By JARROD POTTER
Eastern Football League – round 4
KNOX and Noble Park could not be split at the final siren as an explosive draw played out at Knox Gardens Reserve.
It was a match that had it all. Such was the tense atmosphere it threatened to ignite the crowd into frenzy at one stage as the Falcons and Bulls were deeply locked in battle.
Noble Park ceded a three-goal deficit to Knox at the major change and the Bulls trudged off Knox Gardens Reserve knowing just how flat they had been. But slowly the Bulls regained composure in the second half.
Craig Anderson and Stewart Kemperman continued to fly the flag in their usual manner – streaming through the midfield to set up their forward line team mates and keep the match alive.
Wayward kicking started to creep into the Bulls’ game as behinds that should have been goals started to pile up.
The fourth-quarter set the powder keg off. When a Noble Park player was flung outside the field, the sides went at it as jumpers were ripped, people punched and general mayhem ensured.
Once cooler heads took control of the situation, the Bulls started their revival once again.
A stretching Piva Wright mark-and-goal effort brought the deficit back to a point before Knox kicked away mid-way through the final term and that seemed to be enough, as Ben Abraham kicked the Falcons’ eighth goal.
Noble Park didn’t lie down heading towards the final siren though – the Cody connection – brothers Luke and Trent – combined to hit up Kemperman for his second goal and reduce the gap to a solitary point.
In the dying seconds, the ball flew towards the wing, and a flying Dan Keely emulated his ruck team mates with an amazing tap-to-advantage for Trent Cody to swoop upon. The young midfielder ran to the 50-metre arc and slotted a point to the right side of the goalpost as the siren went on the ensuing kick-in to leave the match deadlocked.
Kemperman’s two goals were only exceeded by his intent at the ball and he along with brother Bobby Kemperman, Anderson, Piva Wright and a bloodied and bandaged Brett Dore were easily the best Bulls afield.
Noble Park coach Jon Knight said the prevailing feeling in the rooms post-match was disappointment as the Bulls failed to seize chances and lacked the discipline needed.
“It was a really scrappy day,” Knight said.
“When it went forward there were times that we didn’t capitalise and there were times that we were totally undisciplined and it cost us.”
Five 25-metre penalties, a couple of which resulted in goals, summed up the dog day for Noble Park and Knight kept his charges in the post-match huddle well after the siren to bring home that point.
“It’s really, really disappointing and I know the boys are feeling this way as well… they need to switch on and be more team orientated instead of focusing on themselves.”
The eighth-placed Bulls will face Scoresby on Saturday at home where the club will be raising money for the Lukemia Foundation in support of Zayne Anderson. Players will be auctioning a head – or two – of hair in support.
