HEIDELBERG maintained its unbeaten run in Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 with an epic one-point win over Macleod at De Winton Park in Round 9.
The 12.9 (81) to 11.14 (80) result further extends the gap between Heidelberg and the rest of the competition, with the Tigers now three-wins clear of second-placed Greensborough.
With a 5-4 record, reigning premier Macleod is only in the top five on percentage. The Roos have lost each of their past two matches by a single point.
Adam Symes was the match winner, stealing the win for Heidelberg with the very last kick of the game. The Tigers had trailed by 17 points entering time-on in the last quarter.
In a game that loomed as a finals preview, there was a great amount of heat early. Inefficiency going forward was costly for Macleod, who struggled to score against the solid Heidelberg defence.
The Tigers were damaging in the first term, scoring from most of their forward-50 entries. Daniel Connors was dangerous up forward for the Tigers, finishing with two goals, as did teammate Thomas Sullivan who dominated on the wing.
Matthew Clarke, Lucas Hobbs and Reid Brandt each kicked two goals for Macleod.
Aaron Crispe and Paul Bower were dominant in defence for Heidelberg, intercepting and rebounding the defensive-50 on multiple occasions, while Michael Brunelli provided plenty of run and carry through the middle of the ground.
Midfielders Hobbs and Hamish Paynter were among the best players for the home side, as was acting captain Justin White who initiated Macleod’s attacks from half-back.
Macleod started the game with super intent, as Clarke broke the deadlock with an early set shot.
Connors got the game on his terms soon after that with two crucial goals despite a myriad of forward-50 entries for Macleod, before Sullivan converted nicely from a tight angle to give the visitors a six-point lead going into the first change of ends.
The Roos started the second quarter the same way they started the game and put the first two goals on the board via Hobbs and Reece Geary.
Heidelberg was then able to take the momentum with consecutive goals against the run of play, with the scores locked at 41-apiece at the main break.
The first goal of the second half was going to be very important and it was Charles Gaylard who dribbled one through from 30 metres out, which gave Heidelberg an early lead.
The game began to spice up from there on and a 100-metre penalty in the favour of Josh Gribben saw Heidelberg’s lead extend to double digits for the first time in the match.
It was all Macleod for the rest of the quarter as players tired under the heavy ground.
But failure to convert once again haunted the Roos as they recorded one goal six behinds for the term to trail by three points at the final break.
With a grandstand finish on the cards, a noticeable lift from Macleod’s midfield saw the ball entering the home side’s forward line for the better part of the final quarter.
Goals to Paynter and James Condello put Macleod in front for the first time since the second quarter, before the anxious crowd watched Marcus Marigliani dash through the centre of the ground to sail through a goal in response for Heidelberg.
A long range goal from Jack Bianchin and a soccer off the ground from Josh Totino finally put breathing space between the two sides as Macleod led by a game-high margin of 17 points with stoppage time nearing.
Heidelberg was staring down the barrel of its first loss for the season until two goals in a minute to Nick Miller and Ryan Stone miraculously brought the game back to life.
A long Brunelli kick then fell into the hands of Symes, who calmly converted from 40m to snatch the four points.
Macleod will look to get back onto the winners’ list in Round 11 when it travels to Lower Plenty, while Heidelberg will host second-placed Greensborough at Warringal Park.
Final score: Macleod 11.14 (80) def by Heidelberg 12.9 (81)
