Port Melbourne have toppled the Northern Bullants in the highly anticipated top of the table clash, claiming top spot on the VFL ladder on Saturday at the Preston City Oval to kick off the ANZAC day weekend as Brendan Lucas reports.
For both teams, the game was there for the taking, an eight to six goal final term stirring the Boroughs to a hard-fought 24-point win.
In a high scoring affair, the teams could not be separated in the first half, although the Boroughs forward line looked to be more potent and to have the more efficient disposals inside 50, despite being down by three points at the first change.
Livewires Patrick Rose and Dean Galea led the way in the Borough’s forward line, giving the Bullants some headaches in defence throughout the game, each kicking four goals.
“You obviously have to put a good player on him, he’s always creative and dangerous, so he contributed,” said Port coach Gary Ayres on Patrick Rose’s performance.
By half time both teams were neck and neck, a great kick from Ahmed Saad to Wayde Twomey set up a Bullants’ goal right on half time to maintain the lead by three points.
By the 10-minute mark of the third term, the tight contest between the sides continued, as both teams remained scoreless.
At the 12-minute mark, the Boroughs broke the deadlock after Jake Dermott’s smother in the square stretched the lead out to 17 points in favour of Port Melbourne.
Shane Valenti continued his good form through the middle all day, with a near best on ground performance, coach Gary Ayres lauding his strong form.
“[Shane] was very good through the middle, we just had to keep rotating a lot of guys through there because it was such a hot game,” he said.
The crowd started to get vocal toward the end of the quarter, as Dean Galea’s late goal for the Boroughs put them in a good position going into the last. Both coaches spurred their sides onto victory during the three quarter time huddle, the Bullants chasing an 11-point deficit.
At the start of the last quarter, the Bullants’ started strongly, kicking two early goals through Jarrod McCorkell and Dennis Armfield. However, the Boroughs seemed to have the legs, running harder and applying strong pressure, dominating the clearances.
Despite the Bullants’ resilience in the last, the Boroughs proved too strong, putting the game beyond reach to clinch a comfortable 24-point win.
Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres was very pleased with his side’s performance, stressing the importance of the win.
“I was really pleased with the performance. It took that effort to get over the top of them when they kicked 18-3. You have just got to take your hat off. We had to play that way to get over them, and at no stage did they ever release that pressure, their 100 per cent commitment was first class.”
“Dean Galea’s goal right on three quarter time I thought was pretty important just to give us momentum going into the three quarter time huddle,” he said.
The Bullants and the Boroughs both go into a bye next week, with the Bullants set to face the Casey Scorpions at home in round six. On the other hand, the Boroughs will take on the Frankston Dolphins at home to consolidate their top position on the ladder.
“We have three training sessions in the week to freshen up, and hopefully [the team] will be really strong mentally for Frankston in round six,” Ayres said.
“Four from four, we’ll take that every time.”
Northern Bullants 4.1 11.2 12.3 18.3 (111)
Port Melbourne3.4 10.6 13.8 21.9 (135)
Northern Bullants
Goal Kickers:D. Armfield 3, A. Saad 3, B. McLean 3, L. Henderson 2, B. Thornton 2, M. Watson , R. Kerr , J. McCorkell , S. O''hAilpin , W. Twomey
Best Players:B. McLean, A. Iacobucci, D. Armfield, K. Lucas, N. Meese, W. Twomey
Port Melbourne
Goal Kickers:D. Galea 4, P. Rose 4, R. McMahon 3, C. Cain 2, W. Burstin 2, M. Dillon , M. Johnston , S. Dwyer , J. Dermott , N. Batsanis , M. Lynch
Best Players: S. Pleming, A. Bentick, M. Johnston, S. Valenti, N. Batsanis, J. Dermott
Last Modified on 24/04/2011 20:09