NORTH HEIDELBERG’S three-year journey to return to the NFL top flight ended in style with a six-goal victory over the Fitzroy Stars in the Division 2 Grand Final.
The 16.18 (114) to 11.12 (78) victory was the Bulldogs’ first senior premiership since 2005 and erased memories of their devastating 2012 Grand Final loss to Epping.
The win was built off the back of a dominating best on ground performance from midfielder Jesse Tardio, as well as seven goals from Shane Harvey.
Tardio’s domination throughout the finals series looms as one of the stories of the season after transferring to North Heidelberg mid-season and playing Development League VFL football with the Northern Blues.
He, along with Leigh Gilbert, Jarrod Spurrell, Gazi Assi, Louis Hill, Lachlan Dowling, Blake Holmes and Marc Lonergan all came together to put in a brilliant team performance when it mattered most.
The ability for the Bulldogs to get off to a fast start was built off the back of precise ball use from half back and an ability to back their run on the wide open Preston expanses.
Assi, Andre Habchi, Jeff Ryan, Hill and Tardio were gathering possessions at will early and the Bulldogs forced scoreboard pressure as a result.
Harvey’s first two goals were snaps from close range, with Blake Holmes splitting the two with a goal after a mistake from Alex Splitt on the kick-in. When John Green kicked truly, the margin was 24 points at quarter time.
For the second year in the row the Stars failed to kick an opening quarter goal in the Grand Final, and they badly needed a response.
However it was not to be as they continued to undo the good work of winning the second semi with many simple misses in front of goal, as well as a failure to truly take the game on which was a feature of the aforementioned victory.
It took until red time in the second quarter for the Stars to register their first major, through John Hayes. By then, North had raced to a 48-point lead and the game appeared over.
The Stars needed an ideal start to the third to be any chance. They got the first goal of what turned out to be an astounding quarter of football within a minute through Djaran Whyman, who was one of the Stars’ best for the afternoon.
However, the pattern for the quarter, in which there were 11 goals kicked, summed up the Stars’ day. Twice they were able to kick three consecutive goals to close within 23 points, however, the Dogs’ were able to respond each time.
The final quarter belonged solely to Harvey. He kicked the first three goals of the last to put the game on ice, including some stunning efforts on the boundary line to send the North Heidelberg faithful into raptures.
The victory was his first premiership with the Bulldogs, while his seven goals took his Division 2 record to an astounding 336 goals in just 56 games.
While Harvey and Tardio were the headline makers, what can’t be forgotten was the Bulldogs’ defenders excellent job in shutting out the Stars in the first half.
Spurrell was excellent at centre half-back, Ryan and Hill were able to provide pinpoint disposal and dash off half back while dangerous Fitzroy forwards John Hayes and Patrick Davis were well held by Hill and Trent Scannell respectively.
The Bulldogs also seemed to win the midfield battle for much of the game, only letting down their guard when the Stars were pushing to get back into the game, with the Stars winning multiple clearances in the third.
The Stars had few winners in their second consecutive Grand Final loss. Djaran Whyman (three goals) and Allan Murray worked hard all day and were their best two players. Mungara Brown provided much of the hardness in the middle, and Jai Burns was solid, whilst also taking away a Grand Final highlight in the form of a big hanger in the opening minute.
North Heidelberg now returns to Division 1 for the first time since 2011 and will back its strong list in the top grade. Certainly, if the Bulldogs can keep Tardio and Harvey on the park as often as possible they will be best equipped to meet the required level.
Final score: Fitzroy Stars 11.12 (78) def by North Heidelberg 16.18 (114)
