By ROY WARD
NOBLE Park heard the preseason whispers about its demise and decided to make a statement with its opening quarter against Balwyn on Saturday.
The two-time Eastern Football League division 1 premiers raised their 2011 flag and then opened a seven-goal quarter-time lead over the hapless Tigers at Pat Wright Senior Oval.
The Bulls went on to win by 23 points against the fancied Tigers with new Bulls midfielders Andrew McConnell and Travis Mitchem leading the best players alongside perennial stars Craig Anderson, Ziggy Alwan and Craig Jacotine.
Former Mulgrave midfielder Cohen Howell also made an impressive debut playing a negating role on prized Balwyn recruit Shane Tregear.
Bulls coach Mick Fogarty said his side had made a terrific start to the year and wanted to make its mark on the 2012 season.
“We had a lot of new players from last year,” he said. “We will take time to gel but the boys made a terrific start in that first quarter. There was a lot riding on this game with the unfurling of our flag and the boys were pumped to make a statement.
“I think they felt they weren’t getting their due respect from the competition with a lot of people saying we might drop off this year. We have only played one game so we still might but the boys had a point to prove against a good side.”
The only downer for the Bulls was the loss of key players Stewart Kemperman (groin) and Nick Williams (hyperextended knee). Both injuries, however, are minor and should only keep the pair out for a week or two.
Fogarty said he doubted either would play next match but said both would return soon.
FINAL SCORES
Victorian Football League: Casey Scorpions, bye.
TAC Cup: Dandenong Stingrays, bye.
Southern Football League:
Division 1: St Kilda City 12.13 (85) d Dingley 10.12 (72); Heatherton v Clayton played yesterday.
Division 2: Oakleigh District 22.12 (144) d South Yarra 8.6 (54); Springvale Districts 11.14 (80) d Hampton 8.10 (58); Skye 19.10 (124) d Southern Dragons 2.15 (27).
Division 3: Dandenong 12.4 (76) d Caulfield 10.10 (70); Ashwood 18.15 (123) d Hallam 8.5 (53); Doveton Eagles 16.8 (104) d Sandown 10.11 (71); Mount Waverley 17.17 (119) d Endeavour Hills 18.8 (116); Moorabbin 20.15 (135) d Lyndale 10.7 (67).
Eastern Football League:
Division 1: Knox 12.14 (86) d Lilydale 11.16 (82); South Croydon 17.13 (115) d Croydon 15.11 (101); Norwood 13.10 (88) d Blackburn 5.12 (42); Scoresby 15.14 (104) d East Burwood 15.8 (98); Noble Park 15.9 (99) d Balwyn 10.16 (76); Vermont 13.22 (100) d East Ringwood 11.17 (83).
Division 2: Donvale 18.10 (118) d Mulgrave 9.7 (61); Rowville 18.18 (126) d Upper Ferntree Gully 8.9 (57); Doncaster 15.14 (104) d Waverley Blues 9.20 (74).
Division 3: North Ringwood 14.8 (92) d Boronia 8.9 (57); Chirnside Park 22.11 (143) d Glen Waverley Hawks 17.11 (113).
Casey Cardinia Football League: Doveton 24.21 (165) d Hampton Park 6.7 (43); Cranbourne 14.16 (100) d Berwick 10.8 (68); Narre Warren 20.17 (137) d Beaconsfield 7.11 (53); Tooradin-Dalmore 15.9 (99) d Keysborough 13.9 (87).
For full results go to greaterdandenongweekly.com.au/sport.
THIS WEEK
Victorian Football League: Casey Scorpions v North Ballarat, Casey Fields, Sunday 2pm
TAC Cup: Dandenong Stingrays v Western Jets, Shepley Oval, 11am
Southern Football League:
Division 1: St Kilda City v Clayton, Peanut Farm Reserve, 2pm; Heatherton v St Pauls, Ross Street Reserve, 2pm; Highett v Dingley, Turner Road Reserve 2.30pm.
Division 2: Oakleigh District v Springvale Districts, Princes Highway Reserve 2pm; Southern Dragons v Murrumbeena, Keeley Park 2.30pm.
Division 3: Endeavour Hills v Lyndale, Barry Simon Reserve 2pm; Dandenong v Moorabbin, Greaves Reserve 2pm; Hallam v Doveton Eagles, Hallam Reserve 2pm; Sandown v Mount Waverley, Springvale Reserve 2.30pm.
Eastern Football League:
Division 1: East Ringwood v East Burwood, East Ringwood Reserve 2.10pm; Croydon v Lilydale, Hughes Park 2.10pm; Knox v South Croydon, Knox Gardens Reserve 2.10pm; Norwood v Noble Park, Mullum Reserve 2.10pm; Scoresby v Blackburn, Scoresby Recreation Reserve 2.10pm.
Division 2: Montrose v Rowville, Montrose Reserve 2.10pm; Waverley Blues v Doncaster East, Mt Waverley Reserve 2.10pm; Mulgrave v Upper Ferntree Gully, Mulgrave Reserve 2.10pm.
Division 3: Templestowe v Glen Waverley Hawks, Templestowe Reserve 2.10pm; Mitcham v Boronia, Walker Park 2.10pm.
Casey Cardinia Football League: Berwick v ROC, Edwin Flack Reserve 2.15pm; Narre Warren v Cranbourne, Kalora Park 2.15pm; Hampton Park v Keysborough, LS Reid Oval 2.15pm; Tooradin-Dalmore v Doveton, Tooradin Recreation Reserve 2.15pm.
All games on Saturday unless otherwise stated.
