Top spot for beaten Bulls

By Paul Pickering
NOBLE Park assumed top spot on the Division One ladder on Saturday, despite losing to Wantirna South by 20 points.
The previously unbeaten Bulls blew a five-goal second quarter lead to hand the hometown Devils their first victory since returning to the top division this season.
It was a lacklustre – if not spiritless – performance, but it was good enough to snare top billing from reigning premier Balwyn, which surrendered more percentage in its upset loss to Lilydale.
Not surprisingly, the irony was lost on Noble coach Alan Ezard.
The first-year Bulls boss had an inkling that it would be a danger game. He spent much of the week urging his charges to respect their opposition – as well as the challenges posed by a narrow and shifting Walker Reserve surface.
They started well too, surging to a 24-point lead when Paul Fermanis (three goals) marked and goaled late in the first term.
The visitors looked like they were coasting midway through the second, but Devils spearhead Tom Carmody (eight) emerged to spark a rousing comeback by kicking three of his side’s nine majors for the quarter.
Ezard’s halftime spray seemed to have done the trick when George Angelopoulos snapped truly just seconds after the resumption as the Bulls drew within 11 points, but the Devils proceeded to kick the next six goals and virtually ice the game.
The 20-point margin probably flattered the Bulls, because as Ezard admitted, they played dumb footy when their running game was stifled.
“It was very disappointing in the end, because we definitely didn’t stick to the game plan that we’ve had over the last few weeks,” Ezard said.
“They went back to some bad habits – trying to chip the ball around on the small ground instead of moving the ball a little bit quicker.”
There wouldn’t have been many Bulls who escaped Ezard’s wrath, but rover Craig Anderson was immune to criticism after another tireless performance.
Skipper Peter O’Brien, ruckman Andrew Gilbert (two) and young midfielder Kyle Martin (three) were among a handful of others who provided some resistance in the second and third terms.
It was a dark day for Noble’s back six, which tried in vain to curtail the brilliance of Carmody, Rod Woodford (three) and co.
Devils David Edgcumbe and Andrew Teakel invariably had their way in the middle, while defenders Chris Phillips and Matt Campbell had the better of their duels with Dean Kelly (two) and Dave Velardo.
Ezard is expecting the Bulls to be more diligent in Saturday’s clash with East Burwood at the Bullring.
“They’ve got to learn from it, be a lot harder on each other and work to the game plan,” he said.