Bendigo Advertiser | THE Heathcote District Football League capped a stunning fightback as it beat Central Murray by 29 points in the AFL Victoria Worksafe Country Championships match at Bendigo's Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
Colbinabbin team-mates Lochlan Sirett and Grant Weeks were among the stars who shone when the lights went on during the twilight match.
Central Murray held a 34-point lead during the second term, but the Rick Coburn-coached Heathcote DFL finished full of running.
Central Murray made a brilliant start to the contest.
Koondrook-Barham's Jay Reynolds kicked five of CM's eight goals in the opening term.
At the other end of the ground, Weeks kicked all of the HDFL's first-term goals.
Central Murray was first to goal in the second quarter through Kerang's Ryan Gillingham.
The HDFL scored three goals in as many minutes through White Hills onballer Hayden Wright, Colbinabbin ruckman-forward Lochlan Sirrett, and Elmore's Danny Brewster.
Consecutive goals by Nyaburu Kelly from Tooleybuc-Manangatang and then another by clubmate Ryan O'Sullivan from an acute angle in the Aquatic Centre pocket at the Barnard Street end put CM up by 34 points.
A left-foot snapshot by Leitchville-Gunbower's Jye Keath put Heathcote DFL within 27 points at half-time.
Coburn's half-time address stirred the HDFL.
Goals by North Bendigo's Jeremy Mills, Huntly's Ryan Semmel, a brilliant shot from the boundary by Leitchville-Gunbower's Tim Lincoln, and then another by Huntly's Braidy Dickens cut the deficit to three points by the 11-minute mark.
Central Murray replied through Kerang's Travis Mathieson.
Weeks kicked his fifth goal and then Huntly's Stacy Fiske put the HDFL in front.
Central Murray regained the lead after Anderson's sixth goal.
Kerang's classy Troy Coates kicked his second as CM lifted.
It was goal-for-goal in the final minutes of the term as Central Murray went to the break leading 105 to 100.
Central Murray was first to goal in the fourth when Tooleybuc-Manangatang's Corey Kelly was freed in a marking contest.
A goal by Semmel on the run near the boundary line in the pressbox pocket was the team-lifter the HDFL coaching staff would have wanted.
Few fans could have predicted what would happen in the next 20 minutes.
Superb teamwork between Weeks and Bongiovanni was capped with a goal by Bongiovanni.
Heathcote DFL won the next break from which Weeks took a strong mark and goaled.
Another major by Braidy Dickens put HDFL up by 15 points.
Weeks was freed in a marking contest and kicked truly.
An amazing turnaround kept going as Elmore's James Harney roved a contest and goaled.
Although his game looked over after a heavy collision in the first quarter, Colbinabbin's Pat O'Brien did play on.
O'Brien's goal made it seven unanswered as Heathcote DFL continually pumped the ball into attack.
The streak was broken by O'Sullivan in the 23rd minute.
Final score: Heathcote DFL 23.8 (146) d Central Murray 18.9 (117).
AFL Victoria best player medals presented to Lochlan Sirrett, Heathcote DFL, and Marty Kelly, Central Murray.
Victorious coach Rick Coburn praised a "sensational effort" by all of the HDFL representatives.
"Going into the last quarter we spoke about applying a lot of pressure and taking time and space away," Coburn said.
"We forced a lot of turnovers and had quick transition by hand and foot."
Coburn said the early minutes of the second half were crucial in cutting the deficit.
"At the break we reinforced the message of playing accountable football and working hard for each other."
The coach said Sirrett's versatility was a huge plus.
"Lochlan played a brilliant game. He has a big future.
"Braidy Dickens did a lot of things to keep up us in the game early on. He has quick hands and is very creative."
The skill and workrate of Jye Keath, Jeremy Mills and Ryan Semmel played a big part in HDFL's win.