A glorious

By Paul Pickering
THE swagger is back at Noble Park.
That was clear for all 10,000-odd onlookers to see as the young Bulls trampled over Scoresby in the last term of Saturday’s Division One grand final at Bayswater Oval.
The proud club, which publicly acknowledged the need for a “rebuilding” phase after a turbulent 2009 season, announced its re-emergence in no uncertain terms en route to its first flag in six years.
Noble kicked the last five goals of Saturday’s decider against the Magpies, and each was celebrated with more gusto than the last as the Bulls charged towards a 42-point victory.
The decisive blow came midway through the term, when irrepressible forward Tory Dickson marked 30m from goal and, sensing his opponent’s head drop, doubled back towards the sticks to drive home the sealer.
Dickson’s four second-half goals went a long way towards breaking the Magpies’ resistance, when for much of the game it seemed the hard-running Bulls would be stifled.
Scoresby’s full-ground defensive zone, which became its trademark during the home-and-away season, conceded just three goals – and 10 behinds – to the Bulls in the first half.
The Pies, who kicked the first two of the match via skipper Matt Krawczyk and goal-sneak Kirby McConnon, would have enjoyed the stop-start brand of footy played in the early stages.
Yet the Bulls took a four-point buffer into the main interval and seemingly had another gear in reserve.
And so it proved as Dickson, Lachie Delahunty and Ziggy Alwan upped the ante in attack, capitalising on the work of Glen Manson, Peter O’Brien and Sam Monaghan in the middle.
Monaghan again shadowed Scoresby star Joel Cross, but it was his former Sandringham team-mate, Andrew McConnell, who proved most effective.
McConnell’s shuffling gait belies a competitive streak that was on full display on Saturday, particularly early, when his nous and composure helped keep the Bulls in the game. The workmanlike winger was among few legitimate four-quarter contributors against the Magpies and richly deserved the Blue Ribbon Medal for best-on-ground.
Manson must have gone close too, having had the better of his duel with Scoresby giant Luke Van Rheenen.
Big “Chuck” was the first on the scene at various scuffles throughout the afternoon. On one occasion, he tore Magpie Paul Chadwick’s jumper straight down the middle as if it was made of paper.
He later flew the flag when Scoresby’s Lachie Carey struck Bulls skipper Craig Anderson midway through the final term, earning Carey an early send-off and automatic two-week suspension.
The stoush that followed delighted an otherwise restless crowd, which rose as one when feisty Noble defender Nick Williams went in swinging.
Williams’ aggression was warranted, and it typified a gritty display from Noble’s back six. Full-back Tim Davison, who returned from suspension at the expense of the desperately unlucky Lachie Tindal, was never going to take a backward step. Robbie Kemperman and Tim Kelly were accountable and creative on the rebound.
Scoresby was well served by the likes of Krawczyk, youngster Shaun Cross and strong-bodied midfielder David Marcius, but lacked a spark up forward. It’s hard to believe that the Magpies weren’t shaken by a 63-point loss to Noble in the semi-final.
The Bulls, who also thumped Balwyn in a qualifying final, were unwavering in their belief on Saturday.
The words “our time is now” were written on the banner as the players strode onto the ground, and jubilant coach Mick Fogarty repeated them with vigour as he stood atop the premiership dais some three hours later.
Fogarty explained the belief his team had gained from an upset victory at Balwyn in June, saying he knew then that Noble could have an impact in September.
“The whole group was outstanding today,” he said, reluctant as always to individualise.
Yet Fogarty’s part in the triumphant 2010 campaign cannot be underestimated.
He is a gifted tactician and leader of men, but remains one of the boys at his beloved club. Fogarty said his return to the Bullring had surpassed even his “wildest dreams”.
“Just to get the gig here – to come back and coach the club where I started my senior footy at – blew me away” he said. “To be a premiership player and now a premiership coach is just unbelievable. It‘s a special moment.”
The coach stopped short of declaring the dawn of a dominant Noble era, but said the vast majority of his players still had their best footy in front of them.
Sixteen of the 22 players that pulled on the blue and gold jumper on Saturday were under the age of 24. That’s a scary prospect for those other 11 suitors for the 2011 Division One premiership.