The 12.9 (81) to 5.6 (36) victory keeps the Bulls right on the heels of table leaders Heidelberg and Montmorency who played out a dramatic two-point thriller at Montmorency Park on Saturday.
In a day that typified Melbourne’s ‘four seasons in one day’ tag, contested football was going to be crucial for each side’s chance at victory.
Star Bulls forward Cameron Cloke was a big omission for the game, and with the inclusion of Greensborough’s Nick Riddle, the match was set for a great contest.
Big Bull ruckman Matt Dennis dominated the hit-outs and proved to be the key around stoppages, giving good service to his midfielders.
However, despite Dennis’s prominence, it was a sluggish start from both teams, until the home side found some run and spread through the back half complimented by the hard running of Luke Hyatt and Trent Barbero.
They were able to link up and hit up veteran key forward Paul Harrison – who finished with three majors upon return to the team.
Greensborough responded with two of their own goals in the first term thanks to the hard efforts of Joel McLellan and Rhys Boyden, which decreased the margin to 12 points at quarter-time.
The second quarter was a slugfest. In the greasy conditions, it was hard to squeeze the ball out of congestion and players often found themselves under a pack of five or more players. The polish we have seen from both these teams for the past couple of weeks was stripped as the hard ball needed to be won.
There were only two goals kicked in the quarter and as the boys trudged into the rooms at half time you could scarcely pick out a player that wasn’t bruised or muddy from the first half of play.
The Bulls charged out of the gates in the third quarter, kicking four goals to Greensborough’s two. The Bulls had the chance to bury the away side, but kicked four behinds, which included a number of kickable misses.
Kent Delbridge and Brent Marshall were instrumental for the Bulls. Marshall played as a crumber off packs and though he was rewarded with just one goal, Bulls head coach Phil Maylin will be proud of his selfless team work and hard-nosed attack on the football.
In a lot of ways the fourth quarter was just a process, sadly for both sides. With the game seemingly over, Greensborough lacked its usual hunger around the ball and just wasn’t good enough despite the brave and honest fight from Conlan Gunn, Lachlan McQuilken and Tristan Stead.
The Boro were unable to match the run and carry of the Bulls when they did have opportunities to press forward. Aside from Boyden, they also failed to find winners up forward, with Bundoora recording three multiple score kickers as opposed to Boro’s one.
The Bulls will come away from the win satisified with the good overall spread of contributors and a stat sheet that didn’t feature Cloke or Gary Moorcroft – with the latter held goalless for the first time this season.
Bundoora will look to continue its winning momentum next week when it faces arch-rival and competition ladder-leader Heidelberg at Warringal Park, in a game that could have a massive bearing on both teams’ premiership ambitions.
Whilst it doesn’t get any easier for Greensborough who face second-placed rival Montmorency at home.
The Boro will have to win their final four games of the season and have other results go their way if they are to have any chance of playing in this year’s finals series.
Final score: Bundoora 12.9 (81) def Greensborough 5.6 (36)
