Heidelberg West have entered the top four of the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 ladder after coming from behind at half time to defeat Old Eltham Collegians by the narrowest of margins at Eltham College.
The form lines of both sides coming into this match suggested that it might be a close encounter and it lived up to those expectations, with the Hawks turning a 14-point half time deficit into a 8.11 (59) to 9.4 (58) triumph.
Both teams now sit on seven wins and while the Turtles have the superior percentage, Heidelberg West move into fourth spot on the ladder because of their game in hand. They have now defeated Old Eltham Collegians for the fifth consecutive time.
“It was a grinding win but a special effort,” Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen said.
“The boys gave 100% effort and there were no passengers.”
Despite the close final margin, both teams had periods of significant dominance at various stages of the contest.
Matthew Sleeman’s men looked to be in total control midway through the second term. Matthew Williamson had just kicked his fourth goal of the afternoon and when Jake Tyson snapped truly soon after, the home team led by a game-high 23-points.
Sebastian Francis-Perkins was getting his hands on the ball and using it well in the midfield while midfielder Nick Snowdon also impressed and hit the scoreboard.
From that moment on however, the Hawks gradually worked their way back into the match. They had all the play just before the main break but failed to make the most of their control of the game and scored 1.3 to reduce the half time deficit to a manageable 14 points.
The visitors had a goal on the board within two minutes of the second half when Nicholas Paton received a handball for an easy goal.
Dane Dmitrovic then showed a lot of poise when receiving the ball 60 metres out. Instead of blazing away or attempting a pass to the forwards who were covered, he ran his full measure and slammed the ball through for a major.
A Matt Reinke snap late in the quarter put the Hawks in front at the last change, and with the visitors firing on all cylinders, the Turtles were kept goalless for the quarter.
Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen urged his team on at the three quarter time break, noting that his team was working harder.
He had praise for Michael Adams who had moved onto Williamson in the mid stages of the game and kept the tall forward in check.
The last term was a tense struggle. Nicholas Milne out bodied his opponent to take a mark close in on a tight angle early in the quarter and curled the ball home to grab back the lead for his team.
But it didn’t last long as the Hawks cleared the ball from the next centre bounce. Louis Hill was very industrious on the day and was involved in the chain of disposals which led to Alex Hywood marking close in and goaling.
Hywood was to be the only multiple goal-scorer for the away side on the day and his second regained the lead.
With Lachlan Evans getting on top in the ruck and their top line players in Daniel Kelly, Marcus Hill and Bradley Moore winning crucial battles around the ground, the Hawks attacked relentlessly for most of the term.
But they could only manage four behinds in that time in what was a period where moving the ball fluently was difficult.
Then, against the run of play, Milne snapped a wonderful goal from deep in the pocket for his third of the day. It put Old Eltham Collegians in front by a point with little time left.
Soon after, Heidelberg West’s Louis Hill won a free for a great tackle and hit Billy Wright in space 45 metres out on an angle. Wright’s slightly errant shot was enough to tie the scores.
The Hawks surged again and managed to rush a behind to hit the lead with seconds remaining. A risky kick-out from the behind by the Turtles came unstuck and resulted in the ball going back to the Heidelberg West goal square as the siren sounded.
Daniel Hallett was again impressive in a Turtles defence that was under siege for the latter part of the contest.
Benjamin Cox was his usual productive self on the wing, but his teammate Niall McDonough had a rough day, suffering injuries in the first and final term of the contest.
