A Noble future

By Paul Pickering
FORGET rebuilding. The future is now for Noble Park.
What other conclusion could be drawn from the Noble’s 125-point demolition of reigning premier Vermont at the Bullring on Saturday?
The Eagles, boasting a line-up that was arguably more talented than last year’s premiership side, were utterly embarrassed by the hosts in every aspect of the game.
The Bulls were maniacal with their defensive pressure and deadly on the rebound, with gun recruits Tory Dickson (eight goals) and Lachie Delahunty (five) putting on a show inside the forward 50.
Noble kicked 27.14 for the afternoon, despite a cross-breeze that reduced the reserves match to an unsightly scrap-fest that reaped just 13 goals.
The one-sided scoreline prompted considerable unrest amongst the travelling Vermont supporters, but the script couldn’t have played out any better for the blue and gold faithful who packed into the Bullring.
It was suburban footy theatre at its best, with intriguing sub-plots surrounding Bull-turned-Eagle Dean Kelly and Noble’s redemption man Daniel Kennedy.
Kelly, whose defection angered many at Noble, seemed to anticipate a hostile welcome and launched a pre-emptive strike, tangling with Stewart Kemperman on the social club wing in the first minute of the game.
His indiscretion led to Noble’s first goal, an opportunistic snap by Noble’s new cult hero, Dickson.
The game looked set for greatness in an uncompromising opening, but the momentum swung Noble’s way when Kennedy, whose famous miss in the dying moments of the 2007 grand final handed Vermont the flag, marked and goaled midway through the term.
Eagle Robbie Ross taunted Kennedy as he prepared for his shot on goal, and Kennedy fronted him after converting. Kelly was first on the scene as a melee erupted, delivering a none-too-subtle jumper punch that handed Kennedy another shot on goal.
He missed, but the Bulls were sparked into action, kicking five of the next six goals to take a 27-point lead to the first change.
Noble’s running brigade was unstoppable in the second quarter, with Kyle Martin, Craig Anderson, Shayne Allan and Tim Kelly setting up another seven-goal stanza. The Eagles managed just one and were done at half-time.
The second half was a celebration. The Bulls, brimming with confidence, reduced their arch-rivals to a rabble.
In Dickson and Delahunty, Noble now has two commanding bail-out targets up forward, eliminating its major deficiency in recent years.
The midfield has always been the Bulls’ strength, and the backline now boasts the right balance of skill and grunt. Tim Kelly’s decision-making and execution was a sight to behold on Saturday, while Glenn Hawthorn and Tim Davison shadowed Vermont match-winners Ash Froud and Matt Greig.
It was the sort of performance that would make a believer of the most cynical onlooker. It also left coach Mick Fogarty with the tall task of refocusing his club ahead of this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Balwyn.
“I’d probably be a bit more upbeat and excited if it was round 16, but it’s round three,” he said. “At the moment, our ball movement is great, our structure is fine and it’s all working out pretty nicely for us, but there’s a hell of a long way to go.
“Balwyn will be another massive game. So we’ll enjoy this for now and get on with it tomorrow.”
The prospect of two unbeaten teams – and former Southern league rivals – squaring off for top spot is sure to have the Bullring rocking again on Saturday.