Bulls in 70-point fade-out

By Paul Pickering
NOBLE Park bowed out of the Division One premiership race on Saturday, surrendering to the resurgent Balwyn Tigers in the preliminary final at Bayswater Oval.
It was billed as a showdown between two of the league’s most explosive sides, but the Bulls barely fired a shot on their way to a 70-point loss – and a premature finals exit.
The minor premier Tigers – still stinging from the previous weekend’s streak-ending loss to Vermont – began with the advantage of a five-goal gale in the first term and used it to perfection.
Both sides looked primed for the fight in the opening minutes, but Balwyn’s on-ball division – led by towering ruckman Brad Smith – soon gained the ascendancy over a Bulls unit that was still missing injured stars Kris Barlow and Peter O’Brien.
With Noble defender Shayne Allan drifting loose across half-back, the Tigers chose to penetrate deep inside the forward zone to isolate goal-machine Patrick Bowden (five goals) on gallant Bull Tim Davison and vice-captain Craig Decorsey (six) on undersized defender Tim Kelly.
It proved to be a masterstroke as the pair combined to kick Balwyn’s first six goals – Decorsey with four inside 20 minutes.
Bowden’s second sparked a five-minute rampage that saw the Tigers extend the margin from 25 points to 48 during red time.
Coach Barlow implored his charges to take more risks in the second, but his opposite number – and former Hawthorn team-mate – Daniel Harford anticipated that directive and gave his own troops the go slow.
The game was ignited by a scuffle involving Noble’s Williams brothers – Nick and Lloyd – and Balwyn’s Ben Wise on the grandstand wing, but the adrenaline of that encounter quickly wore off as the Bulls wasted a series of goal-scoring opportunities.
The frustration mounted as Noble spearheads Dave Velardo (three) and Dean Kelly (one) repeatedly watched the ball sail over the heads on the lead.
And when Bowden shook Davison to convert a late opportunity at the other end the margin ballooned to 52 points at the main break.
Noble had its best period of play for the game early in the third, but a return of just 1.5 robbed the Bulls of the momentum they needed to mount a final-quarter charge.
Despite an impassioned plea from Barlow, the Bulls were unable to leave an impression on the progressing Tigers in the last term, leaving Balwyn to chall-enge for Vermont’s throne this Saturday.
While Barlow could excuse the skill errors, he was at a loss to explain his side’s lack of intensity.
“It was disappointing, because we did a lot of talking before the game and it ended up being just that – talk,” he lamented. “There was no action to follow.”
Among few positives for the Bulls were the spirited performances of the Williams boys and the persistence of Davison against the classy Bowden.
Robbie Ferraro did much of the grunt work in the middle, while Daniel Rigg and Craig Anderson worked tirelessly around the ground.
Reflecting on the season, Barlow was buoyed by the emergence of a new generation of Bulls – like Dean Kelly and Ramy Melhem – but rued some untimely injuries.
“I’d probably say we got as far as we should have,” he said.
“If we’d made it any further with the injuries we had I’d say maybe we would have over-achieved.”
Barlow was also keen to acknowledge the contributions of retiring veterans – and premiership stars – Daniel Donati and Adrian Little.
“They’ve both been fantastic players for the Noble Park Football Club, and they’ll continue to serve as a reminder of what can be achieved through hard work and loyalty to the club,” he said.
Barlow has announced that he will not be taking on the dual role again next year, preferring to return as a player only.
“It was getting to the stage with work and footy that something had to give,” he explained.
“It was either coach next year or play next year, so it was a pretty easy decision.”