By JARROD POTTER
WOEFUL shot-on-goal efficiency cost Noble Park dearly as the Bulls shanked their way to an eight-point loss to last season’s premiers Vermont.
Unable to capitalise on its bounty of goal-bound opportunity, the Bulls sprayed 10 set-shots to finish with 11.17 (83) to the more proficient 14.7 (91) of the Eagles.
Trailing by eight points – eight behinds to be precise in light of Noble Park’s waywardness – Vermont charged ahead through the efforts of Ashley Froud, who drilled seven goals for the match in a game-winning performance.
For the home team, George Angelopoulos continued his stellar season to date, jagging three goals and always finding himself at the base of packs while multiple goals also went to Brett Dore, Matt Dunne and Luke Cody.
Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty was blunt in his assessment of the team’s on-goal inaccuracy.
“When we had our opportunities to kick goals we didn’t take it,” Fogarty said.
“When you have 10 shots on goal and kick 10 points, you’re not going to win the game against the best opposition.”
Fogarty highlighted the efforts of Jarrod Plymin and Brad Scalzo – with the latter returning from a horrific broken leg injury sustained last season.
“Brad Scalzo came back and competed very well,” Fogarty said.
“He wasn’t exceptional – he was just working his way back into the tempo of the game, but I thought his efforts across half forward, keeping the footy in, were terrific.”
Noble Park hosts Lilydale at home this weekend, in a battle for fifth spot on the line.
