Tara Murray
Bundoora showed on Saturday there will be more than two contenders come the important part of the Northern Football League division 1 season.
The third-placed Bulls have the toughest run in the competition, successive matches against second side Montmorency and top side Heidelberg.
On Saturday the Bulls ticked the first of those boxes, beating the Magpies 9.16 (70)-4.7 (31).
After an even first quarter, the Bulls blew the game open in the second quarter to lead by 41 points at the main break and were able to keep the gap in the second half.
Bulls coach Michael Ryan said the win would do the group the world of good as they aim to go deep into finals.
“We knew we had to go out there and best one of the good sides,” he said.
“Montmorency is one of those sides along with Heidelberg. This will give us confidence going into the back half of the season.”
Ryan said they didn’t do anything fancy in the win, it was more about playing their brand of football.
He said their defence had lifted in recent weeks, after a tough run of results earlier in the season.
“We did all the basics well,” he said. “The pressure around the contest and the footy, our defence out of the backline.
“Our defence has been really strong all year. We’ve had a real team approach, focusing and competing to make sure we retain the ball in the front half, which is what we did.
“The mids around the ball are keeping the pressure on at the stoppages and the clearances.”
Sam Lloyd kicked six goals in a best on ground performance while Ryan Sturgess kicked two goals.
Ryan said Hamish Shepheard was strong in the ruck all day, Ben McNiece, Jackson Davies, Lachlan East and Neville Jetta were the other standouts.
The win keeps the Bulls in third sport and a game ahead of North Heidelberg. The Bulls are now just a game behind Montmorency.
Ryan said things were going really well.
“We are in a pretty good spot,” he said. “It’s such an even competition with any team between one and 10 can beat anyone on their day.
“Each week is a challenge.”
Ryan said they were keen for the challenge of facing Heidelberg this week, to see where the sides stacks up.
“It is really exciting,” he said. “Montmorency and then Heidelberg, it’s something we were looking forward to.
“Heidelberg for the last 24 months has been tough to beat. We’ll be going out there Saturday and putting our best foot forward.”
Meanwhile, Whittlesea remains without a win after losing to Hurstbridge on Saturday.
Hurstbridge led all day in the 21.13 (139)-7.7 (49) win.
