Hawks outlast Stars

■ Heidelberg West have kept their Division 3 finals hopes alive after an excellent 40-point win over the Fitzroy Stars at RMIT Sports Oval.

This was a highly anticipated clash with both sides in need of a victory to keep in touch with the top four in the competition, but the heavy rain that started towards quarter time remained for the rest of the game, at times limiting the ability of both sides to showcase their best football.

However, it was the Hawks who maintained control of the game for long enough, outlasting their opponents to finish 15.7 (97) to 8.9 (57) winners.

Heidelberg West now have a four-point gap from the Fitzroy Stars but are still in fifth place, just one game behind fourth placed Old Eltham Collegians. Both sides can still mathematically make finals, but the Hawks are now in a much better position to make the charge.

Louis Hill was a key contributor for the visitors’ victory, producing dominance both in the midfield and up forward, going on to be one of four multiple goalkickers for his side.

2022 Division 3 Team of the Year defender Bradley Moore also excelled, with his ball use a particular highlight in difficult conditions. He was named as his side’s best player for the second time this year.

Jai Burns’s good form for the Stars continued for another week and was crucial in the early stages of the game while Josh Wanganeen impressed also, particularly in the defensive half.

The opening quarter lived up to the hype between two sides wanting to crack into the top four, with seven goals kicked between each team.

Hedley Smith opened the scoring after the Hawks turned the ball over from a kick-in, allowing the Stars to pounce and get on the board.

The response soon came from Michael Missen’s men, with Alex Williamson and Michael Adams finding the big sticks within a minute to suddenly put the pressure back on the hosts.

The rain settled in, but it didn’t stop Tyson Pickett from producing an outstanding effort, with a dribbler from the pocket putting the Fitzroy Stars back in the hunt approaching quarter time.

But some costly errors from the home side allowed Heidelberg West to win some 50-metre penalties, leading to more scoring opportunities and for the Hawks to gain the early ascendency at the first change.

The momentum drifted into the second term, as despite a heavy downpour of rain, Heidelberg West looked so clean around the contest, finding an ability to be incredibly efficient with their disposal.

On the flip side, missed opportunities to go forward and an overuse of disposal led to goals against the Stars, one of those being a nice finish from Alex Williamson against his former club, after he gathered the loose ball in open space and kicked it true to see his Hawks extend their advantage.

Lionel Proctor’s side worked hard to win back control of the game, but Heidelberg West were making the Stars pay on turnover, stretching the home side’s defence to find easy avenues to goal and take a comfortable 34-point lead into half-time.

The Fitzroy Stars almost came out as a new side to start the second half with coach Proctor leading from the front on the field.

They produced the first three goals of the term to suddenly reduce the gap to under three goals, with the home side pushing the Hawks onto the backfoot and forcing their exits from defensive 50 to be ineffective.

However, for all their dominance, the Stars rued missed opportunities in the front half and couldn’t convert multiple and repetitive inside 50 entries into the goals they deserved for their efforts.

Heidelberg West meanwhile did hit the scoreboard with the few chances they created throughout the third term. Daniel Kelly again illustrated his side’s ability to be clean with ball in hand despite the conditions, as he gathered the football from a ruck tap and got boot to ball to kick a brilliant goal.

The Stars won the quarter, and while still trailing by 28 points at three quarter time, they were determined to produce one final push in the last term.

The final quarter was a stoppage heavy contest, with both sides desperate to gain possession of the football.

As the term went on, it became apparent that the mountain was too far to climb for a gallant Stars outfit, with Heidelberg West’s composure and efficiency the big difference in the 40-point victory.