By ROY WARD
NOBLE Park lost the points but didn’t lose face during its three-point defeat by Vermont in the Eastern Football League division 1 competition on Saturday.
The Bulls took a 29-point lead into half time but faced a torrid battle to keep it after four players went down injured.
With no rotations and a talented Eagles side smelling blood, the Bulls hung tough for much of the second half and had some late shots for goal that missed the mark.
The Bulls had lost Nicholas Williams (hamstring), Craig Jacotine (groin), Bob Kemperman (corked thigh) and first-gamer Benn Logan to a serious knee injury.
Bulls coach Mick Fogarty said his side had made him proud despite the loss. “Pretty shattering to lose at the end but our fight at the end was outstanding,” he said.
“In the second quarter we were outstanding and took a stranglehold on the game but at the end we couldn’t sustain it.”
As the Bulls’ injury list continues to grow, Fogarty said his side had to keep finding new contributors and keep plugging away.
“We have to keep coming and keep believing. Every week we seem to lose two or three blokes, but if we can hang tough, notch a few more wins and make the finals then anything could happen.”
The Bulls will get star on-baller George Angelopolous back from suspension for this week’s game. Fogarty is hopeful Kemperman will recover from his corked thigh in time to play.
After two games in the reserves, off-season recruit Luke McLean could also make his first senior start of the season after a serious hamstring injury.
The bright spot for the Bulls has been the form of several young players thrown into the seniors due to the injury problems.
Emerging midfielder Luke Cody put on his most impressive display of the season against the Eagles, kicking five goals and shining in a forward-midfield role.
“He is a mini Shayne Allan,” said Fogarty, comparing Cody to the star Bulls forward. “Luke always had a lot of ability but he had to work hard on his fitness and defensive pressure. He can play and he is as clever as they come.”
The Bulls face East Ringwood at East Ringwood Reserve at 2.10pm this Saturday.
FINAL SCORES
Victorian Football League:
Werribee Tigers 20.13 (133) d Casey Scorpions 8.7(55).
TAC Cup:
Oakleigh Chargers 12.8 (80) d Eastern Ranges 6.9(45).
Southern Football League:
Division 1: Dingley 15.8 (98) d St Kilda City 10.8 (68); Clayton 11.8 (74) d Heatherton 8.6 (54).
Division 2: Oakleigh District 20.13 (133) d South Yarra 9.10 (64); Springvale Districts 7.18 (60) d Hampton 4.10 (34); Skye 26.10 (166) d Southern Dragons 6.8 (44).
Division 3: Caulfield 11.17 (83) d Dandenong 6.5 (41); Ashwood 12.9 (81) d Hallam 8.5 (53); Mount Waverley 14.14 (98) d Endeavour Hills 12.14 (86); Moorabbin 25.11 (161) d Lyndale 8.4 (52); Doveton Eagles 12.8(80) d Sandown 8.6 (54).
Eastern Football League:
Division 1: Croydon 17.18 (120) d South Croydon 10.10 (70); Lilydale 19.14 (128) d East Burwood 9.8(62); Scoresby 14.12 (96) d Knox 7.10 (52); Balwyn 17.16 (118) d East Ringwood 8.13 (61); Norwood 14.11 (95) d Blackburn 4.11 (35); Vermont 13.11 (89) d Noble Park 12.14 (86).
Division 2: Doncaster East 14.7 (91) d Bayswater 11.15 (81); Rowville 11.10 (76) d Montrose 7.13 (55); Upper Ferntree Gully 9.5 (59) d Mulgrave 7.6 (48); Mooroolbark 18.16 (124) d Waverley Blues 10.11 (71).
Division 3: Templestowe 18.11 (119) d Heathmont 11.14 (80); Boronia 11.8 (74) d Mitcham 6.13 (49); Glen Waverley Hawks 15.10 (100) d North Ringwood 8.8 (56); Wantirna South 14.12 (96) d Chirnside Park 9.10 (64); Ringwood 21.16 (142) d Coldstream 9.9(63).
Division 4: Park Orchards 15.11 (101) d Canterbury 9.16 (70); South Belgrave 11.13 (79) d Eastern Lions 4.10 (34); Ferntree Gully 21.15 (141) d Surrey Park 3.2(20); Forest Hill 15.12 (102) d Kilsyth 6.10 (46); The Basin 25.23 (173) d Nunawading 6.8 (44).
Casey Cardinia Football League: (split round)
Cranbourne 12.10(82) d Beaconsfield 8.10 (58); Doveton 12.19 (91) d Pakenham 9.4 (58).
For full results, click on Greater Dandenong Latest Sport Results link at upper right.
THIS WEEK
Victorian Football League:
Casey Scorpions v Port Melbourne, Casey Fields Sunday 2pm.
TAC Cup:
Calder Cannons v Oakleigh Chargers, Highgate Recreation Reserve 11am.
Southern Football League:
Division 1: Bye. Next games July 14. St Paul’s v Heatherton, McKinnon Reserve 2pm; Clayton v St Kilda City, Meade Reserve 2pm; Dingley v Highett, Souter Oval 2.20pm.
Division 2: Bye. Next games July 14. Springvale Districts v Oakleigh District, Springvale Reserve 2pm; Murrumbeena v Southern Dragons, Murrumbeena Park 2pm.
Division 3: Bye. Next games July 14. Lyndale v Endeavour Hills, Barry Powell Reserve 2pm; Mount Waverley v Sandown, Mayfield Reserve 2pm; Doveton Eagles v Hallam, Power Reserve 2pm; Moorabbin v Dandenong, Widdop Crescent Reserve 2pm.
Eastern Football League:
Division 1: South Croydon v Vermont, Cheong Park 2.10pm; East Ringwood v Noble Park, East Ringwood Reserve 2.10pm; Knox v Lilydale, Knox Gardens Reserve 2.10pm; Blackburn v East Burwood, Morton Park 2.10pm; Norwood v Balwyn, Mullum Reserve 2.10pm; Scoresby v Croydon, Scoresby Recreation Reserve 2.10pm.
Division 2: Bayswater v Mooroolbark, Bayswater Oval 2.10pm; Montrose v Mulgrave, Montrose Reserve 2.10pm; Waverley Blues v Upper Ferntree Gully, Mt Waverley Reserve 2.10pm; Doncaster v Rowville, Schramms Reserve 2.10pm; Doncaster East v Donvale, Zerbes Reserve 2.10pm.
Division 3: Heathmont v Boronia, HE Parker Reserve 2.10pm; Ringwood v Chirnside Park, Jubilee Park 2.10pm; North Ringwood v Coldstream, Quambee Reserve 2.10pm; Mitcham v Glen Waverley Hawks, Walker Park 2.10pm; Wantirna South v Warrandyte, Walker Reserve 2.10pm.
Division 4: Park Orchards v South Belgrave, Domeney Reserve 2.10pm; Eastern Lions v Ferntree Gully, Lewis Park 2.10pm; Kilsyth v Canterbury, Pinks Reserve 2.10pm; Silvan v The Basin, Silvan Recreation Reserve 2.10pm; Surrey Park v Forest Hill, Surrey Park Reserve 2.10pm.
Casey Cardinia Football League:
Berwick v Cranbourne, Edwin Flack Reserve 2.15pm; Narre Warren v Beaconsfield, Kalora Park 2.15pm; Hampton Park v Doveton, LS Reid Oval 2.15pm; Pakenham v ROC, Toomuc Reserve 2.15pm; Tooradin-Dalmore v Keysborough, Tooradin Recreation Reserve 2.10pm.
All games on Saturday unless otherwise stated.
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