Suki
President
Preston Bullants JFC

After a fantastic round robin where the guys reckon they won 3 out of 4... and I believe them, Tackers Red came up against Banyule down on the Yarra floodplain. After a week of rain the ground was in pretty good nick, but there was plenty of mud around.  We had two great captains in Ollie and Marc who were both keen to give it their all. The first term was a bit of an arm wrestle and when Banyule got the first goal it looked like a challenging day for the Bullants. But the arm wrestle began to lean our way. The ever reliable boot of Andrew sent through our first goal with help from Jayden and Jett locking the ball into the forward line. Caden got into the act and kicked his best goal for the club, rolling one in from the deep pocket. Well done! Zac H was in the middle chasing and pressuring. It was too much for Banyule to handle.

In the second term, we kept up the momentum, Harry was in the middle using his significant turn of speed to keep the ball moving forward. Sam H was very hard to get past picking up heaps of touches, while Percy and Coen combined like a couple of Siamese twins to get the ball forward. Joe and Jamie were great in the forward line.

Come the third term we really took over and it must be said that it was driven by our captains Ollie and Marc. Both were very proud to captain the team. Ollie played his best game for the club by a mile. He chased, tackled, marked everything and got a goal. It’s great to see a plyer string together 4 quarters and lead his team mates so well. Bravo Ollie. Marc was also brilliant, taking on the opposition, dodging and weaving and kicking long. Marc keeps improving and provides some real courage against bigger opponents.

Caden was also fantastic, doing very well picking the ball up low and dodging opponents. Once we polish up that kicking you’ll be dangerous! We needed to give Banyule a player each quarter and while Jett played really well for us, he put in a top quarter for Banyule kicking beautiful drop punts out of their defence.

Come the last term it was all Bullants and we drove home the advantage. Taj was everywhere tacking great grabs and accurate kicking.

One ting the coach noticed today was how consistent the Bullants were across the board. Everyone trying, everyone helping each other. We had so many shots on goal, but kicked lots of points. So, next week we’ll be working on our kicking for goals.

Well done every Bullant. All of you chipped in for a great win. What a team!

Go Bullants!!

Two wins on the trot and Bullants were on a high going into the match against the Camberwell Sharks. It was another home game at Zwar and the weather was perfect for some shark hunting!

Sage as captain, Patty B as vice duly won the toss and chose to kick to the city end of the ground (there wasn’t any breeze to speak of, so there was no real advantage to be gained).

The coaches had to ring some late changes as Billy and Andre were late outs with illness, meaning that Kes and Sage come in as the emergencies. There was a quiet confidence in the group as the boys headed out for the first bounce.

Q1:    

The Bullants started from where they finished off in the last game, with the centre line Sage, Ned, Sam, Kes and Watto dominating the ball lived in the Bullants forward line. Great play by the team kept it locked in for much of the quarter. Highlights were Patty B with a nice intercept play, Browny and Malachy taking a great mark’s and kicking the ball back into the hot spot and Ziggy and Callum providing a great target’s and whilst not taking marks they ensued the contest were halved. With Bowny and Willo roving beautifully the Bullants had several shots on goal, but all were minor scores. Reward finally came with a great goal by Clem after some nice pressure and tackling by Woody.

Bullants 1.4.10 Sharks 0.0.0

Q2:

The Sharks came out fired up in the 2nd quarter which ensured that it was a more even contest. Play across the ground was mainly between the arcs, but with Tommy G playing another great game across half back the Sharks never really looked as though they were a threat to score. With Marcus and Kes using their pace on the open spaces of Zwar the Bullants looked like a well drilled machine, moving the ball with ease. With great pressure applied by all the boys the Bullants started to get on top towards the end of the quarter. Highlights included Jackson’s great tackling, and Woody kicking a goal (to add to his growing season tally) the Bullants finished the quarter with great run.

Bullants 2.8.20 Sharks 0.0.0

Q3:

The 3rd quarter saw the Bullants absolutely DOMINATE! The highlights read as follows:
•    Patty B tackle
•    Hamish dominating all over the ground;
•    Dom putting his trademark impact on the game with his hardness around the ball;
•    Tommy G playing a pivotal role by intercepting and setting up great play;
•    Dash great run and ruck work;
•    Ned goal (a first and well deserved one) with great lead up play from Dash and Clem through the middle;
•    Sage marking in the middle, and then following up to set Dash up who on the run kicked a great goal;
•    Goal to Callum, with beautiful setup play from Sage;
•    Dash dominating in the middle, once again setting up Callum who kicked his second goal for the quarter;
•    Patty B goal

To be fair, it was difficult to keep up with all the bits of play, but when the siren went to end the quarter the Bullants had added 5 goals to the Sharks none. The boys came off the ground with broad smiles, enjoying the fact that their hard work at training was really starting to pay off.

Bullants 7.10.52 Sharks 0.0.0

Q4:

The last quarter was pretty much a repeat of the 3rd quarter, with the Bullants dominating play. With Dash and Watto providing great ruck work the Bullants kept pushing, trying to get a couple of more goals on the board. To the Sharks credit, they put up stiff resistance, meaning that we didn’t see a scoring run like we did in the 3rd quarter. Highlights included Xavier laying some bone crunching tackles, Sam kicking a great goal after some nice work by Clem. Kes setting Clem up for his second goal, and then kicking one himself. Venuto, Hamish, Harry and Joe were repelling any forward entries, and launching great counter attacks.

As the final siren sounded the score board showed the Bullants had 79 points, and the Sharks 0. This meant that the boys have now one 3 games on the trot and have kicked the highest score for the round in the division for the second week in a row. What was pleasing was the overall effort and cohesion the boys are now starting to display, and we know that this is something that can be sustained going forward.

As usual we will continue to work hard at training, knowing that all the hard work is staring to bear fruit, and that things will only improve.

Thanks to all the parent volunteers who helped on the day

Bullants 11.13.79 Sharks 0.0.0

PS. There was a change at ½ time which swung the game well and truly in the favour of the Bullants. Simon (runner) and Rob (assistance coach) decided to swap roles (some say due to an injury to the runner; some say that the coach decided he wasn’t effective in getting the message to the boys). Either way, they both claimed it was their input in their changed roles that made the difference (Rob, you may want to wear something a little more suitable than jeans the next time you take the runners bib!).

Round 7 had the under 13 Bullants venture across to Bulleen Park again.  But this time to take on Canterbury. After a close loss last week, the boys were determined to put on a better performance and to get back onto the winners list.

The ground was in good condition, but we were playing on the number 1 oval and it was a lot bigger than the young Bullants were used to. The boys played an even first quarter, attacking opportunities were squandered resulting in the Bullants leading 0.4.4 to 0.2.2.

The second quarter was very similar to the first with the Bullants last kick into the forward line being too deep and allowing Canterbury's defence to rush the ball through for easy points. Still leading at the half time 0.9.9 to 0.2.2 after dominating the general play.

A couple of positional changes at half time saw the Bullants finally slot a goal.  Unfortunately, the Canterbury boys also go on the board kicking two goals themselves.  Preston led at three quarter time 1.12.16 to 2.2.14.

The final stanza was going to be the survival of the fittest with both sides exhausted due to plenty of running on the bigger ground. The Bullant boys controlled the last term with Nathan kicking the sealer late - the boys ran out winners 2.17.29 to 2.2.14

Better players in the tight tassel were Rylan Aminde playing a good defensive game at centre half back, rebounding strongly. Jaxyn Aminde at centre half forward and in the ruck. Will Hanlon in the middle running and linking up between backline and forward line. Sam Amad on the wing with creativity and clean disposal into the forward line. Tom Crookshanks hard running and linking up around half forward and middle.

Enjoy the week off and be a ready for the second half of the season.

Go Bullants!

Yours in footy

With George away and Simon sick, Jules and I had our hands full as we were up against the top of the ladder team in Parkside. But nonetheless, the girls prepared well and were raring to go!

Our first quarter showed endeavour and ferociousness, as Marianne and Libby led from the backline, attacking hard and getting the ball clear of our defence. With Olivia out, Erin and Charlotte stepped up into the Ruck role for today’s game, and alternated off the half back. They both competed hard in the Ruck and followed up the ball well; and off the half back gave us solid run and strong hands overhead. We have plenty of opportunity early going forward, but just couldn’t quite convert. Against the top side, we kept them to one goal in the first as our defence held strong in our one on ones.

Our first quarter efforts flowed into the second, similarly we had most of the ball in our forward half, however still unable to hit the scoreboard. Parkside’s ball movement proved too strong as they added a further 9 points to the board, mainly from kicks over our defence, and rolling in to goal.
This saw us move Ella into a more ‘goalkeeper’ role, which saved us a few goals as Ella took mark after mark on our defensive goal line.

Another outstanding performance from Cailtin, saw her probably play one of her best games yet, sweeping up the ball behind stoppages and getting it moving forward wilst finding herself on the ball in her rotation with Ayva through the mid. Our ‘engine room’ of  Caitlin, Ayva, Freya and Lucy gave us first use of the ball almost all day as their endeavour at the ball was second to none.  Lauren showed her strength overhead once again, as we played her up forward as a key target and Vic on her reliable left, gave us some deep inside 50 opportunities. Our defence held up well through the second and third, through Zara, Ginger, Tahlia only allowing Parkside to concede minor scores and a goal each.

We decided to get Erin on the ball in the fourth as a small midfielder (haha) to use her run and attack to help get the ball rolling forward. This worked well hitting the scoreboard early in the fourth through Freya with a kick that swayed slightly right. Not much after and Avya gets our first major, as we look very much still in the game. Rose and Gaby were busy through the third and fourth, as we again maintained the ball within our forward half. Parkside showing to strong on the day, finishing with 4 goals, 8 points (32) to our 1 goal, 1 point (7).

Thanks to Jules for coaching alongside myself; Bek for an eventful day in first aid; Mark for assisting as runner; Pauline on boundary; Jim as umpire escort; Mish as Team manager; Suki for time keeping; our water runners and Helen for bringing the oranges.

Emma King

As a result of a grading revision, the Preston Bullants were back in green division, only to face last year’s grand final opponent Whitehorse Colts. Though results hadn’t shown in recent weeks, the Bullants had been building on solid performances, and the boys would come out a determined outfit in what was also Callum’s 50-game milestone.

Unlike the previous two rounds at Zwar Reserve, there didn’t seem to be any sort of wind to contend with this time. Right from the start, Jack attacked the ball hard and led well early, Harry was gritty in defence, and Josh was running hard to each contest. While it was Whitehorse Colts with the first goal of the match, further up the ground, Ben’s tackle and Oscar’s smother maintained the Bullants’ forward pressure and the boys were able to lock it inside 50 for prolonged periods, Phoenix using the opportunity to kick the Bullants’ first. Whitehorse would finish the quarter with three goals, and the Bullants were unlucky not to add more to their own tally, such was their offensive endeavour.

Liam’s inside 50 at the start of the second quarter was received well by Oscar, who despite little time up forward in previous matches, was beginning to put his stamp on the game. At the other end, Brody stood tall, literally, charging through packs and taking strong contested marks. The boys physicality and intent around the ground was telling, with Declan holding firm in defence, Seb F rebounding of half-back, and Seb R, bumping his opponent in an effort to win a loose ball, getting it forward to allow Jack to score a goal. Cooper’s centre clearance at the reset moments later, would find Oscar who marked and kicked the Bullants’ third goal of the match, his presence in the forward line growing in stature as the Whitehorse Colts lead dwindled to eight points at half-time.

The Whitehorse Colts would again kick the first goal of the quarter as play resumed in the third, but the defensive efforts of Rufus, Coen, and milestone player Callum, would ensure it was their last goal for the match. Having held his own in the Bullants’ defensive line-up this week, Coen popped up in the forward line, perhaps out of habit, and took a courageous mark, converting the resultant shot at goal. Not long after, Cooper’s sublime tap at a stoppage was expertly roved by Josh who snapped truly for another Bullants goal. The intensity had lifted around the contest, and when Phoenix’s shot from long range split the middle, the Bullants were in front, leading by two points heading into the last quarter.

The game was up for grabs, and both teams tried their best. Both teams were hard at it, neither willing to give an inch, and it was a game of inches in the last quarter. Whitehorse threatened to retake the lead with a shot at goal that hit the post, and in a successive move forward, was thwarted by skipper Phoenix laying a fierce tackle, playing a true captain’s game. Daniel’s missed snap at goal up forward, and a rushed behind from Whitehorse would extend the Bullants’ lead but keep it within range of a major score. It was fitting then, that late in the game, Oscar would take a strong contested mark to kick a goal and open up a 10-point buffer that all but assured a well-deserved victory, with Josh’s after-the-siren goal, icing on the cake.

Go BULLANTS!