Noble Park coach Shane Burgmann and playing-assistant Kris Barlow plan the demise of Balwyn at quarter-time on Saturday.
By Paul Pickering
NOBLE Park has seized the double chance in the Eastern Football League’s Division One finals series by embarrassing a high-profile Balwyn at the Bullring on Saturday.
The Bulls systematically dismantled the top-dollar Tigers in the battle for third spot, shaking off a wasteful first quarter to run out 39-point winners.
Despite boasting former AFL stars Daniel Harford, Nick Ries, Sam Cranage and Allan Murray, Balwyn never really threatened the more disciplined Bulls.
Noble Park had the better of the clearances from minute one, but blazed uncharacteristically into a stiff breeze in the first term to register 3.8.
A minor realignment from coach Shane Burgmann at quarter-time saw the Bulls ball winners become more selective with their targets – and a potent forward line reaped the rewards.
After the Tigers drew level through Craig Decorsey early in the second term, it was Luke McConnell’s boundary-hugging set shot goal that spurred the Bulls towards a 24-point half-time lead.
Noble Park’s defence was impenetrable in the second half, with full-back Daniel Rigg doing a number on Tiger spearhead Marcus Baldwin, while Ziggy Alwan, Tim Hansford and Daniel Donati repelled everything that came their way.
Burgmann’s decision to run Stewart Kemperman with former St Kilda midfielder Allan Murray proved to be a masterstroke, as the brilliant but temperamental Tiger grew increasingly frustrated by Kemperman’s ability to find his own footy.
The accountability of the Bulls’ midfield completely suffocated their opponents, leaving it to pocket rocket Craig Anderson to break the lines with his devastating pace and gut running.
Having stretched the lead to as much as 46 points in the third term, Noble Park cruised home in the last despite the emerging class of Harford.
Dave Velardo finished with four goals for the Bulls, while ruckman Matt Skehan drifted forward for three of his own.
While Burgmann was typically low-key about the win, Noble Park’s charge towards September has created a definite buzz at the Bullring.
After supreme performances against Vermont, Donvale and Balwyn over the past three weeks, the Bulls’ record has improved to 13-5.
More importantly, Noble Park has avoided the daunting prospect of an elimination final against serial tormentor Lilydale this week.
Instead, the Bulls will meet second-placed East Ringwood in a qualifying final at Bayswater Oval on Saturday.
Having dismissed the Roos by 62 points last time around, Burgmann is confident of repeating the dose this week.
“They like to feed the footy back out of the stoppages, so if we can put pressure on them we’ll be in good shape,” he said.
The inclusion of Nathan Tiberi – who missed Saturday because of work commitments – is likely to be the only change, with Burgmann reporting no casualties from the Balwyn match.
There is sure to be plenty of support for the Bulls at the neutral venue, with Noble Park’s reserves also taking on the Roos from 11.45am.
