Goals, and plenty of them, was the instruction for Bundoora ahead of Saturday’s clash with Whittlesea in Northern Football League division 1.
Sitting outside the top five, and with a poorer percentage than some of the teams around them, the Bulls needed a big win to keep their finals hopes alive.
PICTURE GALLERY | Bundoora v Whittlesea
They followed their coach’s orders to a T, kicking 27 goals in a 93-point win over the Eagles, 27.11 (173) to 11.14 (80).
Bulls football manager Darryl Richards said the outstanding performance had been a couple of weeks in the making.
“First and second are locked in and there’s seven teams fighting for the two other spots. We know that making the finals could come down to percentage.
‘‘Our goals for total is very low, and we must find more ways to goal rather than just rely on Cameron Cloke and Gary Moorcroft.’’
While the Bulls had 11 goalkickers, Cloke and Moorcroft still dominated the scoreboard, kicking 11 between them.
“The run and carry we had was really good and we played on at all costs,’’ Richards said.
“We couldn’t give them [the Eagles] the chance to get back and block the space in front of Moorcroft and Cloke.”
Ned McKeown also stood out. “He played in various positions and his workrate was the best I’ve ever seen it,’’ Richards said. “He’s only 19 and will be a star.”
Richards said the reigning premiers were primed for the final rounds of the season.
“We’re getting players back who have been out of the side for weeks and getting them into form. Premiership player Marlon Mitchell, who hasn’t played all year, will play reserves this week and Matt Aquilina will get his first run back from injury. Kent Delbridge is training the house down and will be back, too.’’
Bundoora (8-7) will take on Macleod (8-7) at Yulong Reserve on Saturday.
In division 2, Lalor was too strong for Mernda, winning 18.6 (114) to 7.15 (57). Lalor got the jump with four goals to none in the opening quarter. Epping did its hopes of staying in division 2 no harm, defeating Panton Hill 18.10 (118) to 8.13 (61). In division 3, top side Thomastown won by 97 points.
