One for the doubters

By Paul Pickering
DOUBTERS be damned.
The message was loud and clear as Noble Park sent shockwaves through the Eastern Football league by crushing 2008 grand finalist Vermont on Saturday.
The new-look Bulls defied the pre-season knockers by outgunning one of the divisional benchmarks on their own turf to claim an improbable 36-point victory.
The stunning first-up performance made an instant hero of new coach Alan Ezard, who backed in the Noble youth after inheriting a list that had been decimated by key off-season departures.
Ezard was one of the few positive voices at Moodemere Street over the summer, and it appears that his belief rubbed off on the players.
Ironically, that enthusiasm probably cost the Bulls the lead in the first term on Saturday, with some hot-headed free-kicks and poor decision-making leading to a 19-point quarter-time deficit.
Vermont forwards Matt Greig (five goals) and Ash Froud (seven) deserved some credit. They had combined for six majors when Greig converted early in the second.
But the determined Bulls rose to the challenge, increasing their intensity to match and then surpass the more-experienced Eagles outfit.
The defining moment came when fiery on-baller George Angelopoulos backed bravely into a contest to set-up teammate Dean Kelly for a team-lifting goal midway through the term.
Dour defender Trent Robertson, who was given the job on reigning league best-and-fairest winner Kris Bardon, repeated the courageous feat minutes later as the Bulls charged back into the game.
Down by just 10 points at the main break, Noble surged to the lead when Angelopoulos converted from a downfield free-kick after impressive first-gamer Kyle Martin was dumped by Vermont’s Dean Stephen.
Velardo then typified his side’s growing confidence when he plucked a brilliant one-handed mark and slotted his fourth.
From there it was all Noble, as the inspired visitors ran their hosts into the ground with clean and rapid ball-movement.
The final term was party time as the Bulls showcased their talent and celebrated wildly with every nail in the Vermont coffin.
The Noble faithful poured into the rooms after the match to join in as their exhausted players belted out the club song.
It was an upset – no question. But Ezard said he had never doubted the group’s ability.
“To get a win this early is fantastic for the club,” he said.
“Coming here I didn’t know much about Vermont, but it was probably more about believing in our players than worrying about the opposition.
“We tried to match up on a few of their players, but we thought we’d try and run and gun against them – and that’s what we did.”
They did it superbly, led by an extraordinary game from Kelly, who moved into the middle when skipper Peter O’Brien left the field with a knee injury in the third term.
Shayne Allan was brilliant on a wing, Ziggie Alwan was damaging across half back, Martin was elusive in the middle and off-season recruit Paul Fermanis made an immediate impact.
Stewart Kemperman nullified Froud’s impact after halftime, while full-back Tim Davison gradually broke Greig’s spirit as the game progressed and Robertson was at his imposing best.
Ezard praised his team’s work-rate, before challenging them to live up to the early standard they have set for themselves.
“They know where they’re at now, so hopefully they can maintain it,” he said.
Noble will now face Norwood under lights from 7pm at the Bullring in this weekend’s Anzac Day clash.