Noble Park ruckman Matt Skehan celebrates a crucial goal with team-mate Benn Logan in the Bulls’ 39-point win at Vermont on Saturday. Picture: Paul Pickering.By Paul Pickering
ANY doubts about Noble Park’s premiership credentials were cast aside on Saturday as the Bulls dealt the mighty Eagles an emphatic 39-point ego blow in a replay of last year’s grand final at Vermont Reserve.
Noble Park was led by a peerless performance from former Eagle Kris Barlow, who withstood the inevitable verbal barrage from the home supporters to leave Vermont ruing the one that got away.
Bulls coach Shane Burgmann had good reason to be nervous about an eight-point lead at half-time as the Bulls squandered some early chances to establish scoreboard pressure.
Burgmann’s engine room was well on top, however, with Peter O’Brien and Stewart Kemperman rolling the dice and surging forward at every opportunity.
If not for a virtuoso five-goal first half from Vermont spearhead Matthew Greig, the Eagles could have easily been looking down the barrel at the main break.
With all present at Vermont Reserve expecting the Eagles to swoop in the third term, Barlow emerged to put his stamp on the contest.
In a display of supreme quality, ‘KB’ slung his team-mates on his back after the break, slotting through an early goal and pin-pointing forward targets.
With a freakish snap from the boundary line in front of the clubrooms, Barlow left the Eagles faithful shaking their heads in disbelief.
“I thought Kris was by far the best player on the ground,” Burgmann said.
“He was probably disappointed with how he played last time around (in the round ten loss to Vermont at the Bullring), so he was pretty keen to have a good game on their home ground.”
While Barlow was a stand-out, the Bulls had key contributors all over the ground. Full-back Daniel Rigg recovered from being posterised by Greig’s towering goal-line hanger in the third, restricting the dangerous left-footer to three goals in the second half.
Despite Noble Park controlling general play again in the third term, a goal from Vermont’s Nathan Henley on the siren restored the deficit to eight points at the final break.
Sensing an opportunity to land a psychological uppercut in the lead-up to September, Burgmann implored his charges to maintain the work rate in the last quarter.
“Leave nothing left,” he yelled repeatedly as the Bulls broke from the huddle.
After a snap from Ashley Froud saw the Eagles draw within two points in the first minute, the Bulls kicked the next four to silence the home fans.
Dave Velardo’s seventh goal – a Daicos-like left-footed dribbler – put the result beyond doubt before a clever snap from dominant ruckman Matt Skehan sparked the celebrations.
In the end, the 39-point victory was probably an accurate reflection of the Bulls’ supremacy – and a sturdy launching pad for a finals assault.
“It gives us a bit more belief that as long as we bring our A game we can beat anyone,” Burgmann said after handing the reigning premiers their second loss of the season.
“It’s really wide open this year, and I think that’s good for the competition.”
The win sees Noble Park move to within four points of Balwyn and East Ringwood, but needing to make up significant percentage this week against Donvale if it is to have any chance of snaring second spot.
After wilting under lights against Lilydale a fortnight ago, the Bulls will be keen to showcase their undeniable talent in the clash at the Bullring on Saturday night.
