Noble Park midfielder Peter O’Brien was a class act in the Bulls’ win over Lilydale on Sunday. Picture: Stewart Chambers. 11252By Paul Pickering
IT may not have had the currency of the previous week’s triumph over Vermont, but Noble Park was more than content to bank a 26-point win at Lilydale on Sunday.
After reversing the result of last year’s agonising Eastern Football League grand final loss to the Eagles, the Bulls could have been excused for suffering an emotional letdown against the struggling Falcons.
And while the final margin was closer than many would have expected, Lilydale’s tenacity came as no surprise to Bulls coach Kris Barlow.
“We expected a tight and tough game from them, because they’ve beaten us three out of the last four times we’ve played them,” he said.
“We certainly didn’t expect to run away with it. We had a focus of just winning.”
Barlow’s suspicions that Lilydale would rise to the occasion were confirmed in the first quarter, when the Falcons booted four goals to remain within seven points of the visitors.
The Bulls then began to stamp their authority on the contest, with gun midfielders Craig Anderson, Peter O’Brien and Barlow giving their side first use of the footy.
A six-goal second quarter was the result, as forwards Dave Velardo (six goals), Dean Kelly (four) and Heath Black (two) took advantage of the supply to establish a 24-point half-time lead.
Buoyed by a competitive first half, the Falcons conjured some of their best form of the season after the break, with Ben Garrington, Sean Toohey and Caillin Porter matching it with Noble Park’s damaging on-ball division.
Lilydale drew within 14 points at three-quarter time, but the Bulls pulled away to cruise home in the final term.
Barlow was keen to note the contribution of key defenders Daniel Rigg and Adrian Little, who negated the influence of Lilydale’s dangerous Kenny brothers, Marcus and Steve.
“They’ve been sensational all year,” Barlow said of his defensive duo.
“You know what you’re going to get from them, they’re just so dependable.”
Little’s return to the Bullring this year has freed up Daniel Donati – who was a late withdrawal on Saturday – to play a variety of roles in the first six weeks and assert his experience around the ground.
The signs were no less promising up forward, where Velardo was at his mercurial best and Kelly salvaged a bag of four goals from an indifferent afternoon.
With ruck tandem Matt Skehan and Andrew Gilbert (two goals) also in the action up forward, the Bulls attack – which appeared shaky a month ago – is now looking ominous.
That will be one of many concerns for Division One newcomer Knox at the Pat Wright Senior Oval on Saturday.
Knox has split its opening six games in a solid start to its 2008 campaign, but a trip to the Bullring will be the Falcons’ greatest challenge to date.
