The Northern Bullants' top four aspirations remain intact while Geelong's brave push towards the final spot in the eight came to an abrupt end in a tight contest at Visy Park last Saturday as Kane Hunkin reports.
Played in an according finals-like intensity, the equation was simple for the visiting Cats. Win, and a resurgent push to claim the coveted eighth position remained alive while a loss would effectively see Geelong become September spectators.
While the Cats entered the game having won four of their last five matches, the Bullants needed a win to reignite a season that has seen last year's runners-up drop their previous two games to Coburg and Box Hill respectively.
In dark and overcast conditions, the round 20 clash came down to the Northern Bullants' inaccurate goal kicking versus Geelong's wasteful forward entries.
Despite Trent West (returning from a stint with Geelong's AFL side) starting up forward, it was the smaller brigade led by Jordan Schroder who did the damage early, with the small forward kicking Geelong's first two majors. However, a contagious inaccuracy saw the Northern Bullants kick 1.11 for the term, to gift the Cats a four point quarter-time lead.
For the second time this year, the Northern Bullants needed a second-half comeback to overcome a spirited Geelong side. A four goal surge to start the third quarter, capped off by a Ben Johnson mark and goal from outside 50, saw Geelong race out to a handy 21 point lead. It would take until the 19 minute mark for the home-side to break its goal drought courtesy of a timely Levi Casboult goal. The conversion seemingly sparked the Bullants, with the side kicking the last three goals to take a narrow one point lead into the final change.
Geelong coach Dale Amos stressed the importance of a "defensive press" at the huddle. The fourth quarter proved a war of attrition, particularly for the Cats, with Jackson Sheringham's day ending early due to a hamstring injury and Taylor Hunt coming off briefly with a slight hand complaint suffered during a heavy contest.
A Ryan Houlihan miss was punished by West at the opposing end as Geelong regained the lead early in the last quarter. However, typical of the ever-changing momentum, the Bullants pushed the margin back out to nine points.
In a game that mirrored the two sides' previous contest (Bullants winning by five points), the last quarter saw the lead change regularly. An impressive boundary line goal from Josh Walker followed by a Jesse Stringer major at the 17 minute mark gave the Cats the lead and a chance for another memorable scalp. Inevitably though the experienced Bullants would make the last five minutes their own, with an Ahmed Saad set-shot goal sealing a hard-fought 10 point win.
The result proved indicative of the evenness between both teams, with the Bullants again heading Geelong late to claim an important victory. Northern Bullants coach Darren Harris touched on this after the teams initial encounter earlier in the year.
'"I think over a period of time, when David Teague had them and [also] this year we've never really given up," Harris said after the Bullants' corresponding round 12 win against the Cats.
Jarrod McCorkell's (35 possessions) best on ground performance proved a major factor in the Bullants' close win while Matthew Watson and Kane Lucas were equally significant.
Simon Hogan showed experience for the Cats while Cam Guthrie and Tom Gillies were solid down back throughout the afternoon.
The Nothern Bullants will get a good gauge on their current form when they travel to TEAC Oval to take on the unbeaten league leaders Port Melbourne on Saturday while Geelong has a bye.
Northern Bullants 13.23.101 def Geelong 14.7.91
Photo by Arj Giese
Last Modified on 15/08/2011 15:09