Bulls clip Magpies’ wings


Published on Sunday, August 11, 2013

Bundoora staked its claim as a genuine premiership contender with a 24-point victory over top side Montmorency at Yulong Reserve in Round 16.

The Bulls proved too strong for the Magpies, kicking the final five goals of the game to come out victors 17.12 (114) to 13.12 (90).

Nine goals between Cameron Cloke and Gary Moorcroft went a long way towards the victory, but the key to the gutsy win was the back six that controlled the highest scoring team in the competition.

Neil Gloury, Trent Barbero and Ben Shelton were sensational down back for the Bulls, playing shut down roles on Patrick Fitzgerald and Ben Walton. Gloury was everywhere in the first half, proving to be a handful to stop as his intercept marks count reached double figures.

Brent Marshall, adjudged the Narallen Pools Player of the Day, provided run for the Bulls all game while also nullifying Magpie forward Wayne Pavitt. And if throwing himself in front of every contest and in and under the packs wasn’t enough, Marshall would have gone close to being the leading disposal getter.

Cloke, Brayden Shaw, David Mitchell, James Lord and Brendon Carlyon all played valuable roles in the Bulls’ victory and could all be among the votes in a great team effort.

The Bulls came out all guns blazing in the first quarter, kicking six of the first seven goals. Cloke, Moorcroft and Ricky Dyson created a formidable partnership up forward early on and proved too agile and strong for Montmorency early on.

In his quarter-time address, Montmorency coach Bryan Cole urged his players to lift their work rate defensively and try to kick running goals through the Bundoora zone.

The Magpies responded by reducing the margin to 10 points at half time, with a few of those majors being running goals which Cole had challenged his players for. The highlight was Luke Collins’ goal which involved three involvements starting on centre wing and ending with a goal from 20m out.

When Fitzgerald goaled within the first minute of the third quarter it appeared Monty may have gained the upper hand.

However, whenever the Magpies were able to goal in the third quarter, the Bulls were able to counter with a quick reply and ten points remained the lead for Bundoora going into the last quarter.

Bundoora’s coach Phil Plunkett addressed his players pointing out the risks they had taken had got them in a winning position. He stressed another quarter of aggressive and attacking footy would get his troops the victory.

Plunkett would have been displeased to see the first two goals go to Monty forward Fitzgerald before another brilliant goal from Collins handed the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.

But the Bulls were not going to roll over and give this game up. Co-captains Micheal Farrelly and Brayden Shaw quickly responded with goals before consecutive majors from Cloke, one of them a bomb from outside 50m, gave Bundoora arguably its best win of the season.

A goal from Moorcroft after the final siren added to a memorable victory and a game that lived up to be one of the matches of the season.

Montmorency has now lost two of its past three games after winning its previous 13 matches. Midfielders Ryan Jackson, Collins and Jesse Donaldson were all impressive, kicking five goals between them and when Monty was looking dangerous, these three were the ones leading the charge.

Shane Tennant did everything he could to stop the rampaging Bundoora forward line but the combination of Cloke, Moorcroft and Lord, who combined for 12 goals, caused too many headaches for the Magpies’ defenders.

Bundoora travels to Eltham next week with a chance to cement second spot on the ladder while Montmorency travels to Northcote Park in another tough encounter.

Final score: Bundoora 17.12 (114) def Montmorency 13.12 (90)

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