Montmorency has succumbed to their first loss at home for the season, going down by 37 points against a fast-finishing Northcote Park outfit on Saturday afternoon.
Although the Magpies held a handy 16-point lead at the major change, a 14-goal second half from the Cougars – led by an eight-goal display from Ash Close – secured a definitive win for the visitors, despite Patrick Fitzgerald’s equally damaging six majors.
The day wasn’t one to remember for Montmorency, with a suspected ACL injury to Danko Bzenic in the second term capping off what was a disappointing finish to the match.
Despite the high-profile absences of Matt White, Stephen McCallum and Sam Binion, the Magpies still had their fair share of grit around the contest, with Tyrone Leonardis and Ben Kennedy leading the charge in the midfield.
But it was Cougars who would get the jump early, with a clean clearance gifting Close with the opening goal of the game and kickstarting their six-goal term.
Although Fitzgerald hit back with the Magpies’ first at the six-minute mark of the term, the visitors piled on the next four to give themselves a handy three-goal buffer midway through the quarter.
Able to change the tempo of the game at will, the Cougars utilised the ability to score to great effect.
Ben McLennan’s major was a product of their daring and fast-paced ball use through the centre of the ground, while Jordan Perry’s major came about after the Cougars held up the play and toyed with the Magpie defence before the half-forward duly converted.
Irrespective of the style of play adopted, Northcote Park found themselves with too much space in their attacking half of the ground, with the loosened Magpie defence allowing the forwards to present themselves and honour leads with little to no pressure.
Connor Dalgleish managed to stem the flow with a strong mark and goal late in the term, while Fitzgerald made it back-to-back majors with his second of the day.
Close too proved to be dangerous up the other end of the ground, racking up his second to see the Cougars end the term 17 points in front.
Needing to get the game back on their terms, the Magpies hit the ground running in the second quarter with six goals, all the while keeping Northcote Park to just the one major from Julian Violato.
Luke Collins and Brent Fotheringhame in particular put together sublime quarters, with the former kicking four majors in the quarter, including one spectacular defensive intercept and subsequent conversion.
With the two players utilising their run and frenetic pressure at ground level, the Cougars could do little to stop the two rampaging smalls, who were key contributors in both hitting the scoreboard and driving the ball forward.
The Magpies also found themselves on top from on aerial perspective, with Joel McLellan coming to the fore in the ruck contests, while similarly rattling the visitors with six bone-crunching tackles for the term.
Bzenic’s knee injury proved to be the only sour point for the term, with the Magpies heading into half-time with a healthy 16-point advantage.
It appeared to be much of the same scenario which kicked off proceedings in the third quarter, with Bailey Eustance putting through the first through the result of a hard-pressed Monty midfield.
But four consecutive goals from the Cougars saw the Magpies’ lead dissipate, and although Fitzgerald’s fourth temporarily restored the ascendancy, another three in a row from the opposition had the home side rattld.
Looking to atone for their defeat at home, Montmorency will hope to secure a win on the road against the bottom-of-the-table Whittlesea, who have only won the one game for the season.
MONTMORENCY 3.4 9.9 13.11 15.11 (101)
NORTHCOTE PARK 6.3 7.5 15.8 21.12 (138)
GOALS
Montmorency: P. Fitzgerald 6, L. Collins 4, T. Leonardis 2, B. Eustance, C. Dalgleish, B. Fotheringhame
Bundoora: A. Close 8, P. Dirago 2, B. McLennan 2, J. Perry 2, L. Waldron, J. Donaldson, J. Mills, N. Carter, N. McNiece, T. Old, J. Violato
BEST
Montmorency: P. Fitzgerald, T. Leonardis, C. Dalgleish, L. Collins, B. Fotheringhame
Bundoora: A. Close, P. Dirago, J. Perry, B. Davies, A. Punshon, B. Barnes-Webb
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