North Heidelberg’s season remains alive after Shelley Reserve wash out
North Heidelberg will not be awarded a victory over Montmorency but does remain in the NFL Division 1 finals race.
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North Heidelberg will not be awarded a win over Montmorency but does remain in the NFL Division 1 finals race.
Saturday’s match against Montmorency at Shelley Reserve was called off at half-time due to heavy rain and lightning.
The Northern league board met on Monday decide if the weekend’s results should stand after a freak storm saw five games called off.
While the Bulldogs were awarded four points preliminarily having led by five points at half-time.
However, the NFNL board declared the round void as two games were called off due to adverse weather.
While it loses the four points, the decision keeps North Heidelberg in the finals race.
All clubs’ points, percentage and ladder position will revert to where they were before Round 17.
The Bulldogs remain in sixth, two points behind Greensborough with one game remaining.
North must beat Bundoora and hope Macleod can knock off the Borough.
Speaking before the decision, that’s all Dogs coach Jason Heatley wanted - a fair outcome for all clubs.
“The league’s got a decision to make, to be fair, if we’re in a position like we were at the start of the round then I’d be comfortable with that,” he said.
“There’s by-laws in place, it depends how deep you want to read them and it was unprecedented so I’m sure a decision will be made that’s fair for everyone.
“We just want to be alive going into Round 18, we think we’re in good form at the moment and can look forward to a good contest against Bundoora.”
The match at Shelley Reserve was one of two games called off in Division 1.
Heidelberg’s match against Macleod at nearby Warringal Reserve was also canned at half-time.
Heatley said the freak storm, which left Shelley Reserve under water, was something he’d never seen before.
“The storm came in really quickly and you can see the havoc it wreaked, it became a safety concern and I thought the umpires handled things really well.
“We got to 37 minutes post the half-time break and we inspected the ground, which you could clearly see was underwater and there was still lightning activity around.”
Majak Daw was named best-on-ground, while Jesse Tardio was prolific in his first game back from an ankle injury.
Heatley said the midfield battle was worth the price of admission.
“The two big bulls in the middle was great to watch – Majak and Liam (Wale-Buxton) just going at it each other, it was unbelievable,” he said.
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“It was two really good midfields going at each other … Jesse is laughing we’ve got someone like Majak to support and aid the craft.”
In contrast to the league’s decision on Division 1, the Division 2 results were allowed to stand despite two games being called off.
It ensures Thomastown clinched fifth place with a win over St Mary’s.
Lower Plenty’s game against Panton Hill and Diamond Creek’s match against Fitzroy Stars were canned due to the weather.
NORTH HEIDELBERG’S SIMPLE FINALS EQUATION
“We’ve just got to keep winning, it’s as simple as that.”
If North Heidelberg wants to play finals, coach Jason Heatley has a simple message – win.
The Bulldogs kept their NFL Division 1 finals hopes alive with a thrilling four-point win over Whittlesea on Saturday and sit sixth, just 9 per cent behind Greensborough with two games to play.
Finals arrive two weeks early at Shelley Reserve as North faces Montmorency and Bundoora in the final fortnight of the home-and-away season.
Heatley said if the club had eyes on a top-five finish now was the time to prove their worth.
“We’ve just got to keep winning, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“We knew our destiny when we dropped the Greensborough game that we largely had to win every game coming home.
“We’ve got really good opposition coming up and if we’re contemplating playing finals then there’s no better run-in than Mont at home and Bundoora at Bundoora.
“If we can win them both and something goes our way, well great, if it doesn’t we’ve given ourselves a chance and we know our best footy is around the mark.”
If North Heidelberg is to cause an upset they’ll likely have to do it without star midfielder Jesse Tardio.
The club is also be sweating on the fitness of important forwards Jared Crosbie and Adam Braendler after they went down in the first half against Whittlesea.
The Bulldogs piled on eight goals in a dominant third quarter to take control at the Showgrounds.
However, the Eagles launched a fourth-quarter comeback, booting six goals to take the lead with under five minutes remaining.
Star defender Charles Le Fanu steadied the ship and Brent Harvey booted the match-winning goal with two minutes left on the clock as the Dogs survived, 17.6 (108) to 16.8 (104).
“It was a real arm-wrestle until half-time and we got the ascendancy in the third and the expectation was we’d go on with it,” Heatley said.
“But they came out full of steam and hit the scoreboard hard and got 10 points in front, so it was a credit to us for fighting back.
“It was nice to be on the other side of a close result, I think we’d have had six games under 10 points, so to get one back was a bit of a relief.”
Boom mid-season recruit Majak Daw and legendary goalkicker Shane Harvey finished with two goals, while Brent Harvey was best-on-ground.
Debutant Brodie Owen made the most of his opportunity as 23rd man, drawing praise from Heatley.
“We were keen to give Brodie a run last year but some injuries and setbacks hampered that and same again this year,” Heatley said.
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“He’s a really good, solid contributor, well balanced kid, he’s hard at the footy and no doubt the weekend was reward for his consistent play.
“I think he’s a part of the big picture moving forward and will play a lot of senior footy for the club.”
Jaron Murphy continued his outstanding form for Whittlesea with four goals, while Luke Jeffs kicked three, and Tom Falls was best-on in defeat.
North will be hoping Greensborough stumbles in the last two games of the season as it tackles Whittlesea and Macleod.
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