Heidelberg West smashes Kilmore to move within a game of top-four

Heidelberg West produces a dominant win over Kilmore as it eyes a top-four berth but the Hawks’ coach says the club will need luck to play finals.

Michael Celestin and Daniel Offer celebrate a goal. Picture: Hamish Blair

Heidelberg West has ramped up the pressure on the NFL Division 3 top-four with a dominant 46-point win over Kilmore.

The Hawks have been red-hot in the past month with wins over finals contenders Old Eltham Collegians and the Blues and led in the last quarter in an eight-point loss to Laurimar.

With six rounds remaining, West is a game behind Kilmore in fourth and two games behind Old Eltham and South Morang.

A strong second half powered West to the 12.17 (89) to 6.7 (43) victory at Heidelberg Park as the home team piled on seven goals to four.

Ruckman Tom Kimpton continued his impressive form, while Alex Hywood booted four goals to move up to third on the competition goalkicking chart.

Lachlan Reinke and Jordan Vellios celebrate a goal. Picture: Hamish Blair

Hawks coach Michael Missen said his team was finding its best against good teams.

“We feel like we’ve been thereabouts most of the year but come out the wrong side of the ledger in three or four close games,” he said.

“To be able to play a side, a team that we think are really strong and trying to win a flag, to get a comprehensive victory is great reward.”

Heidelberg West led by a point at quarter-time but found another gear in the second term, stretching the lead to 22 points at the main break.

Having learnt a difficult lesson last week against Laurimar there would be no second half capitulation this time.

“We’ve won five out of our last seven and the two losses were to Laurimar and South Morang,” Missen said.

“It was a learning curve (last week), we were up by 25 mid-way through the third and let them back in the game, even the last quarter we were in front with five minutes to go.

“And we went toe-to-toe against South Morang and it was only a bad five minutes where we went to sleep that hurt us.”

Allan Young in action for Heidelberg West. Picture: Hamish Blair

The Hawks travel to Mernda on Saturday and come home with matches against Reservoir, South Morang, Lalor, Mernda and Old Eltham Collegians in a final-round blockbuster.

Missen admits his team will need a slice of luck.

“We’re a game outside the four, we’re going to need a lot to go right from here,” he said.

“For us, we just want to focus on what we can control, continue to try and improve and if we keep working hard and put ourselves in positions to win games hopefully something falls our way.”

Kimpton was named best-on-ground for his work in the ruck, continuing to stand tall with several Hawks bigs on the sideline.

Nick Paton, Allan Young, Jordan Vellios and Ayman O’Dowd also shone for the home team.

“Tommy was our best player in the ruck, his past month has been unreal,” Missen said.

“I’ve coached him in the reserve, he’s been at the club for probably 10 years, and he’s playing his best footy rucking one out against bigger and more accomplished players.”

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Bailey Derrick, Leigh Irons, Kieran Moran and Marcus Webb were Kilmore’s best in defeat.

The Blues have lost four of their past six, including defeats to bottom-four teams Mernda and the Hawks.

However, the run home is favourable with clashes against Reservoir, Mernda, Lalor, Laurimar, Old Eltham Collegians and the Mustangs again.

Elsewhere in Division 3 there were wins for Mernda (49) over Reservoir (0), South Morang (150) over Lalor (14) and Old Eltham Collegians (85) over Laurimar (84).