North Heidelberg storms home to edge Hurstbridge, Lachlan Smith the match-winner

A Lachlan Smith behind, Hamish Murphy screamer and a dominant Brodie White fuelled North Heidelberg’s stunning comeback win over Hurstbridge.

Brodie White in action for North Heidelberg. Picture: Josh Chadwick

There’s something about North Heidelberg and Hurstbridge.

Earlier this season the two NFNL Division 1 teams played out a heart-stopping draw and on Saturday they were separated by the barest of margins.

A Lachlan Smith behind and Hamish Murphy screamer, both in the final minute, snatched the four points at Shelley Reserve.

Smith’s match-winner completed a stunning 29-point comeback, the Bulldogs booting the final four goals – and six behinds – of the game to charge to a 10.10 (70) 10.9 (69) victory.

Brodie White was prolific in midfield and finished with three goals in an all-action display, while Liam Hunt continued his return from injury with a dominant performance.

Jesse Tardio tackles Mitch Moschetti. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Seven of North Heidelberg’s 12 games have been decided by 13 points or less, coach Kasey Duncan’s admitted it might be bad for his health.

He was thrilled with his players fight against the odds.

“I’ve definitely aged 10 years in the last six months with some tight games in there,” Duncan said.

“To fight back from the position we were in and pinch that win is massive for the club and the whole group, in terms of their belief in what we can do pushing towards the end of the season.

“(I told them) just to show some fight, to channel the history of the club, be ruthless and that’s what the boys did.

“To kick the last four goals to win the game is impressive in any game, they never stopped believing they could get the win.

“Hurstbridge did a good job of locking the ball in and making it a contested scrap for the first 10 minutes of the last quarter but once we were able to rip the leash off and play our exciting game, it was good to watch.”

In a first-half arm-wrestle, Hurstbridge held a one-point lead at quarter-time and six-point advantage at half-time.

A three-goal burst from Joel Naylor in the third term put the Bridges in the box seat, taking a 21-point margin into the final change.

When Bailey Jordan kicked the first major of the last, the advantage was 29 points.

Liam McKenna kick-started the comeback and White and Zane Souleiman quickly followed suit to get the deficit back to 10 points.

Frustrating, three behinds followed as the Bulldogs laid siege to the Hurstbridge defence, and Liam Hunt broke the streak with a critical goal to make it a one point game.

A Souleiman point levelled the scores before Smith got on the end of a long White kick for the decisive point.

From the resulting kick-in, Murphy then took a hanger over Bailey Jordan to seal victory.

While White and Hunt were outstanding, Zack Brown, Ben Giobbi, Liam McKenna and Jesse Tardio also impressed.

Duncan also revealed a surprise move for key forward Parker Heatley helped swing the game in the fourth term and that Smith’s heroics very nearly didn’t happen.

“Brodie White was unbelievable, one of the better games I’ve seen him play, and Liam Hunt’s class especially late in the game was massive,” he said.

“Brodie would have had 40-plus and kicked three goals, while Liam’s working his way back from a couple of calf injuries – last week was his first game of the year – and just how clean he was really stoodout.

“We pulled a string and put Parker Heatley in the ruck and he basically turned the game for us, an extra midfielder against two big rucks that Hurstbridge have.

“And Lachie almost didn’t play, he hurt his back at work on Friday and could barely move but I said to him ‘I need you’ and a couple of painkillers got him through.

“Zack Brown, he’s toiled his way in development and come into the senior team, we sent him back to do a job on Caelen Anderson and he absolutely blanketed him, it was a real coming of age game for him, so super proud.”

For Hurstbridge, Mitch Dale was best afield, while Joel Naylor (five goals), Jake Wild and Jack Stewart stood tall.

The result sees North draw level on points with the Bridges but remain fifth on percentage.

Duncan hopes the likes of key players Ben Bath, Dane Whitnall and Tom Rivis will be back after this weekend’s bye for a clash with Montmorency.

Just 12 points separates second-placed Greensborough from West Preston-Lakeside in seventh in a razor-tight race for the top-five.

Duncan said his players had learnt from last week’s shock loss to Bundoora that they can’t afford any week off.

“After a really disappointing day last week – you know, second to tenth, if you don’t turn up on the day, you can get rolled.

“It’s a funny old comp, take Heidelberg out of it, and anyone could win it.

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“If you don’t turn up you get beaten, it’s as simple as that.

“That was something we were focused on, our pressure and intent, because the week before it just wasn’t there.”

Elsewhere in Division 1, Eltham stunned Montmorency by 13 points, while West Preston-Lakeside eased past South Morang by the same margin.

Greensborough pipped South Morang by just six points and undefeated ladder-leader Heidelberg made light work of Banyule in a 44-point triumph.