Bulls outlast Roosters


Published on Sunday, May 28, 2017

Author : Jarryd Barca

Bundoora took a big step in its 2017 finals assault by downing West Preston-Lakeside by 21 points in an enthralling Round 6 clash.

In a see-sawing contest at J.E. Moore Park, the Bulls eventually seized their opportunities, outworking their opponents and finishing strongly to claim a 14.11 (95) to 11.8 (74) victory – their fifth of the season.

The win puts the third-placed Bulls just percentage off top spot, while West Preston-Lakeside remains in fourth position – with an extra game under its belt.

Bundoora led at every change and aside from surrendering the lead early in the final term, always looked the better team.

The Roosters did, however, continue to challenge throughout the game and never faded away, but ultimately were unable to maintain a lead when they took advantage of the momentum.

Brent Marshall was named Bundoora’s best following a strong shut-down role on Ahmed Saad, keeping the league’s leading goal kicker to just a solitary major while also doing plenty of attacking himself.

Gary Moorcroft (five goals) and Josh Grabowski (four) were also prominent in the win, while Matthew Dennis was the dominant big man on the ground.

For the Roosters, Andrew Walker was his usual prolific self, collecting plenty of the footy through the midfield and rebounding off half back.

Jackson Clarke, Garrett McDonagh and Jaylon Thorpe finished with two goals each, while Nathan Valladares provided important bounce and a link out of defence.

Bundoora was slicker going forward in the opening term – with clear intentions of moving the ball quickly – and adjusted to the conditions better than the home side.

Neither team was able to kick back-to-back goals in the first quarter, with the Bulls holding a slender lead at quarter time.

Grabowski’s third goal just a minute into the second quarter was a team lifting one, before Ahmed Saad capitalised at the other end with a set shot to settle the momentum.

Andrew Carmusciano made amends for his side’s inaccuracy midway through the term, converting after four consecutive behinds for the Bulls.

The Roosters hit back with consecutive goals to Walker and Clarke, with the latter highlighting the term with a clever snap out of a ruck contest to draw the contest level.

It took a Moorcroft mark and goal in the goal square late in the quarter to give the visitors a deserved seven-point half time advantage.

The game opened up in the third quarter with plenty of run and carry on show from both sides. Despite the fast-paced game style, there were only four goals kicked in the exciting high-tempo term.

A goal to Moorcroft and a major to Isaac Muller saw Bundoora’s lead skip out to 20 points at the 13-minute mark.

As was the case all day, the Roosters were always able to fight back, as McDonagh launched at goal from long distance for it to sail through and give the home side some hope.

The goal saw an energy spike in the Roosters, with Thorpe kicking a snap around the body soon after to reel the margin back to nine points at the last change of ends.

A sense of heartbreak was emerging for the Bulls with the Roosters kicking the opening two goals of the final quarter via McDonagh and Thorpe again, giving the home side the lead for the first time since the early stages of the match.

The composure shown by Bundoora when succumbing to a three-point deficit was admirable, responding with five of the last six goals to put the game beyond doubt in what was a resilient display of footy.

Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 11.8 (74) def by Bundoora 14.11 (95)

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