By Roy Ward
NOBLE Park remains confident in its ability to rise for the finals despite a final-term fade-out against East Burwood on Saturday.
The two-time Eastern Football League premiers look set to finish in fifth place after the last round of the season this Saturday.
The Bulls trailed by nine points at three-quarter time but looked a chance at a comeback victory only to fall away, losing by 17 points.
Bulls coach Mick Fogarty said his side had shown enough for him to be confident in the weeks to come.
“We were good for three quarters and we generated some energy and excitement. It’s mind-boggling how we got overrun in the last quarter,” he said.
“We have a lot to look forward to and the positive is we got game time into our returning players and our young kids are stepping up for us.”
Fogarty said the Bulls were buoyed by the return of Sam Monaghan, Trent Robinson and Glenn Manson. Star midfielder Ziggy Alwan played three quarters in the reserves and Andrew McConnell is expected back from the Bulls’s last regular season match.
This Saturday, the Bulls will get an early look at Vermont, their possible opponent in the division 1 elimination final. “If we beat them we could play them the week after, so there is a lot riding on this game for both sides,” Fogarty said.
Bulls rover Tyson Mitchem, Stewart Kemperman, George Angelopoulos and Chris Horton-Milne were named best players against East Burwood. Luke Mann kicked three goals.
The Bulls host Vermont at Pat Wright Senior Oval at 2.10pm this Saturday.
EFL division 1: Norwood 56 points, 137.07 per cent; Vermont 52, 137.88; Scoresby 52, 133.33; Balwyn 48, 145.62; Noble Park 44, 119.42; East Burwood 36, 103.41; Lilydale 28, 93.96; Knox 28, 86.20; East Ringwood 24, 85.31; Blackburn 24, 83.30; South Croydon 12, 67.58; Croydon 4, 63.29.
