The highly anticipated clash between the past two Division 1 premiership winners lived up to all expectations with West Preston-Lakeside emerging victorious by five points over Bundoora.
In a tale of two halves, the Roosters overcame a 26-point half time deficit to claim a 12.14 (86) to 11.15 (81) win at J.E. Moore Park.
The Bulls came out firing, spreading well from stoppages and working the ball around the ground.
Salvatore Mammone was pivotal, picking up loose balls and peeling off the packs to create good opportunities up forward.
It didn’t take long for ex-AFL stars Cameron Cloke, Gary Moorcroft, Simon Prestigiacomo and Anthony Rocca to shine as they provided their own highlight reel.
Prestigiacomo dived at full stretch on the goal line to save a certain goal, Cloke played up the ground taking strong contested pack marks on the wing, Moorcroft spun magic and created goal opportunities from thin air and Rocca took one handers – all in the first quarter alone.
Despite Bundoora’s dominance on the park, the scoreboard was unreflective at quarter time, leaving a sniff for the home side who was just 13 points behind.
The Bulls’ defence displayed its class, linking up well as Matty Hyde often found big ruckman Matthew Dennis or ‘Leeroy’ Santoro through the corridor.
However the Bulls were a little wasteful in front of the big sticks. It was only when Cloke mowed down Rocca for holding the ball and hit up his counterpart Paul Harrison deep inside the forward 50m that the Bulls were able to apply some scoreboard pressure.
From then on the Bulls were lethal, hungry and aggressive around contested one-on-ones. Moorcroft was swift and classy with his ball use and added a couple of majors to the growing Bundoora total.
It was not until big Rocca grabbed a mark only he could take on the 50m line to set up his team mate in the goal square that the Roosters looked at all alive.
The spark from Rocca could not be underestimated, though the Bulls would go into the main break up by 26 points and with complete control of the game.
The two sides may as well have swapped jumpers for the next half of football.
The Bulls started the third term well, scoring the first goal through the great efforts of Brayden Shaw and Brent Marshall.
If you were to tell anyone at J.E Moore Park they were about to witness an inspiring comeback by the home side from a 32-point deficit, they would have laughed.
So when the Roosters piled on the next three goals via Andrew Luzza, Simon Close and some excellent team work, the crowd came to life.
When Anthony Rocca soccer kicked the ball through for a goal on a near impossible angle, the noise from the local supporters was thunderous as the Bulls supporters went silent.
The spark was there and the Roosters had found some fire in the belly. The Bulls looked rattled with the momentum all with the Roosters.
Kris Bardon and Luke McKenna slogged it out in the midfield, running hard around the ground and linking up well with Bill Morrison and Billy Micevski.
Rocca was again instrumental in setting up a goal for Simon Close to split the difference to one mere point at three-quarter time.
The last quarter was action-packed as both teams fought hard to get on top in such horrible conditions.
Rocca displayed his sheer professionalism and selflessness when he took a mark straight in front 40m out – very kickable for a man with his scoring range – but elected to find his free team mate in the goal square. It was a special moment as the Roosters ran in to give credit to Rocca as they snatched the lead.
As it were, the buffer was short lived as Moorcroft used his smarts to paddle the ball through his legs at a contested stoppage to give Mammone an easy goal.
After consecutive points scored by thrusts into the inside 50m, the Roosters were able to find Close who put them back in front with his third major.
Cloke tried to stamp himself on the contest but Prestigiacomo had him well covered. It was a battle between Moorcroft and Rocca as the game’s most dangerous forward.
The last two minutes of the game were nail biting. Hands over eyes, heart-stopping stuff.
With a 1:30 remaining on the clock the Bulls’ Andrew Stellas squeezed a kick forward to Paul Harrison, who took his time with a set shot that would level the scores if kicked truly.
The task loomed large and the ball swayed left much to the delight of the home fans.
It was make or break time. The Roosters had the kick out and Anthony Rocca called to the runner to ask how long was remaining. Nobody heard the response as the siren sounded with the ball spinning in the air from the kick out.
It was an astounding win for an equally entertaining game.
The Roosters streamed to Rocca as high fives went around. The Bulls looked dazed and upset. They slide now into third position on the ladder and will look to redeem their past two losses against Whittlesea next week at home. Meanwhile the Roosters will take on Macleod away in the search of a fourth consecutive win.
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 12.14 (86) def Bundoora 11.15 (81)
Last Modified on 24/06/2012 19:39
