soon after to Bardon from a long range set shot gave the Roosters a two-point buffer in the early stages of the term.
But the Tigers were able to reply, and convincingly, kicking the next three goals of the term to close out the first half 11-point leaders.
Their momentum from late in second quarter continued into the third term after Jess Sinclair hit up Sean Logie who drew first blood for the half.
The Roosters looked in danger of falling out of the contest, but a timely goal to Heaney enabled them to keep in touch.
A number of goal exchanges saw out the next 10 minutes but the Tigers were able to end the term with three goals in a row to assume a 28-point lead heading into the final term.
One of those was a beauty, with Michael Brunelli winning a clearance and sending a torpedo into the forward 50m to a diving Danny Nolan. The veteran midfielder brilliantly slotted his shot from the boundary line as the Tigers took a more than handy buffer into the last quarter.
An early goal to Jordan Treloar put the result beyond doubt, even despite a quick reply from Andrew Dobby at the other end.
The Tigers were able to finish the game with two more goals through Josh Houlihan and Nolan, the latter scoring after the final siren, to give them a 41-point victory.
Heidelberg next takes on in-form Eltham at home in the final round of the year, where a win would hand it a double chance in September.
West Preston-Lakeside travels to Epping needing to win by a big margin to have any chance of finishing inside the top five. It will also be keeping an eye on the Heidelberg v Eltham match, where it will desperately be hoping for a Tigers win.
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 8.10 (58) def by Heidelberg 14.15 (99)
