Greensborough smash North Heidelberg but injuries mount on both sides

After a first-half arm-wrestle, Greensborough’s offence exploded to thrash North Heidelberg but both clubs are counting the cost of key injuries.

Greensborough's Chris Clark wins the clearance. Picture: Nathan McNeil

Greensborough and North Heidelberg’s rooms resembled a casualty ward.

Both clubs are counting the cost of injuries after Saturday’s NFL Division 1 battle with each finishing with just one fit player on the bench by the final siren.

However the Borough will be far happier, thrashing the Bulldogs by 88 points at War Memorial Reserve.

Greensborough’s talented young ruckman Rayden Garrard was stretchered off in the second quarter after dislocating his knee, while fellow big man Jake McNamara also injured his knee.

Brent Harvey didn’t play the second half for North Heidelberg after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Greensborough's Tom Bell celebrates a goal against North Heidelberg. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Greensborough was utterly dominant after half-time, piling on 13 goals to two, to run out 16.14 (110) to 3.4 (22) winners.

Borough coach Mick Harford rated it comfortably his team’s best performance of the season.

“It’s our best performance by far. I know we beat West (Preston-Lakeside) but it was a bit of a scrappy game,” he said.

“Our ball movement was better, we kicked eight goals in the last quarter, so we got reward for effort, we just had to wear them down.

“They had a lot of numbers around the ball but once we broke that part of the game open, our leg speed and ability to move the ball was the difference.”

Both teams missed multiple chances in a scrappy first half as a Zak McCubbin goal after the half-time siren gave the Borough a 3.7 (25) to 1.3 (9) lead.

However the game changed after the main break as the home team broke the game open and finished strongly as North ran out of legs.

Harford rated Billy Bedford as Greensborough’s best as the star defender – along with Jack Johnstone, Adrian Cataldo and Nick Riddle – blanketed the Dogs’ forwards.

Greensborough's Tom Brindley kicks long. Picture: Nathan McNeill

At the other end, Tom Phelan and Ben Fennell booted three goals.

Injuries to Garrard and McNamara saw youngster Tom Brindley thrown into the ruck where he impressed with his leap and second efforts.

“He’s been playing a bit in the ruck this year, he can run and jump and catch, we’re really happy with him,” Harford said.

“He had a huge pre-season, the COVID year actually helped him. He got really strong and fit.

“He’s playing a more positive role, he used to be a backman but we’ve moved him up the ground, he’s playing ruck, forward, mid. He’s a talented kid.”

Brandon Bailey, Charles Le Fanu, Kyle McDonald and Ryan McGhie were North Heidelberg’s best.

It was a tough day at the office for the Bulldogs but coach Jason Heatley was confident his players would learn from the experience.

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

Greensborough faces traditional rival Heidelberg next week, while the Bulldogs take on West Preston-Lakeside in a third straight blockbuster.

Harford expected his team to keep the momentum rolling.

“The manner we did it was the most impressive thing,” he said.

“It’s only our second hit out against a team in the top five, so to know we can turn it on against a top team is really important.”