Bulls lose top grip

By Paul Pickering
NOBLE Park blew a golden opportunity against East Ringwood on Saturday night, losing by 58 points to relinquish its grip on a top-three finish.
With a win, Noble could have sewn up the double chance in the finals, but the undermanned Bulls barely gave a whimper after quarter time at the Bullring.
The home side led by three points at the first break, before conceding 12 goals in the next two quarters to hand the Roos a 45-point advantage at the last change.
East Ringwood scored the only goal in the final stanza to complete their second victory over the Bulls this season and draw to within five percentage points of Noble’s third spot.
Injuries to gun forwards Dave Velardo and Dean Kelly – as well as ruck/forward Matt Skehan and playing-coach Kris Barlow – forced a drastic reshuffle of Noble’s resources, but Barlow wasn’t interested in the excuses after the match.
“I offer no excuses in terms of personnel,” Barlow said.
“We had a very different forward line than we’re accustomed to, but I was still happy with the side we went in with.
“So, to be beaten – and beaten comprehensively – is very disappointing.”
The absence of Velardo, Kelly and co put the onus on centre-half-forward Heath Black to pick up the slack, while Stewart Kemperman and Daniel Donati spent more time up forward to ease the burden.
Kemperman, who accounted for four goals, wasn’t without his moments, but the lack of familiar options confused the Bulls going forward.
The experienced quartet of Craig Anderson, Robbie Ferraro, Peter O’Brien and Daniel Norman provided a strong contest in the middle, but they lacked support from the Bulls’ second-tier on-ballers.
In contrast, the Roos had contributors all over the ground, including five players who booted two goals apiece.
The visitors also welcomed Daniel Sheers back to top form, while Stuart MacDowell and the ungainly Gooley brothers, Sam and Chris, also provided their opponents with some headaches.
Bulls defenders Adrian Little and Tim Davison broke even with dangerous opponents in Luke Vogels (one) and Brendan Holowiuk (two), and Daniel Rigg orchestrated some of his side’s most promising attacks from half-back.
Barlow was left baffled by his team’s lack of intensity, pointing to a statistic of just 15 tackles in the first half.
“Our overall intensity wasn’t up to scratch,” he said.
“They came to play and used the ball a lot better. And our forwards probably pushed up too far and didn’t have the work-rate to work back into position.”
With two rounds to play, the Bulls will now be looking for a percentage-boosting win against hapless Donvale this Saturday before heading to Knox the following weekend.
East Ringwood is still the main threat to third spot, but the Roos face Knox this Saturday and ladder-leader Balwyn in round 18.