Five time Heyfield premiership player and club veteran Brett Szabo is the host of Heyfield, after kicking the winning goal in the dying minutes in a thrilling North Gippsland preliminary final.
Szabo stole the show in the second half by booting six goals while treating spectators to some exhilarating individual prowess.
Holding a commanding 45 point lead in the early stages of the third quarter Gormandale appeared destined to seal their second grand final berth in as many seasons, before the Kangaroos found their groove and ran all over the top of the hapless Tigers booting 5.8 (38) to nil in the final term.
The Tigers failing to weather a final quarter come back, as the Kangaroos failed to roll over as they impressed their imposing and challenging style in the second half which showed why they finished on top of the home and away standings.
Szabo doing what seemed to be the impossible booting the Kangaroos back into the contest before snatching the lead with minutes left on the clock.
As the clock counted down the experienced and cool heads of Heyfield began to emerge, David Kelly and Lyell Berry combining on the wing to draw forward.
Berry took on the Tigers defence as he weaved around several opponents turning them inside out before spotting Szabo directly in front of goal.
The big man taking a strong mark before going back to put through his sixth major, which saw the Kangaroos four points in front for the first time since the early mark of the opening term.
The goal seeing Heyfield advance to their third grand final in five seasons, 13.15 (93) to 13.11 (89).
From the bounce it was Gormandale at its imperious best: hungry, hunting and running.
As they say confidence can go along way and from the onset the Tigers were driven by confidence and a burning desire to avenge last years bitter grand final loss.
While their pride was dinted last week there was the threat that Heyfield would hit the ground running from the opening bounce but it was Gormandale that held the upper hand early.
Both teams were nervous in the opening minutes before the Tigers took control in the midfield with their skill, pace and tackling.
Heyfield moved forward early through coach Stuart Anderson to score a behind before Gormandale followed suit registering two minor scores before Paul Richards broke through for the opener.
Heyfield quickly responded goaling from the centre bounce before Anderson made it consecutive majors for the Kangaroos.
The battle in the middle of the ground was enthralling as both sides midfield tried to get on top.
The Tigers began to dominate the clearances with Daniel Domaille, Bobby Pacunskis, Shayne Simpson and best on ground Brendan Solomon prepared to put their bodies on the line.
An indiscretion in Gormandale’s pocket saw Heyfield one man down following a yellow card to Nathan Wellins which saw him sin binned.
A 50 metre penalty and shot at goal by Gormandale reeled the margin back to two points, before back to back goals by Solomon put the Tigers in front as their confidence grew.
At the other end of the ground a 50 metre penalty ensured Berry made no mistake, the margin four points in favour of the Tigers at quarter time.
A commanding second term served the Tigers well as Gormandale steamed rolled the minor premiers, kicking 4.5 (29) to 0.1 (1) to take a 32 point lead into the long change.
Neither side was able to make an impact on the scoreboard early as play concentrated between the two half back lines.
Heyfield drew forward put failed to cross centre half forward as the Tigers defence led by Adam Jaensch, Lee Renton and Rob Voss wore the Kangaroos forwards like a glove.
The backlines pressure combined with their ability to rebound strongly from defence enabled the side’s forwards to pepper away at the sticks in the second term.
Captain Domaille extended the margin out to 13 points before the Marks brothers, Sam and Ben combined in front of goal for the Tigers second for the term.
A point mid way through the second term was all the Heyfield could muster, before Gormandale’s Solomon and Pacunskis got in on the action in front of goals prior to half time 8.10 (58) to 4.2 (26).
Riding high on a strong opening half the Tigers came out firing after the long break registering the opening two majors as they pushed the margin out to 42 points.
Szabo looked to get into the match as the Kangaroos found themselves in unfamiliar territory for the first time this season, as they appeared down and out.
Three shots early in the term by Szabo for a conversion of one lifted the intensity of Heyfield as they began to come at the opposition.
Heyfield had all the scoring but unable to convert before Szabo scored against the tide.
Each time the Kangaroos looked to challenge the Tigers responded, Paul Rouget with the response.
A free kick to Richards, 30 metres out form goal directly in front at the three quarter siren gave his team a 34 point lead and if not for the character of the Kangaroos, it should have been the nail in the coffin.
The Kangaroo chased the Tigers down in the final term, youngster Josh Neille was instrumental, Kelly and Anderson in the middle of the ground were tenacious and remained level headed as their side got a sniff.
The sides defence led by best on ground Mark Bedggood, Luke Wilson who kept Richards at bay, Aaron Duffy and Justin Cox who swooped up the loss ball across half back worked tirelessly to hold the Tigers scoreless in the final term.
Szabo kicked off proceedings with the first of the term; consecutive minor scores to Heyfield may have proved costly but the side’s smaller crumbing players where dogged in holding the ball within their offensive half.
Missed shots to Anderson followed by Bedggood, was followed by a pressure shot by Neille who made no mistake as the Kangaroos drew to within 27 points.
A solid grab by Jake Shingles under pressure over Wayne Henry, sent the Kangaroos forward Szabo getting on the other end to goal.
A free kick to Humphries saw the forward goal, with the Tigers match winning lead dwindled back to five points.
Henry was moved down back as tactics began to become rife between the two sides, as the Tigers coaching staff looked to halt the run of the Kangaroos with less then seven minutes left on the clock.
A number of missed shots to Heyfield encroached on the margin but were doing little for their premiership ambitions before Berry and Szabo combined to land the killer blow.
Last Modified on 06/09/2009 14:44