Twelve months on from their last Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 Qualifying Final meeting, Bundoora again found a way to claim victory, this time by four points in a brilliant match with Montmorency at Preston City Oval.
The Magpies trailed by 17 points at half time before almost snatching the win from the Bulls with just moments remaining.
However, Shaun McKernan’s three-goal final term haul was too strong to overcome for the opposition defence, as his Bulls triumphed 10.8 (68) to 10.4 (64) to book a second consecutive second semi-final date with Heidelberg.
McKernan finished with five majors for the match in what was a scintillating display up forward. His presence inside 50 along with Peter McEvoy, who kicked three of his own, was the difference in Bundoora securing their fifth straight victory.
With that dynamic duo controlling things up forward, Sam Lloyd was important further up the ground, winning multiple clearances to set up some of those majors, while Jake Hobbs was an integral part of the victory also.
For the Magpies, Marcus Lentini had a field day racking up touches and was a hard body around contests, whilst Liam Wale-Buxton played outstanding in the ruck whilst too being an option for his teammates down the line when needed.
Patrick Fitzgerald kept Montmorency in the hunt with three goals to bring his season tally to 75.
But the reality of the result is that the Magpies have now lost seven of their last eight games against Bundoora and will need to win three consecutive finals if they are to claim this year’s premiership.
The opening term began with the Bulls all over the football, starting with Jake Hobbs, who first drew a high free kick and then a 50-metre penalty to kick the first goal of the match four minutes in.
Whilst Bundoora had the momentum, they were unfortunate to score more than their eventual 1.3.
This allowed the Magpies to swoop back into the contest, first through Sleep’s flying kick through the big sticks from the goal square, and then through Fitzgerald, who’s first major of the game gave Montmorency the lead.
Bundoora coach Michael Ryan praised his men for their efforts in the opening term despite being three points down at quarter time and highlighted their pressure inside 50 as the key behind their ability to keep up with the Magpies.
With the start of the second term, the Bulls were able to regain the lead just two minutes in through Daniel Younan, who snapped truly from close to the boundary.
Younan’s goal was just the start of the Bulls’ attack towards goal, with McKernan and McEvoy finding the big sticks to pile the scoreboard pressure on Montmorency.
Fitzgerald kicked his second goal of the match after a nice, contested mark in an attempt to steady the Magpies’ composure and get back in the contest.
But Montmorency were always under pressure from the Bulls, with uncharacteristic fumbles and errors saw them struggle to maintain possession.
McKernan and McEvoy again kicked majors to bring it out 23 points before Fitzgerald’s third major made it a 17-point contest by half time.
As they looked to turn the momentum around, the Magpies came out hard at the start of the third term and seemed as though they returned to the confident side that had been illustrated throughout the season, kicking the first two majors of the quarter to get right back in the game.
Those majors from Stefan Uzelac and Liam Wale-Buxton made it a six-point margin, with the Magpies going six of six with their scoring shots at that point in the game.
McEvoy’s third goal of the game 10 minutes into the quarter settled things for the Bundoora but it was clear that the Bulls were now the side feeling the heat from their opposition.
Their defence did stand tall and ensured their lead was never lost throughout the quarter, but as Lentini kicked a pivotal goal after the three-quarter time siren, Montmorency looked destined to retake the advantage, facing just a three-point deficit at the final change.
Magpies coach Jonathan Manzoney was satisfied with the comeback his side provided in the third term but challenged them to keep their run going in the final quarter, making a particular point to attack the first five minutes of the term hard.
And five minutes into the quarter would be when the Magpies made their move, with Lentini winning a free kick and converting truly to give Montmorency their first lead since the second term.
But McKernan then took over. He was marking everything inside 50 and kicked two goals within a minute to swing the momentum back to the Bulls favour.
Ben Paterson responded for Montmorency with a nice finish approaching time on, but McKernan could not be stopped, marking and goaling a minute later to almost put the game to bed.
When all looked lost for the Magpies a major from Liam McMahon at the 26th minute of the term suddenly made it a four-point margin.
With moments remaining, the Montmorency did all they could to pinch the lead again and managed one more shot on goal which went out of the bounds. But Bundoora forced stoppages and gained the territory they needed to run down the clock and seal a famous four-point win.
