A sunny day, with a cold and strong breeze saw the NAB Northern Bullants take on the bottom-placed
The fortunes of both teams have been similar over the last couple of seasons – there or thereabouts, but with a 2007 list missing many experienced players of the last couple of years and with a substantial injury list.
After three straight losses and an embarrassing defeat at Williamstown, to say this was a must-win game for the Ants was an understatement of some magnitude.
Captain Frankie Raso and Josh Vansittart were welcome additions back and Shaun Hampson came in after a solid performance in the Reserves last week – Anthony Raso definitely unlucky to be squeezed out after his best game to date in the seniors last week.
At the start, the wind was probable worth three or four goals but one had the impression that it would fade as the afternoon wore on, and the Ants were on the back foot a little when Tassie won the toss.
Josh Houlihan made his intentions clear from the start with the opening goal and when the ever-busy Ross Young followed up a few minutes later, the Bullants were off to a bright start before the season's twin blights of inaccurate disposal and lack of leg speed compared to the smaller Tasmania took their toll.
Four unanswered goals had the Devils 12 points up at the first break, the term probably a little in the Ants favour, but when Tasmania posted the first for the second term and the Bullants continually breaking down across the half-forward line, reducing the lead was heavy work – Bower and Flint added a couple and a Jacobs goal in time-on cut the lead to the narrowest of margins at the main break.
Common sense suggests an AFL affiliated club with 12 or 13 full-time players should start to dominate after half-time against the part-timers of "stand alone" clubs.
With the wind dying, Houla added two within five minutes of the resumption, only for
Despite the breeze fading to almost nothing,
Colbert and Boundy added goals, and the latter hit Kennedy on the lead twice in as many minutes for a big one and a little 'un before Houla fittingly rounded out a fair day at the office with his sixth.
The coaching panel's best were Hartlett who is looking more confident down in the back line with every game, Kennedy, Houlihan, Young, Austin and Blackwell. From the hill we thought Vansittart and Boundy pretty stiff not to get their name up in lights and definitely Blackers could have gone up a notch or two with, we believe, 48 possessions for the afternoon.
Next week sees another road trip, this time to Casey Fields at Cranbourne to take on the Scorpions who are looking less like the old Springvale every day.
The Scorpions have been struggling with St. Kilda's long injury list having a big impact, but they did inflict the only home-and-away loss on the Bullants for the year last season.
Let's hope the weather is somewhat better than we've seen on our two visits the impressive new complex to date.
Tasmanian – 4.3 – 5.7 – 7.9 – 8.12.60
Goal Kickers: J. Houlihan 6, R. Young 2, J. Kennedy 2, D. Boundy 2, C. Flint, P. Colbert, S. Jacobs
Best Players: A. Hartlett, J. Kennedy, J. Houlihan, R. Young, M. Austin, L. Blackwell
Goal Kickers: J. Ling 3, K. Hall, G. Sharman, J. Howard, B. Johnson, L. Adams
Best Players: L. Adams, B. Johnson, K. Hall, B. Moran, S. McMahon, B. McDonald
