NFL 2018: Andrew Stellas strikes with six seconds left to earn Greensborough victory over Heidelberg

YOU’LL often hear about the fine line between success and failure. For Greensborough and Heidelberg, that fine line equated to six seconds on Saturday.

YOU’LL often hear about the fine line between success and failure.

For Greensborough and Heidelberg, that fine line equated to six seconds on Saturday.

The Boro had led the blockbuster Northern Football League Division 1 clash from the opening minutes after Billy Murphy goaled to give the home side a perfect start at War Memorial Park.

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Greensborough led by 14 points at the 18-minute mark of the last term before majors from Harrison Payne, Sam Gilmore and Sam Grimley put Heidelberg in front for the first time.

The Tigers were seconds away from claiming a win which would have cemented their top-five spot when Andrew Stellas converted from a free kick to earn his team a thrilling 12.9 (81) to 11.12 (78) victory.

Had they succumbed, the Boro would have surrendered their top-three spot to West Preston-Lakeside.

Instead, they remained a game clear of the Roosters in second, with Heidelberg dropping to sixth as reigning premier Bundoora reclaimed fifth spot.

Andrew Stellas (right) was the matchwinner for Greensborough on Saturday. Picture: Hamish Blair.

“Ginormous for us considering our run,” Boro co-coach Mick Harford said.

“We’re second and we play third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the last month.

“It’s a pretty hectic finish. The other side of it is we will know where we are at the end of those four weeks because we will have played everyone but Macleod.

“It’s a good opportunity for us and we are one from four so far.”

One of the form players of the competition in the past five weeks, Lachlan McQuilken was instrumental for Greensborough in the three-point triumph.

Jacob Pickett, Chris Clark and Tynan Smith were other key figures.

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Harford praised the diligence of Smith, who was deployed in a shutdown role to quell the influence of star Tigers on-baller Michael Brunelli.

“(Brunelli) is one of the best midfield players in the comp. We were able to quell him a little bit,” he said.

Box Hill Hawks VFL player Murphy finished with four goals.

Tynan Smith played an important role in Greensborough’s last-gasp win.

Greensborough takes on North Heidelberg, Bundoora and West Preston-Lakeside in its remaining matches and Harford recognises the last-round clash with the Roosters could decide which team carries a double chance into finals.

The Roosters accounted for Northcote Park by 73 points, Macleod withstood Montmorency by 17, North Heidelberg downed Hurstbridge by 25 and Bundoora defeated Whittlesea by 52 in the other Round 15 fixtures.