The top two sides in the competition meet at Montmorency Oval at 2pm with the winner to claim premiership favouritism heading into the final month of the season.
Already holding a one-game advantage atop the table, a win for Montmorency will provide it a near unassailable lead in the quest for a week off in the opening week of the finals.
Conversely, victory to Heidelberg will enable the club to claw past the Magpies in first position due to a superior percentage – thanks largely to triple-digit wins over Whittlesea and Eltham earlier in the season.
The Magpies head into the encounter on the back of six consecutive victories, stemming back to Round 7 when they went down in a shock 11-point loss to Lower Plenty – the victory still the Bears’ sole triumph since returning to the top flight.
Montmorency has emerged a significantly stronger side since that forgettable day in late May, beating some of its biggest premiership threats in the process.
Since losing to the Bears, the Magpies have beaten each of Bundoora, West Preston-Lakeside and Eltham away from home. Throw in a 75-point win over the Tigers when they first met in Round 5 and the club has certainly dispelled the theory it plays its best football on its small home deck.
There is no doubting that the club has developed a determined, winning attitude throughout the season, best outlined by its fighting victories against the Panthers and Whittlesea.
Trailing by as much as five goals during the final quarter at Eltham Central Reserve, the Magpies rallied with eight of the last nine goals of the game to claim a 15-point win over their close rival.
Expected to win easily last week, the Pies struggled against an undermanned Eagles outfit and trailed by a fraction under four goals during the second term. Despite a major upset brewing, the ladder-leader responded emphatically to take a 20-point lead into three-quarter time before piling on ten goals in the final term.
Would the Magpies of old have buckled in similar positions? It’s hard to say exactly, but what can be certain is that Montmorency version 2012 certainly lives for the big occasion.
Having had two weeks to stew over a 10-goal thrashing at the hands of Northcote Park, Heidelberg certainly returned to form quickly when it smashed Macleod by 57 points at Warringal Park last Saturday.
Fresh from opening their brand new rooms, the Tigers made their intent known early against the Roos – booting six goals to one in the first quarter to take a commanding 32-point lead into the first break.
After being kept to just one goal in his past two matches, Caleb Tiller booted five majors and showed he is more than capable of filling the major void up forward left by injured star Dale Nolan.
Nolan, who has booted 40 goals in just nine games this season, is unlikely to return during the home and away season after sustaining an ankle injury against Lower Plenty.
Michael Gay and Michael Finn both put in solid performances last week and will again need to be at their best on Saturday when they come up against Aisake O’hAilpin in the ruck.
Montmorency’s Irish recruit was clearly the best player afield the last time the sides met and earned the three coaches votes from Ryan Smith.
Aside from the loss to Northcote Park a fortnight ago, Heidelberg has been in ruthless form since Round 7. The Tigers have won seven of their past eight matches, by an average margin of 63 points.
They will be keen to make a statement against the Magpies this week, having not yet beaten a top three opponent this season. They used a similar fixture last season to flex their muscles – smashing the Pies by 48 points at Warringal Park at a time when Montmorency was mounting its finals charge.
Given the importance of claiming a week off to freshen up for a long finals assault, this Saturday’s game may very well play a crucial role in determining this year’s premiership.
Heidelberg has certainly had the mental edge over its rival over the past decade, but this week is a chance for the Magpies to bury some psychological demons and perhaps clinch the minor premiership.
Past four meetings:
Montmorency 2, Heidelberg 2
Round 5, 2012: Heidelberg 8.6 (54) def by Montmorency 20.9 (129)
Round 14, 2011: Heidelberg 14.12 (96) def Montmorency 8.6 (54)
Round 1, 2011: Montmorency 13.12 (90) def by Heidelberg 16.16 (111)
Round 18, 2010: Montmorency 19.6 (120) def Heidelberg 15.11 (101)
