The Bulldogs held off a surge from the Stars in the third term to win 14.9 (93) to 9.16 (70).
It was a game of missed opportunities for Fitzroy who had more scoring shots than the Doggies. They got plenty of the ball, but the Bulldogs defence stood strong and to their credit, kept the Stars from getting a free shot on goal or any open space in their forward 50m.
Shane Harvey was incredible up forward for North Heidelberg kicking six goals and getting plenty of the ball in the middle. Jarrod King was also influential getting plenty of tough possessions. He also bagged two majors. Luke Villanti stood strong in the back half, clearing the ball constantly and taking tough grabs when needed.
Samuel Autio was dominant for the Stars up forward taking spectacular marks and booting three goals. Jye Brennan was tough in the midfield applying heaps of pressure onto the Dogs with plenty of tackles, smothers and second and third efforts.
The Stars biggest problem was their disposal efficiency when kicking or marking inside their forward 50m. They weren’t kicking it directly to their teammates nor were they marking simple grabs. Even with the wind behind them, they could barely take a mark inside their forward 50.
Harvey got the ball rolling for the Dogs kicking the first goal in the third minute. But the Stars hit straight back through Autio. With the wind behind them, North Heidelberg kicked two quick goals within two minutes with Owen Donaghey-Arrowsmith kicking a beauty from 50m.
Fitzroy hit back but the Bulldogs kicked another two to give them a 20-point lead at quarter time. The quarter was contested for parts of it but both teams moved the ball extremely quickly through the middle, especially North Heidelberg from their kick-ins with the wind behind their backs.
The start of the second term saw early goal exchanges with North Heidelberg getting most of the ball. The Stars were using the wind but they were just banging into their forward line leading to not many marks.
A great play from the Bulldogs with Leigh Taggart, Stephen Saddington, Leigh Gilbert and Harvey combining from the backline with a zigzag type play in what was a spectacle. Harvey finished it off with a goal. This play showed the holes in Fitzroy’s structure and that North Heidelberg was the fitter side.
The end of the term saw a couple of goal exchanges but the Bulldogs headed into the second half retaining their 20-point margin and also leading into the third term with the wind behind them. North Heidelberg was moving the ball slickly and this showed in the stats and on the scoreboard.
Lionel Proctor started the Stars’ mini fight back with a ripper of a goal from the boundary line in the third minute. Autio followed up with one of his own after a scrappy passage of play to get them within a kick. Fitzroy had all the momentum but the Bulldogs, hit back with two goals from Harvey to see out the quarter with a 16-point buffer.
The Stars got off to a positive start in the final term with all the early possession and a goal for the efforts through John Hayes. But North Heidelberg booted four straight in what was a dominant display to give them a 35-point lead and the win. The Stars kicked two late goals but they were only consolation in what was a dominant display from the Bulldogs.
The Dogs have won two in a row and now play Whittlesea away in what will be an intriguing game. The Stars host Mernda at Preston City Oval who are coming off an 88-point win over South Morang.
Final score: North Heidelberg 14.9 (93) def Fitzroy Stars 9.16 (70)
