By Jarrod Potter
EFL DIVISION 1 – ROUND 16
BULL-IED out of its second battle against Norwood this year, Noble Park has some home truths to address if it wants to stay relevant in this year’s finals race.
Precision passing inside forward-50. Pressure around the stoppages and on the ball-carrier. Discipline.These were some of the key areas Noble Park failed to address throughout the match as Norwood brushed aside the number-two EFL seed in a 46-point win.Problems have been building for a while with the Bulls – as wins against Lilydale, Blackburn and North Ringwood glossed over a number of underlying issues.
With premium competition at home on Saturday against last year’s premiers, there was no “get-out-of-jail” card for Noble Park this week though as the Norsemen flew away from the Bulls through the third term in particular.
While two late goals to Kyle Martin kept the Bulls within seven points at the main break, from there it was a battle to hold on in the literal and figurative mire at Moodemere St.
Norwood cantered past Noble Park as the reigning premiers flourished in the “premiership quarter”.Six goals to a couple of token behinds left the match virtually out of reach.The Bulls finally got it together in the fourth quarter – linking up and drilling four goals via Dylan Collis and Shayne Allan to restrict the Norsemen rampage, but by then it was much too late.
Brett Dore had his hands full with former AFL forward Leigh Williams (four goals) while generally the Noble Park defence couldn’t clamp down.Jackson Sketcher was exceptional in defence though – rebounding at every opportunity and one of a select few to fly the flag – while Sam Monaghan, young forward Collis and ruck man Vergim Faik also contributed.Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty said pressure and perceived pressure had the Bulls on the ropes early.
“Just our pressure around the footy and our ability when they didn’t have the footy to lock down and make the ground small,” Fogarty said. “When we came out we probably didn’t use it as well and whether that’s perceived pressure from the opposition – and it would’ve been – it really affected the way we went inside-50.”
Fogarty thought it was the low-point of the Bulls’ season so far as the rough month on-field finally resulted in a loss and another tough clash ahead against the Tigers.
“We’re in a rut at the moment – we are, there’s no denying that,” Fogarty said. “I think like good teams do we need to find a way through it as we’re coming to the most important time of the year – it doesn’t get any easier next week with Balwyn at Balwyn.
“With injuries too – we’ve got some real issues – we’ve gone from a real A-grade midfield to having a lot of that personnel missing through injury.
“But that’s footy – that happens – and we need to find a way to work through it and get through.”
With Shane Valenti (knee), Craig Anderson (hamstring) and Tim Harper (ankle) all in the throes of injury, it forces the Bulls to dig into its depth, with the likes of Luke Cody, Bob Kemperman and Luke Mann all likely to gain promotion back into the first side for the round 17 clash.
EFL SCOREBOARD
Noble Park 0.3 2.4 2.6 6.8 (44)
Norwood 2.4 3.5 9.8 13.12 (90)
NOBLE PARK Goals: D. Collis 2, K. Martin 2, S. Allan, V. Faik. Best: J. Sketcher, D. Collis, V. Faik, Z. Alwan, S. Monaghan, C. Anderson.
NORWOOD Goals: L. Williams 4, R. Jordon 2, L. Dickson 2, D. Johnson, M. Jessop, J. Kroussoratis, C. O”Sullivan, M. Decler. Best: M. Aver, J. Kroussoratis, J. Holmes, J. Newman, M. Bate, M. Ambrose.
