Heidelberg defeats Bundoora to win back-to-back Northern Division 1 premierships

For the 30th time and second season in a row Heidelberg is champion, defeating Bundoora in perfect conditions at Preston City Oval.

Heidelberg celebrates its NFNL Division 1 premiership. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Heidelberg are Kings of the North … again.

For the second season in a row the Tigers were too good for Bundoora, clinching back-to-back NFNL Division 1 premierships with a 22-point victory at Preston City Oval.

The 15.7 (96) to 11.8 (74) triumph is the club’s 30th senior premiership, 22st in the NFNL’s top flight, and incredibly the 10th time it has won consecutive flags.

Heidelberg has lost just two games in the past two seasons, a remarkable era of dominance for the league’s dominant club.

The Tigers also claimed the reserve grade title with a 50-point win over Montmorency, bouncing back from a shock grand final defeat last season.

Heidelberg coach Vinny Dattoli and captain Sam Gilmore lift the premiership cup. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Zane Barzen marks for Heidelberg. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Zane Barzen kicks his fourth goal. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Matt Smith was adjusted best-on-ground, powering the Tigers midfield with his ability to win the contested ball and deliver inside 50m.

Taking over from Danny Nolan this season, Vinny Dattoli wins his second premiership as coach 13 years after guiding West Preston-Lakeside to the title in 2010.

“It’s pretty special isn’t it, (back-to-back) sounds good,” Dattoli said.

“I’m not sure how to put it into words at the moment but it’s great reward for all the boys who have trained over the last couple of years.

“The reserves have been super consistent as well, they’ve lost one game in two years and that was the grand final last year, they deserved that win as well, so the club has got a big celebration ahead.”

Heidelberg burst out of the blocks with a stunning four-goal salvo in the first quarter.

Nathan Honey kicked the first goal of the game and had a hand in the next two in a red-hot start to the game.

Tigers captain Sam Gilmore then soared over the pack to take a spectacular mark and converted to get the crowd on its feet.

It took until the 22nd minute of the term for Bundoora to hit the scoreboard, awarded a contentious deliberate rushed behind free kick, which Danny Younan converted.

The Bulls got a second rushed behind free kick just before the siren, Shaun McKernan kicking the goal, to narrow Heidelberg’s lead to six points at quarter-time.

Grand final best-on-ground Matt Smith. Picture: Ben Higgins

Back-to-back Heidelberg premiership coaches Vinny Dattoli and Danny Nolan. Picture: Ben Higgins

However, it would be as close as Bundoora would get.

Matt Signorello and Jess Gedi quickly restored an 18-point lead.

John Jorgensen got one back for Bundoora with a great snap under immense pressure but Brayden Sier answered almost immediately.

Kai Kearns intercepted a Jackson Bowne shank, punishing the error with a goal, and Nathan Honey scored his second to take Heidelberg’s lead to 32 points at half-time.

Gilmore once again wowed the PCO crowd with an audacious kick after the siren, launching a 75m torpedo that came close to scoring but fell just wide and out of bounds on the full.

Heidelberg’s skill and swift ball movement were on full display, in stark contrast to Bundoora, which turned the ball over time and time again.

“We were pretty happy, we felt in control of the game all day,” Dattoli said.

“Our start to the game was enormous, we’ve prided ourselves on that all year, and to kick four goals with probably a two-goal breeze and have our noses in front we were pretty confident.

“There’s a lot of statistics around first quarters winning games of footy, everyone thinks it’s the third but it’s actually the first.”

Bundoora came out strongly after half-time as Jorgensen and Brent Marshall got the margin back to 19 points.

Heidelberg players celebrate on the final siren. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Disappointed Bundoora players after the grand final. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Tigers and Bulls traded goals as the momentum swung wildly in a high-scoring third quarter with nine goals kicked.

However, Zane Barzen would have the last say, kicking his third goal of the term after the three-quarter-time siren to earn Heidelberg a 26-point buffer.

When Dylan Clarke’s long kick from the centre square somehow bounced through for the first goal of the fourth term and Barzen punished another Bulls turnover shortly after the match was all but over.

Bundoora fought the game out valiantly as Peter McEvoy goalled to cap a strong display and Sam Lloyd booted his second.

Smith was outstanding all day, along with Brayden Sier, while Jess Gedi was highly influential when the game was up for grabs early.

Gilmore had a strong day but was arguably out-pointed by Hamish Shepheard in the ruck, while Zane Barzen finished with four majors.

“Matty Smith is a super professional, he’d probably get a lot more footy if he spent less time organising,” Dattoli said.

“The stuff he does is unbelievable, he’s a phenomenal human and phenomenal player.

“Jess has grown and grown as a footballer as the year has gone on.

“He started out as a forward in the first four to six weeks and contributing well but not hitting the scoreboard so we threw him down back and he’s become a lock, averaging 22-24 touches a game.

“We need to acknowledge Sammy Gilmore’s efforts as captain.

“For him to become back-to-back premiership captain, and now he’s won three at the club, it’s outstanding – another super human.”

For Bundoora, Jackson Davies was outstanding in defence, intercepting the ball and providing rebound, while Shepheard, Jedd Longmire, Ryan Sturgess and skipper Luke Collins were also strong contributors.

Bulls coach Michael Ryan said he couldn’t have been prouder of his team.

“Vinny and the group, been brilliant, been the best team in the comp for the past two years,” he said post-match.

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“To Bundoora, all you can ever ask for as a coach is effort and that’s all you guys have given today, all year and the past four years.

“It’s been a privilege to coach you guys and lead Bundoora Football Club, we did everything we possibly could today to give ourselves a chance so keep your heads high, I’m bloody proud of you.”

In the reserves, Heidelberg made up for last season’s loss with a 13.16 (94) to 6.8 (44) win over Montmorency, Mackenzie Hogg winning the best-on-ground medal.

In the under-19s, Eltham’s hopes of a premiership sweep fell short as Greensborough cruised to a 16.12 (108) to 6.8 (44) victory.