By JARROD POTTER
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – SEMI FINAL
A GALLANT performance from Noble Park was not enough to overcome a second-term spree in its EFL semi-final loss to Vermont.
The gale whipped up at Ringwood and left no-one the victor through a ferocious first term. Five behinds – between the two sides – was the sum tally of the battle-hardened stanza as the likes of Jackson Sketcher, Trent Cody and the perennial packman Craig Anderson jumped onto anything the Eagles tried to possess.
Noble Park’s resolve was tested in the second term though as Vermont leapt from the gates with the wind at its back, the Eagles sure did soar, booting seven goals to two.
The Bulls wouldn’t go away though – battling it out to the final siren as only the scantest of margins separated the sides throughout a back-and-forth last term.
Shayne Allan had a tricky shot in the dying minutes to put the Bulls back in front, but his shot into the howling wind faded late.
Vermont exploded from the kick-in as Wade McConnon proved the Vermont hero and Noble Park villain to find space out the back to put Vermont seven points clear into red time. The Bulls couldn’t find any more in the tank as the stoppage game clamped down any momentum.
Shayne Allan and Vergim Faik (two goals) gave the Bulls a target up forward while Trent Robertson, Sam Monaghan and Glen Manson toiled in the dogged defeat.
“I think the first half – going into the wind in the first quarter and only registering three points is hard to defend when the opposition had it in the second quarter,” Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty said.
“They got seven goals – go in five down at half-time – but we gave ourselves a chance but went into that third quarter and kicked four goals six.
“Had opportunities to go in with a couple of goal lead, but couldn’t nail them in the third.”
Fogarty thought the Bulls’ season overall was very successful, but in part was a tale of two halves as the lead into finals was dogged with injuries and line-up.
“Our first half was terrific – we were as good as anyone in that top five but I think the second half form and injury hurt us,” Fogarty said.
“We could never get a balanced side – especially when (Shane) Valenti went down against North Ringwood and we had other significant injuries to players throughout that period.
“Four or so changes per week that unsettled our side.
“Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. The Norwood game the week before where we gifted them five goals in the first term and again, sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way and when it doesn’t it has a snowball effect on the whole game.”
List management will be the next major milestone for the club, with Fogarty admitting there was time for renewal throughout the list, even to some of the Bulls’ most loyal throughout the years.
Noble Park finished fourth in the competition with Balwyn, Norwood and Vermont left in the EFL premiership race.
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINAL
NOBLE PARK 0.3 2.4 6.10 8.11 (59)
VERMONT 0.2 7.5 7.5 10.6 (66)
NOBLE PARK Goals: S. Allan 2, V. Faik 2, A. Erbulut, L. Mann, S. Kemperman. Best: T. Robertson, J. Sketcher, T. Cody, C. Anderson, S. Monaghan, G. Manson.
