Bulls set for

By Paul Pickering
BRING on Vermont … that message was loud and clear as Noble Park laid waste to a hapless Norwood at Mullum Reserve on Saturday.
The 122-point drubbing may not have been the competitive tune-up that the Bulls wanted, but it must have raised a few eyebrows among the reigning premier Eagles ahead of this week-end’s clash at the Bullring.
The Bulls had struggled on the confined spaces of Mullum Reserve in recent years, but that record meant nothing to first-year coach Mick Fogarty and gun recruits Tory Dickson, Sam Monaghan and Jarrod Plymin.
All three were prominent on Saturday, with Dickson booting a lazy seven goals – taking his tally to 16 after two outings in the blue and gold – and Monaghan and Plymin adding some serious polish around the ground.
The Norsemen knew more about perennial champs Craig Anderson, Peter O’Brien and Stewart Kemperman, but had no idea how to stop them.
Noble piled on eight goals to one in the last quarter to run out 21.23 (149) to 3.9 (27) winners.
Norwood, if nothing else, provided an interesting form line by which to judge the combatants for Saturday’s grudge match at Moodemere Street.
The Eagles beat them in round one by 64 points, then towelled up East Ringwood by 14 goals on Saturday.
Interestingly, former Noble Park livewire Dean Kelly booted five goals in a best-on-ground perform-ance against the Roos.
Kelly’s defection ruffled plenty of feathers at Noble, and he is certain to receive a mixed reception – at best – on Saturday.
But it’s not as if the Bulls, now brimming with ex-VFL talent, have been impotent without him. Dickson and Lachlan Delahunty have been outstanding, while returning premiership players Daniel Kennedy (two goals) and Gavin Vassallo (three) booted five goals between them on Saturday.
All signs point towards a shootout this weekend.