By ROY WARD
NOBLE Park will have to win its third straight Eastern Football League division 1 premiership the hard way after a five-point loss to Blackburn on Saturday.
The Bulls could have moved into the top three if they had won, but poor kicking for goal cost them a chance at victory over the lowly Burners.
While the Bulls remain a mathematical chance of finishing in third place, Bulls coach Mick Fogarty believes this side will have to play in the elimination final.
“I don’t think we are realistically a chance of going top three,” he said.
“The other teams ahead of us play weaker sides in their last two games. We haven’t lost a final in two years, so we don’t fear playing finals football.”
Fogarty said the Bulls’ kicking for goal had cost them dearly against Blackburn and was a problem that had to be fixed before the post-season.
“Bad kicking is bad football,” he said. “It’s been a problem most of this year. We were missing shots from 30 metres out straight in front.
“We tried our hearts out but didn’t play well and in the end they deserved the points.”
Bulls teenager Cohen Howell was named best player for his tagging role on Burners star Brad Murray. “Cohen did a terrific job on Murray and I was flabbergasted Murray was named in their best players. I was blown away by that,” Fogarty said.
“Even when Cohen came to the bench at one point he said Murray was asking to be moved to half-back because he couldn’t get into the game.
“We know we can rely on Cohen to stop the opposition’s best playmaker each week. He has done a great job.”
The Bulls also got some good news last week with star midfielder Ziggy Alwan able to forgo shoulder surgery until the end of the season.
Fogarty said Alwan could even play in their visit to East Burwood this Saturday.
■ The Southern Football League has announced its venues for the 2012 finals series.
Meade Reserve, Clayton, will host all division 1 finals matches.
The Jack Barker Oval in Cheltenham will host all division 2 finals and Ben Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc, will host all division 3 finals.
In SFL division 3, Doveton Eagles face a battle to hold the top spot, entering the final two games of the season following their 15-point loss to second-placed Moorabbin on Saturday.
The two sides are now locked together on 52 points entering the final two rounds, with the Eagles holding a slight advantage on percentage.
