By JARROD POTTER
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – round 12
ADD another Eastern Football League giant to the growing list Noble Park has beaten.
The Bulls had the task ahead of them – vying with unbeaten Norwood to keep their season alive – but Jon Knight’s men were too strong for the Norsemen down the straight.
The slick Bulls – mostly clean shaven after last week’s Shave-A-Bull Day fundraiser for Leukaemia Australia and Zayne Anderson – sped past the Norsemen in a captivating last term.
With memories of their come-from-behind win against East Ringwood three-weeks-ago still fresh in their minds, the Bulls rallied five goals in the final term to edge past the Norsemen by a point – setting off another huge celebration at the Bullring.
Stewart Kemperman slotted three goals to push the Bulls ahead and starred through the midfield while his namesake Bobby Kemperman excelled defensively and ruckman Glenn Manson had his best day this season according to the coach.
Also clunking crucial goals late in the game were Matt Jones and man-mountain Brett Dore – snagging two apiece.
The go-ahead point came off the boot of Frankston VFL forward Ziggie Alwan, who returned to the Bullring with the Dolphins taking a bye this weekend.
Heavy rotations were part of the Knight strategy to overcome Norwood and the coach believed once the system is worked out, the Bulls are able to overwhelm easily.
“Some of the boys are slowly getting used to the rotations but whether we’re starting them a bit early or what, I don’t know, but we’re hanging in there with the rotations then running over sides,” Knight said.
The last month of football has been sensational from the Bulls – knocking off top sides Balwyn and South Croydon, with only one blip against Rowville scarring the amazing run through June.
Knight said it was a do-or-die victory and kept the Bulls in the hunt for finals.
“We’re still a game and a half out, but what it meant today was that all the sides were playing teams below them and we had to win otherwise we’d go to 10 points behind,” Knight said.
“Now that we’ve won, all the sides above us play each other.”
The Bulls now sit sixth and need to hunt down six points to bridge the gap to the final-five.
The next challenge will be hosting fifth-placed Montrose with the Bulls hoping to avenge their round one loss.
