Heidelberg conquered another Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 challenge, as they make it 28 straight games without a loss following a 28-point win over Montmorency at Warringal Park.
After a competitive opening half, the Tigers threatened to break the game open late in the second term, and despite the Magpies getting the margin to within two goals at stages of the final quarter, the reigning premiers had no issues holding their nerve to record a 12.15 (87) to 9.5 (59) victory.
Despite missing club leading goalkicker Zane Barzen, Brayden Sier made his first appearance for the club since Round 4 and had an instant impact, producing four of his side’s 12 majors, while Jack Andrew backed up his five-goal performance last week with a two-goal effort.
Tom Keys was a clear standout and was named as his side’s best alongside Luke Bunker, each influential in the absence of Dylan Clarke in midfield.
Nash Holmes did all he could for the Magpies in his return match, and was one of two multiple goalkickers for his side, while Jordan Steele also found plenty of the football in one of his best games of the campaign.
Sier drew first blood for the home side after receiving a free kick 30 metres out from goal, which he drilled straight over the goal umpire’s hat. He managed the next goal as well, sublimely collecting the ball below his feet and snapping truly to give the ladder leaders the perfect start to the match.
Despite the wet weather and consistent rain, Heidelberg looked to play their natural style of footy, constantly moving the ball and hitting leading targets.
The Magpies were able to get back in the contest courtesy of Corey Sleep, who slotted the next two majors of the match, to see his side trail by three points at quarter time.
A high scoring second term saw the lead change on six occasions, showcasing the best of both teams.
Bronson Hill produced a clever tap in a marking contest to allow Ben Paterson to soccer through the goal to hand Montmorency the lead within moments of the second term commencing before Heidelberg replied immediately through a Keys goal.
However, the Magpies were far from finished, as two more majors via Brodie Jones and Nash Holmes saw the visitors kick three goals in a seven-minute span to lead by nine points.
But Sier would also have more of a say after producing a beautiful set shot conversion from 50-metres out to get the Warringal Park crowd up and about, before Keys restored the Tigers’ lead after converting his own set shot.
Nick Rutley’s men would hold an advantage on one more occasion as some clever skills from Patrick Dozzi was rewarded with a goal, before Sam Wright produced an incredible five-minute patch for the home side, as he kicked two majors himself, and set up another goal just prior to the half time siren to establish a 14-point lead at the main break for the Tigers.
Heidelberg looked to bring their momentum into the second half when Jack Andrew nailed a beautiful kick on goal from the boundary line to suddenly make it a 20-point ball game.
But just as the match was starting to slip away from the Magpies, Holmes lifted his work rate to try and keep his side in the contest, also managing to get another goal to his name for his efforts.
Another almost immediate response came from the reigning premiers after Holmes’ goal, when quick thinking from Jack Andrew saw him intercept a Montmorency kickout and finish the shot on goal for his second of the afternoon.
The Tigers had their chances to take an extremely healthy lead into the final break, but failure to convert their set shot opportunities kept the Magpies in the game.
Mitchell Jorgensen controlled the airways all day, but saved his best for when he got deep inside 50 and rose high to reel in a spectacular mark. Unfortunately for Vin Datolli and his men, he would only add a minor score to the total for his efforts.
Trailing by 23 points at the beginning of the final term, the Magpies were able to produce the important first goal of the quarter when Blake Murphy made no mistake from just inside 50.
Bronson Hill made it two in a row for the visitors, not before he climbed high on his opponent’s back and took a beautiful mark overhead.
The game was suddenly in the balance with the margin sitting at 11 points at the 11-minute mark.
But Heidelberg senior debutant Riley Byrne pounced on a spoil from a Montmorency defender and strolled into an open goal square to crucially give the hosts some breathing room.
From that moment on, the away side struggled to get any meaningful looks on goal, while the Tigers were careful with their decision making and had the ability to control the footy and run down the clock, eventually prevailing by 28 points.
