120 minutes of intense, entertaining, and breathtaking football couldn’t separate the two best sides in the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 competition, as Montmorency and Heidelberg shared the points at Montmorency Park North Oval.
Remarkably, the Magpies led from the opening moments until the 28th minute of the final term, as a last-minute set shot conversion from the Tigers’ Kai Kearns helped produce the 10.12 (72) to 10.12 (72) result.
It’s Montmorency’s second draw of the 2023 season, and Heidelberg’s first draw (after regular time) since the 2022 Second Semi-Final. It means the two-point gap between the two sides remain, with the reigning premiers maintaining top spot.
The match was defined by frenetic moments of excitement, with high-flying marks and sublime finishes being the trademark of both sides.
19-year-old Jack Chubb embodied this, leading the star-studded field with four goals in just his second game of senior football for Montmorency.
Liam Wale-Buxton was at his influential best, winning the battle in the ruck against the in form Sam Gilmore, while taking some crucial grabs in the back half later in the contest.
Sam Binion led from the front in midfield while Jordan Steele and Jesse Thompson were exceptional in the backline for Montmorency.
Isaac Wallace’s move to the midfield worked wonders for the visitors, filling the void left by Brayden Sier. Matthew Smith also proved to be a handful all over the ground.
Zane Barzen kicked three goals for Heidelberg, including an unbelievable goal in the second quarter, with Jess Gedi and Jed Rule producing admirable performances in the defensive 50.
Having given Heidelberg their only two defeats in their previous 30 matches, Montmorency again demonstrated their confidence against the reigning premiers by starting the game well.
Patrick Fitzgerald began readily, by passing to Jack Chubb for his first ever senior goal, before moments later converting himself to kick his 52nd major of the season.
Heidelberg’s Jed Rule battled courageously on the division’s leading goalkicker, creating spoils and intercept marks to keep him to an equal season-low of two goals.
Thomas Sullivan then took a soaring specky in front of an adoring Heidelberg bench, kickstarting the match’s chain of highlight reel moments.
A long-range set-shot goal by tiger’s star Lachlan Wilson would reduce the quarter time lead to seven points for the home side.
After a quarter-time revup from coach Jonathan Manzoney, Jack Chubb dribbled through his second and set the tone for one of the most electrifying quarters of senior football produced.
The two sides combined for 11-goals which included multiple-jaw dropping finishes.
Heidelberg veteran Matthew Smith charged in from 50-metres to sail a drop punt over the goal-umpires head, before teammate Zane Barzen miraculously put the Tigers within a kick.
Barzen led from full-forward and had a ball-dribbled to his feet, using its momentum to flick it over his head with his back to goal.
However, the rapturous celebration was short-lived, as 19-year-old Montmorency forward Jarred Seiter surged directly from the centre-bounce to finish from 30-metres out on the run.
Mitchell Honeychurch immediately followed suit with a stunning 50m kick whilst hugging the boundary line. He would then kick another just two minutes later, capping off a frantic six-minutes of football, in which five goals were scored.
As Montmorency captain Sam Binion charged to an inspiring chase-down tackle in front of the packed pavilion of Magpies faithful, the men in black and white looked on the verge on kicking out of sight, however a resilient Heidelberg kept them at bay.
The Tigers saw out the rest of the quarter with three goals to Montmorency’s two and kept in touch to trail by 15 at the main break.
The third term produced an intensity of stoppages, with Liam Wale-Buxton gruellingly battling against Coaches MVP Award leader Sam Gilmore.
Chances dried up after a free-flowing previous quarter, with contested ball winner Marcus Lentini relishing his time in the congestion.
Heidelberg chipped away at the lead through goals from Kai Kearns and Zane Barzen, but Chubb’s fourth major ensured Montmorency would remain in front by nine points at three quarter time.
With top spot up for grabs, each team desperately lunged into every contest.
The hosts struck first through clinical transitional football which landed the ball into the assured hands of Patrick Fitzgerald.
But as they looked close to victory, Montmorency gave away a 50-metre penalty to Tom Schnerring who reduced the margin to single-digits.
Jesse Thompson stood up for the Magpies defence and prevented multiple Heidelberg goals, but as the rushed behinds accumulated, Heidelberg would find themselves trailing by just six points into time on.
Desperation ensued as the siren loomed, and in the chaos, Kai Kearns was pushed in the back just 40 metres out, providing a set-shot directly in front the Montmorency clubhouse.
The rival supporters did not rattle him, and he composedly lined up and tied the match in the 28th minute.
As Heidelberg won the following centre-clearance, the ball bobbled precariously goalward amidst desperate forwards and defenders alike.
19-year-old Jess Gedi attempted an awkward snap to take the lead, but the Montmorency pressure forced it wide and out of bounds.
The final siren sounded moments later just 15 metres out from the Heidelberg goal, cementing an astonishing draw between the competition’s two leading sides.
