A stunning eight-goal performance from Patrick Fitzgerald has led Laurimar to their first win of the 2025 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season, holding off a late comeback to beat Epping by 11 points at Epping Recreation Reserve.

The Power led by 36 points during the latter stages of the third term, before Epping piled on four unanswered goals in quick succession to reduce the margin to two kicks.

However, Brad Hollow’s men could not further reduce the deficit, trading blows with a resilient Laurimar outfit who steadily saw out a 16.8 (104) to 14.9 (93) win.

Bailey Macleod and Luke Wilson combined fantastically in midfield, winning the clearance battle across the day, while Aidan Clarke and Joshua Leather both had successful stints in the ruck.

Kaiden Arthur produced a fantastic three-goal second quarter, thriving off the extra attention being paid to Patrick Fitzgerald up forward.

For the Blues, new recruit Matthew Williamson led his team’s goalkickers, scoring five majors alongside Daniel Rakhlin who slotted three.

Brent Macaffer continued his impressive start to life in navy blue, while Adrian Alfonsi and Alec Buchan also acted as major ballwinners for Epping.

But from the first centre bounce, it was the Patrick Fitzgerald show.

One on one, the big man looked unstoppable, taking marks on the lead, outmuscling his opponent and snapping a goal in congestion.

By the 15-minute mark of the opening term the ex-Montmorency star had claimed four goals, equaling his tally from Round 1.

Brad Hollow was forced to use Dallyce Taylor as a spare to temporarily stop the flood of opportunities coming Fitzgerald’s way.

At the other end, fellow new-recruit Matthew Williamson was also causing headaches.

The Blues repeatedly looked for him inside 50 and he kicked two crucial goals in the first term to steady the scoreboard.

Majors from Adrian Cirianni and Brent Macaffer also helped keep the Blues in touch, while Jacob Lawson and Jake Francis kept Laurimar’s pressure gauge at full throttle with a goal each.

On the quarter time siren, Daniel Rakhlin launched a drop-punt from the 50 metre arc to end a high-paced 11-goal quarter, with Laurimar carrying a five-point lead despite having the majority of time in their forward half.

The second term saw Laurimar capitalise on their dominance, taking the lead in clearances as high-pressure players like William Jacovou and Bailey Macleod lifted their intensity.

With his leg-speed, Kaiden Arthur flourished on spread to illustrate Laurimar’s momentum.

He kicked back-to-back long-range goals in two minutes, showcasing the talent reminiscent of his Team of the Year seasons.

Sebastian Latina responded with a goal after some brilliant tackling acts, before Laurimar piled on another three unanswered majors to see out a dominant five goal to one term.

When Patrick Fitzgerald notched up his 6th goal of the match and his 800th senior goal to start the second half, the game looked over until Epping surged with four goals in eight minutes.

Led from a ruck switch between Michael Gillard and Liam Waldron, the Blues won clearance after clearance as belief spread.

Their ball movement became quicker and purposeful as Adrian Alfonsi racked up the possessions, alongside Lucas Aquilina and Mitchell Henwood.

But in the dying moments of the quarter after going goalless for nearly 20 minutes, the Power capitalised on a late opportunity to put a dagger through Epping’s heart.

Nearing the corner of the 50 metre arc, Joel Lawson marked with seconds left in the term and looked inboard for a kick, but the siren prevented him from doing so.

Suffering from cramp and a difficult long range effort, Lawson used every bit of energy left within him to launch a deadly straight drop-punt and extend Laurimar’s lead to 19 points.

The Blues would fight tooth and nail to bring the margin to single-digits, as Rakhlin and Williamson again hit the scoreboard to cancel out a goal from Laurimar’s Campbell Walker, but the Power always had a response for every question asked.

Fitzgerald ensured the lead stayed beyond reach as he claimed goal’s seven and eight consecutively, with Epping’s final two majors of the match arriving too late for any chance at a comeback.

Both sides now sit 1-1 leading into the Easter break, with each club mounting strong cases that they will be amongst the contenders come September.

By Tim MacDougall