By JARROD POTTER
MICK Fogarty’s men ruthlessly dispatched East Ringwood back onto Eastlink – after a 16.13 (109) to 3.6 (24) thumping.
The Bulls played defensive bullies against the Roos – not letting the visitors score in the first quarter while kicking three of their own.
The ruthlessness ramped up in the second quarter, with seven goals rammed through the uprights to begin the procession of embarrassment for the lacklustre marsupials.
Sharing the score around – Noble Park had 11 goal-kickers, with Shayne Allen, Luke Cody, Luke Mann, Chris Horton-Milne and George Angelopoulos taking a second each as well.
Feasting on the wind for the final term, the Bulls gored another five goals onto the scoresheet to maintain their savage home win record.
When Noble Park wins at home this season – with a six-of-eight strike-rate, it demolishes the opposition on average by 74 points.
Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty said it all comes down to Bulls’ contested footy – when the Bulls get in under the packs and funnel it out to their runners.
“Just our contested footy – numbers around the footy which has been a strength of ours,” Fogarty said.
“When we’re playing good footy, that’s when we know our pressure around the footy is up.”
The coach was mightily impressed with major ball-winners through the middle of the ground – Craig Anderson, Tim Kelly, Sam Monaghan and Tyson Mitchem – didn’t give an inch and couldn’t be halted when the pressure was applied on the opposition.
“Timmy Harper was outstanding around the footy – Tyson Mitchem, Sammy Monaghan plus Craig Anderson – those four around the footy had terrific impact,” Fogarty said.
While the huge percentage boosters at home help a home-and-away cause, Fogarty focused on Noble Park’s looming opponents – Balwyn this weekend and second place Vermont.
“It certainly helps, but I don’t think it’s like it’s used to be when teams go to someone else’s home ground,” he said.
“The games against the sides, Balwyn and Vermont, at the business end that we have to make a good turn of ourselves as we really want to threaten them this year.”
The Queen’s Birthday rematch takes place at Balwyn this weekend – with top-of-the-ladder Tigers taking on the Bulls in match of the round anywhere throughout this state.
A win helps keep the Bulls in fighting contention for second on the ladder, with Vermont one game clear while also keeping at bay fourth-placed Norwood.
