One of football’s fairytale stories was completed on Saturday afternoon when Phil Plunkett held aloft the 2013 premiership cup following Bundoora’s remarkable win in the Division 1 Grand Final.
In his first season in charge at Yulong Reseve, Plunkett claimed his fourth premiership as coach – following a three-peat at Heidelberg between 2007-2009 – when Bundoora overcame Montmorency in a dramatic Grand Final.
Plunkett’s return to the premiership dais marked a meteoric return to health after he was diagnosed with cancer late in 2011, shortly after joining Bundoora as an assistant to Phil Maylin.
The Bulls’ latest premiership success moved him to equal second, with former North Heidelberg and Bundoora coach Gary Massey, on the list of most Division 1 premierships won as a coach.
Only Steve Easton, with five, has won more premierships after guiding Lalor to two flags and Northcote Park to a further three.
Bundoora had to do it the hard way in the 2013 premiership decider, coming from 33 points down at three-quarter time to win by 29 points following a nine-goal unanswered final term.
Plunkett said the entire Bulls squad had great confidence they could pull off the come-from-behind victory, even when they trailed by 46 points during time-on of the third term.
“We always had the belief,” he said.
“We thought that our 22 were fairly strong and no-one was going to give in and that was their promise to us on Thursday.
“Whatever happened, we were going to give four quarters of our best and wouldn’t die wondering. We came out and we hopefully proved that we are the best four-quarter side in the competition.”
Despite his enormous belief in his playing group’s ability to fight back against adversity, Plunkett did admit he was shocked by how great the final margin ended up being.
“I wouldn’t have in my wildest dreams thought we’d kick 9.8 (in the last quarter) so it’s a bit surreal,” he said
“The wind plays a bit of a factor (at Preston City Oval) and once you start to get a little bit close, especially if you’re kicking into the breeze, it becomes a mental thing and you start to get on top.”
The dramatic Grand Final result capped off a stunning turnaround in form by the Bulls, who looked destined to miss out on a top three place leading into the finals series.
Well beaten by Eltham in Round 17, they trailed Northcote Park by 35 points early in their must-win Round 18 clash before running away with a 41-point win.
Since that day, Bundoora has never looked back.
Plunkett credit’s the reversal in form to all players buying in to club’s game plan.
“I think the boys started to get the belief in each other and that the way we want to play is the right way to play,” he said.
“We need to keep using everyone, rather than falling into old habits of just bombing it long.
“Hopefully it’s the changing of the guard for our team and our standing in the competition.”
Plunkett paid praise to Bundoora’s big names who led the way in the final term, with Brayden Shaw, Matthew Dennis and Micheal Farrelly all putting in huge efforts as the Bulls mounted their comeback.
Meantime, forwards Gary Moorcroft and Cameron Cloke looked dangerous right throughout the afternoon and combined for nine goals.
He made note of also crediting the solid games of his defensive group, led by Ben Shelton, Trent Barbero and Neil Gloury.
It was fitting that it was Barbero – who came into the game under an injury cloud – who ventured forward to kick the winning goal after completely blanketing Montmorency leading goal kicker Patrick Fitzgerald.
Having previously won just three Division 1 Grand Finals from 14 appearances, Bundoora’s fourth flag in the top flight marked its second premiership success in just three seasons.
