It’s a long road to a successful season but the Northern Bullants are well on their way. With a balanced list of both experienced and exciting young players, the boys from Preston City Oval have shown they are capable of winning games under the pressure of an even contest, in a variety of conditions. After two consecutive VFL grand final defeats, the Bullants are determined to maintain their strong presence in the competition and once again assert themselves as serious contenders.
James Hunter-Smith reviews their season to date.
Where they stand-
After nine rounds, the Bullants sit comfortably in 3rd position on the Peter Jackson Melbourne VFL ladder, one game clear of fourth placed Bendigo. With six wins and two losses, they remain one of the in-form teams of the competition, with finals a realistic possibility. The Bullants have won their games with a healthy average margin of 23 points, however their last four wins have all been within three goals, highlighting the team’s resilience and ability to grind out close contests.
Coach Darren Harris said he was pleased with his troops’ form this season, but admitted it is far too early to start thinking about making another Grand Final.
“At this time of the year, to be six and two, you’d be pretty happy with that,” he said.
“But it’s way too far out for [grand finals].
“You’d have to say that 10 or 11 games is probably going to get you in there with a chance, [but] we just want to qualify first step.”
Key players-
The Bullants have benefited from a wealth of depth on their list, with many experienced Carlton players finding themselves in the side as they recover from injury, alongside an exciting group of youngsters bursting at the seam.
Carlton-listed players such as Lachie Henderson, Andrew Collins and Ryan Houlihan have been solid for the Bullants over the past few weeks, and have helped the younger players develop through their experience and on-field leadership. Henderson in particular has impressed Harris, who believes he has been a strong presence up forward and is pressing for a spot in the senior side.
Promising youngsters such as Zach Tuohy, Wade Twomey and Ahmed Saad have all earned concrete spots in the Bullants team, playing with great intensity around the ball and implementing a high work rate. Harris made special note of captain Adam Iacobucci, whose consistent performances this season have seen him named as one of their best in seven out of eight games so far.
From the coach-
In his first year in charge of the Bullants, Harris said he has been impressed with the positive vibe at the club.
“I really enjoy the environment,” he said.
“We’ve got great young Carlton players, we’ve got fantastic Bullants boys, and there is a good spirit around the place, you can see that.”
Harris said his team has great mental toughness and resilience, particularly in their ability to overcome a hefty deficit, as seen in Sunday’s game against Box Hill.
“If you’re that far down at half time and not really going that well, to be able to come out and…have a third quarter like we did says a lot about the character we’ve got around the place,” he said.
“It’s really enjoyable to coach.”
Harris admits many of his more experienced players are not far off senior selection, which will inevitably change the team line-up and may disrupt the coherence and unity of the group.
“Look, at some stage they will be [up for selection], very soon,” he said.
“I think they’re all quality. They just keep the pressure on at the senior level.”
Remaining games-
The Bullants play away from home six times in their remaining 10 games, which will undoubtedly test their depth and character. Upcoming home games against North Ballarat and the surging Williamstown will be great challenges for Harris’ team, and the outcome of these clashes will be season defining for each side.
One of the their two losses so far this season has been in the hands of undefeated Port Melbourne, and the Bullants will be looking to knock off other contenders in the weeks to come. They have proven capable of beating mid-table teams including Box Hill, Collingwood and Casey, however many of these games were decided by three goals or less, and have been by no means straightforward wins.
With a string of upcoming away games, the Bullants will need to work hard to continue their winning ways and prime themselves for a realistic top-four finish.
Last Modified on 03/06/2011 11:31