Sport / Football
Brunswick rues missed chances in shoot-out at Preston
Preston Bullants 21.11 (137) defeated Brunswick NOBs 16.17 (113) at Ruthven Reserve
Tim Purdey
IN an old school shoot-out at the postage stamp-sized Ruthven Reserve on Saturday, Brunswick paid the price for failing to capitalise on their chances in the third quarter as the Preston Bullants kicked nine goals in the final term to win by 24 points and retain their spot in the top-four.
The game was played in ideal conditions, and Preston was first to take advantage of them with two early majors, before Oscar Watt once again kicked the NOBs’ first. The Bullants replied, but from the next centre bounce Gabe Banova snapped truly, followed by a below-the-knees free to Joe Gale, to make it a one-point margin.
In a what is becoming a weekly occurrence, Brunswick had a clear goal overturned by a field umpire, but it became a seven-point play this time as the returning Paul Scamporlino pounced on the kick-in and hit the scoreboard. A poor kick across goal led to Preston’s fourth major, but Daniel Mott’s running goal ensured that the NOBs led at the first change, 5.5 to 4.4.
The Bullants opened the second term as they had the first, with two quick goals, before a couple of Brunswick misses were followed by a beauty from Andre Jaycock to re-take the lead.
But the NOBs coughed up another goal from a bad turnover in the centre, which changed momentum as Preston got out to a 17-point lead after 22 minutes. Brunswick hung in, though, and Gabe Banova’s snap from a boundary throw-in meant that the deficit was only nine points at halftime.
Preston again opened the goalscoring in the third term, but the NOBs then clicked into action, kicking the next four in five minutes, starting with a set shot to Watt, then goal-of-the-day to a roving Scamporlino with a left-foot snap, followed by a 45-metre bomb to Fletcher Banfield and one over-the-back to Rowan Hogenbirk, as they got out to a 10-point lead.
The Bullants’ full forward, Hill, kicked his fifth to make it a one-kick game, then Watt provided a quick reply with his third at the 15-minute mark, but it would be the NOBs’ last of the quarter, as they eschewed several guilt-edged opportunities to establish a match-winning lead at the final change. Indeed, a late major against the-run-of-play to Preston meant that lead was only eight points, as Brunswick recorded a wasteful 5.7 for the term.
A perfect start to the final quarter, with a Banova centre clearance hitting Gale on the chest for a goal inside a minute, was soon cancelled out by the next two majors to the Bullants, but the NOBs hit back through Scamporlino, with a classy finish on the angle for his third, to stay eight points clear in the eighth minute.
Preston then went bang, bang, bang, bang – they couldn’t miss as they again got out to a 17-point lead. A third to Banova on the run from 40 metres gave Brunswick some hope, but the home side was having none of it as they slammed on the next two in-a-minute.
Straight kicking to the scoring end was the difference in the end. Watt slotted his fourth in the dying stages but even that was answered by Hill’s sixth for the Bullants, as the NOBs saw an opportunity go begging with 33 scoring shots to 32 on a busy day for the scorers.
Mott and Banova were brilliant in the middle and pushing forward all day. Lewis McKenzie was huge covering for the loss of his brother in the ruck and around the ground. Banfield was a ball magnet as always, while Hogenbirk had another good game, but it could have been great if he had his kicking boots on. On a tough day for defenders as the NOBs felt the absence of Tahj Haddock, Marcus Foti was very good.
After a well-earned rest on the long weekend, Brunswick face the biggest test in Division 1 in the form of the undefeated Ormond, back at Gillon Oval on Saturday week.
Brunswick Voice is looking for a volunteer correspondent to file a combined weekly report about the progress of our three local clubs during the 2025 VAFA season. If that is of interest to you, contact editor@brunswickvoice.com.au with an example of your writing.
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