NFL 2018: North Heidelberg wins through to Division 1 semi-final against Macleod
NO one would have predicted North Heidelberg to make the Northern Football League top five but the Bulldogs are just one win away from a grand final berth.
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AFTER the euphoria quickly dawned the realisation.
No one predicted North Heidelberg to make the Northern Football League Division 1 finals.
History was against it and at 1-4 after the first month of the season those predictions seemed fairly accurate.
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But the Bulldogs are just one win away from a Division 1 grand final berth after recording their first top-tier finals victory in a decade on Saturday.
North Heidelberg kept West Preston-Lakeside to four behinds after halftime on its way to a 32-point qualifying final win.
The Roosters finished with three more scoring shots than the Bulldogs but were left to stew over a 12.4 (76) to 5.14 (44) result, with the Bulldogs advancing to meet Macleod in Saturday’s second semi-final.
The win was North Heidelberg’s first Division 1 finals triumph since the 2008 semi-final victory over Bundoora, sparking jubilant scenes in the Preston City Oval changerooms.
“It was a bit overwhelming to walk in, there was quite a large contingent of North Heidelberg supporters … the rooms were chockers, couldn’t move,” North Heidelberg coach Jimmy House said.
“By lunchtime (on Sunday) it was back to business and focusing on Macleod and doing the usual processes to make sure we give ourselves the best opportunity.”
Ryan McGhie kept former St Kilda goalsneak Ahmed Saad goalless for just the second time this season.
“Probably the most underrated defender in the competition,” House said of McGhie.
“I love coaching him, he’s a coachable lad … he’s undersized for a key back but he just does his job.
“He’s a beautiful user of the ball when he gets going but to keep Saad goalless, huge.”
Up the other end of the ground, veteran Leigh Gilbert kicked three goals in one of his best games of the campaign.
Billy Hogan also put in a breakout performance against his former side, giving his team the edge in the midfield battle.
West Preston had registered 15 scoring shots to five at halftime but had just a 10-point lead to show for its efforts.
Five unanswered goals — two from Shane Harvey — in the space of 15 minutes delivered a 31-point turnaround in the third term, before Brent Harvey kicked the only two goals of the final term to seal the memorable victory.
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