By JARROD POTTER
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – ROUND 9
STANDING its ground against best of Balwyn’s might, Noble Park endured a monumental fightback to snare a sweet 12-point away win.
Noble Park had built a comfortable lead through the first three terms – especially on the back of an extraordinary six-goal second quarter.
The Bulls laid the foundations for success upon the mighty shoulders of Brett Dore and Kyle Martin (five goals) as Martin starred through the centre and up forward in his usual manner while Dore took to any high-marking task he was given – forward or back.
Tim Kelly and Ryan Morrison curtailed the Tigers from the other end while Vergim Faik gave it on a platter to the likes of Mitch Gent, Sam Monaghan and the indefatigable Craig Anderson.
Defensive reinforcements – in the form of recent Box Hill alumnus Liam Tobin who made the switch back to EFL this week – added another layer of depth to the Bulls’ back half alongside Morrison, Ben Giobbi and Kelly.
But despite the resolute efforts from the entire Bulls’ group… nothing they could do would shake the Tigers loose.
Balwyn threw everything they had at the visitors in the final stanza – taking their chances through the midfield, finding space with overlap before delivering it lace-out to Nathan Gordon and Jeff Gobbells (four goals each).
Tim Harper (two goals) made amends for an earlier miss by slotting the Bulls’ first of the fourth, before the side started getting overrun.
Balwyn had it on a string through the last 20 minutes as Noble Park was left to withstand the barrage.
The frantic efforts in defence from Giobbi, Tobin, captain Sam Monaghan and Stewart Kemperman allowed the Bulls to escape time and time again before the Balwyn battering started to subside and show its weak-spots.
But throughout it all the Bulls planted their feet and dug in.
Kevin Kean and Martin combined to boot the match-sealer – crumbed from a tap and delivered with quick hands to the former AFL midfielder – which made for one almighty statement when the siren blew.
It gave Noble Park another win at the Balwyn fortress – the reigning premiers’ hoin what has proven to be a happy hunting ground for the Moodemere Street boys in recent seasons.
Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty threw his hands up in pure joy after the hard-fought win as he knew how much this match meant in the context of the side’s 2016 chances.
“We’re just ecstatic today with getting the result, we knew if we come to produce an effort that we’re capable of, the results will come and they came,” Fogarty said. “We always have belief in the strength of the group – I thought we almost had our best side in today (Saturday).
“Ziggie Alwan was missing, Piva came back and played his first game and worked hard, you could see he was underdone and eventually had to put him in when it was season on the line – game on the line sort of thing – to come down here and play the reigning premiers.”
Fogarty couldn’t praise his battering ram Anderson highly enough, as he continued to light up the competition and give the side someone to follow into the trenches.
“Ando was sensational,” Fogarty said. “That’s vintage Ando – we don’t get to see too much of it anymore simply because we shouldn’t have to rely on a 36-year-old player to be our best week-in, week-out, but today he turned the clock back didn’t he.”
Noble Park improves its record to 5-4 and hoists itself to fourth on the Division 1 ladder. Hosting Vermont on Saturday afternoon will be another top-tier showdown for Fogarty’s Bulls.
EFL SCOREBOARD
BALWYN 2.6 6.7 8.10 11.12 (78)
NOBLE PARK 2.3 8.8 11.10 13.12 (90)
BALWYN Goals: J. Gobbels 4, N. Gordon 4, D. Hughes, L. Frazer, S. Cross. Best: J. Wright, S. Tregear, S. Cross, J. Weatherald, J. Meesen, N. Gordon, NOBLE PARK Goals: K. Martin 5, T. Harper 2, P. Wright, L. Cody, T. Beech, S. Allan, M. Gent, V. Faik. Best: K. Martin, B. Dore, C. Anderson, T. Mitchem, L. Tobin, M. Gent.
