MONTMORENCY made it four wins in succession following a remarkable final quarter surge against Lower Plenty at Montmorency Park in Round 16.
The Magpies booted eight goals to one in the final term to record the 17.15 (117) to 12.10 (82) victory. The win sees last year’s beaten grand finalist climb to third position and right back into premiership contention in Division 1.
Heavily undermanned without captain Darcy Barden and key players Matt Vasilevski, Josh Turner and Campbell Brown, Lower Plenty jumped out of the blocks in the opening term, booting six of the first seven majors to open up a 31-point lead.
The Bears dominated in all aspects early in the game, and rewarded themselves with accuracy in front of goal.
The Magpies were able to salvage some momentum in the shadows of quarter time, following a brilliant solo effort from Harley Ryan, who gathered just inside the boundary line before kicking the goal from an acute angle.
The Magpies were able to gain ascendency across the ground in the second term, and gave their potent forward line a lot of opportunities to get involved, which was a contrast to the first term.
The Bears saw their big quarter time lead vanish mid-way through the second term as the Magpies went into half time holding a slender four-point advantage, thanks in part to three goals from Ryan Willits.
Both teams struggled to break the game open during the third term with tempers rising at different stages of the quarter, which was indicative of how much was on the line for both clubs.
The game remained evenly poised heading into the final term despite the Bears holding an 11-point advantage, courtesy of a three-goal to one third quarter.
Montmorency began the final quarter in fine fashion, dominating general play and putting the Lower Plenty defence under extraordinary pressure.
A string of unanswered goals, highlighted by a snap from captain Ryan Jackson from where the 50m arc intersects the boundary, saw the Magpies storm home to a comfortable victory.
Amazingly, 23 of the 29 goals were scored to the south end of the ground.
Willits ended with four majors for the hosts, while Harley Ryan and Jesse Donaldson were instrumental in the win.
Will Morley and Clint Monger enjoyed good outings for the visitors, while Bill Barden kicked four goals.
The win puts Montmorency in the box seat to finish third and receive the double chance, as the Magpies now prepare to face bottom placed Whittlesea at the Whittlesea Showgrounds in Round 17.
Montmorency isn’t alone in the pursuit of third place however, with the Magpies stuck on equal points with Macleod and Lower Plenty. The Magpies do hold a superior percentage to the Roos and Bears, but no team can afford to slip up in the final two rounds of the season.
Lower Plenty will be bolstered by the return of Campbell Brown this week when it host West Preston-Lakeside in a clash that is sure to shape the top five. The Roosters sit two points shy of the Bears, with the game set to be labelled as an elimination final.
Final score: Montmorency 17.15 (117) def Lower Plenty 12.10 (82)
