Bundoora was given a lesson early by Heidelberg in the Northern Football League main semi final on Saturday.
With a grand final spot on the line, the Tigers showed why they have been the team to beat this season as they aim for back-to-back titles.
The Tigers kicked five goals to one at quarter time lead by 26 points at quarter time and the margin extended to 47 points at the main break.
The sting went out of the game in the second half with the result just about all but decided.
The Tigers won the second half but the Bulls showed some fight to limit the damage, with the Tigers winning 20.5 (125)-10.7 (67).
Bulls coach Michael Ryan said it was a disappointing first half by his side.
“Heidelberg jumped us early and they were effective going inside 50,” he said. “They were able to put the scoreboard pressure on.
“We were always running up ground after that.”
Ryan said the biggest difference between the two sides was the consistency that was shown throughout the game.
He said while they showed in patches they could match it with the Tigers, they didn’t do it for long enough.
He said you can’t afford to have any lapses against a side like that.
“Heidelberg is a really consistent team and we weren’t,” he said. “You can’t do that against a team on the top of their game for a long time.
“Teams like Heidelberg are really well structured and they know their roles inside out and cover all bases.”
Big men Shaun McKernan and Peter McEvoy kicked two goals each as did Kyle Green.
Ryan said Joel Lamotte and Hamish Shepheard were their two standards as they battled hard all day in tough circumstances.
The Bulls will have to recover quickly if they want to keep their finals hopes alive. Having won in the first week of the finals, the Bulls had the second chance.
The Bulls will face North Heidelberg in the preliminary final on Sunday as they to try and win through to face the Tigers in a second straight grand final.
Speaking at half time of the other semi final between North Heidelberg and Montmorency, which he was watching, Ryan said North Heidelberg was looking very impressive.
“It’s so even competition,” he said.
“You can not get complacent against either side come finals time.”
Meanwhile in division 1, Diamond Creek won through to face Eltham in the grand final, beating St Mary’s.
Tara Murray
