By ROY WARD
ON paper and on the park, Noble Park is strong enough to beat anyone in the Eastern Football League division 1 competition.
But mental demons again crept into the Bulls’ performance during a torrid final term against Vermont at Pat Wright Senior Oval on Saturday.
With a 10-point lead and everything to play for midway through the final term, the Bulls missed a set shot from 30 metres out on a slight angle and then were helpless as the Eagles stormed down the other end and goaled to get within five points.
Then a quick turnover in the centre corridor gave the Eagles another goal and the lead, an advantage they would still have at the final siren, winning by eight points.
Vermont won 14.7 (91) to 11.17 (83).
Bulls coach Mick Fogarty said a video review showed him his players missed 10 set shots at goal from their 17 behinds, a figure he said was simply not good enough.
“I’m as disappointed in the team as I have ever been in my years at the club,” Fogarty said.
“It was a tight affair all day, but we made crucial errors in the last quarter that let us down. We had opportunities to hit the scoreboard again, 10 of our behinds were set shots.
“After they kicked those couple of goals it was virtually game over.”
Fogarty said his players had the ability to kick goals from all angles but were struggling with confidence. “We discussed it after the game. We’ve talked about it and looked at what we do at training but like so many things in life, it’s more mental than anything else.”
Bulls goal-sneak George Angelopoulos kicked three goals and was named best player for the Bulls along with Craig Jacotine, Brett Dore and Brad Scalzo, who returned to the seniors after breaking his leg last year.
Former Hawthorn player Tom Schneider was named best for the Eagles and forward Ash Froud kicked seven goals.
Fogarty is hopeful that big man Luke Mann and midfielder Nick Williams will both be pushing for selection heading into this Saturday’s clash against Lilydale at Pat Wright Senior Oval.
EFL division 1 ladder: Balwyn 16 points, 143.38 per cent; Norwood 12, 136.61; Knox 12, 114.39; Blackburn 12, 96.91; Noble Park 8, 133.97; Lilydale 8, 110.86; Rowville 8, 96.76; Vermont 8, 96.65; South Croydon 8, 84.71; Scoresby 4, 74.42; East Ringwood 0, 71.94; East Burwood 0, 66.67.
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