Hurstbridge and Montmorency have produced the first draw of the 2023 Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 season in a frantic finish at Ben Frilay Oval.
The Magpies led by 13 points at three quarter time despite registering fewer scoring shots, and even kicked he first goal of the last term to extend that margin to 19, before the Bridges fought back with a three-goal to one final quarter.
A major from William Cookson at the 19-minute mark of the term would prove to be the last score of the game as both sides couldn’t be separated at the full-time siren, with the match finishing 8.10 (58) to 9.4 (58).
Without Mitchell Moschetti at their disposal, it was two other Mitchell’s in Hymus and Wild that had strong contributions to Hurstbridge’s performance, while Bailey Jordan made it four of five games this year with two or more goals with another two majors.
Ben Paterson produced his best game of the season for Montmorency with Jai Robinson in defence, Jake Spencer in the ruck and Patrick Fitzgerald up forward all producing strong efforts for Jonathan Manzoney’s men.
Both sides now have a 3-1-1 record after five games and both sit in the top three, two points behind Heidelberg.
For the second time in as many weeks, Hurstbridge would be kept goalless in the first term despite most of the play being in their forward half in the early stages of the quarter.
The first goal of the term wouldn’t come until the 16th minute when Brock Binion soccered the Magpies first of the afternoon, before Fitzgerald kicked his 20th major of the season after converting his set shot minutes later to give the visitors an 11-point advantage quarter time.
Play opened up a little more in the second term as Hurstbridge looked to get back into the match.
Bronson Hill kicked a lovely set shot goal five minutes into the term to bring the margin out to three straight kicks for Montmorency before Liam Middleton produced a nice finish from just outside 50 to give the home side a response as well as their first goal of the game.
The Bridges then wrestled the momentum into their favour. Bailey Jordan converted his set shot in between behinds from the home side to reduce the deficit even more before a major from Nicholas McColl put them in front by three points.
But Montmorency wouldn’t take long to get back the lead as Fitzgerald’s second goal followed by a major on the run from Benjamin Crick suddenly gave the visitors an eight-point lead at the main break.
Hurstbridge spearhead Joel Naylor would get on the scoresheet to begin the third term, after nailing his set shot to reduce the deficit to two points.
Montmorency’s Alexander Chiocci would respond immediately however with his first goal of the season just moments later, before Mitchell Wild would keep the Bridges in the hunt five minutes later with a set shot conversion of his own.
The Magpies would kick the last two goals of the quarter courtesy of Sam Binion and Marcus Lentini, to help the visitors establish a 13-point advantage at three quarter time.
Kyle Kankaanpaa’s goal within the opening minutes of the final term put Montmorency up by a game-high 19 points and it looked as though the Magpies would start to run away with the four points.
But Hurstbridge would not go away and as they did in the second term, they closed down the deficit.
Cooper Barbera would snap from close range before Jordan would kick his second of the afternoon to make it a six-point ball game.
Soon afterwards, William Cookson would read the advantage given by the umpire from a free kick perfectly, running into the open goal to tie things up for Joel Cordwell’s side approaching the 20th minute mark of the term.
Both sides showed moments of desperation in the final five minutes with multiple stoppages between the arcs. But neither team could find an edge and as the full-time siren sounded, they had to settle for two points apiece.
