You never know which Bundoora team will turn up in division 1 of the Northern Football League.
The Bulls were disappointing against Whittlesea two weeks ago before handing Heidelberg its first loss of the season a week later.
And on Saturday, it was another case of what might have been after the third-placed Bulls lost 15.11 (101)-14.11 (95) to eighth-placed Northcote Park.
Bundoora football manager Darryl Richards said his team wasn’t mentally switched on.
“We had the same issue against Whittlesea when they thought someone else would get the job done,” he said. “It was a wake-up call.
“We then took on the best team in the competition [Heidelberg] and gave them a flogging. It’s disappointing to then play like we did.”
Both sides had their chances as they traded the lead, but the Bulls couldn’t hit the lead in the last quarter.
“They wanted the ball more,” Richards said. “Scores were level in the last few minutes and both sides were desperate to get the next score.
“They hunted in numbers, had a lot more aggression and kicked a goal with about five seconds to go. They deserved the win.”
Ruckman Matthew Dennis was best for the Bulls on his 30th birthday, while Dominic Nixon showed his time in the reserves had paid off and he was named among the best players in his first senior game back. Gary Moorcroft kicked six goals to add to the eight he kicked last week.
Richards said the coaching staff was likely to look at the forward line and its make-up during the week.
He said while they loved that 40-year-old Moorcroft was still kicking goals, they didn’t want to have to rely on him.
“We could have won if we’d got the forward line working,” Richards said. “The ball came out of the forward line too quickly, making it harder for our defence, which has been rock solid.”
The loss caused the Bulls to slip to fourth on percentage behind Macleod, and Richards said every game was now vital. “The aim was always to get into the top three, and to lose games like that puts us behind the eight ball,” he said.
Whittlesea’s three-game winning streak came to an end in a 13.11 (89)-9.12 (66) loss to Macleod.
In division 2, the struggles continued for Thomastown and Lalor, who lost again.
And in division 3, thriller kings Epping again won a close one, beating St Mary’s by two points. Mernda set up a top-two clash with Epping after beating Kilmore, while South Morang lost to Watsonia.
