Sport / Football
Injury-ravaged NOBs outclassed by flag favourites
Brunswick NOBs 6.6 (42) lost to Preston Bullants 27.15 (177) at Ruthven Reserve
Tim Purdey
Facing the undefeated Preston, it was another tough day at the office for Brunswick at Ruthven Reserve on Saturday as they were outclassed and, ultimately, overwhelmed by a well-drilled unit on the path to premiership success.
In good conditions for footy, the NOBs started brightly but unfortunately couldn’t nail some early set shot opportunities, while the Bullants were brilliant at transitioning the ball from full back on their short ground and couldn’t miss when their turn came to shoot.
By the 24 minute mark of the first term, despite an even possession count, Preston had six majors on the board, while Brunswick were ruing further missed chances and the loss of their inspirational skipper Ben Wilson to a hand injury suffered in a heavy collision. Some late reward for effort came in the form of a good running goal to Dom Oswald to make it a 27-point margin at quarter time.
The Bullants had a quick start to the second quarter with the opening two majors, before the NOBs got themselves back into the contest through a long Darcy Heenan kick to an empty goal square then a mark and goal to Joe Gale. The two sides then traded goals in the run into half-time, with Josh Quattrone snapping his first for the club, then Oswald slotted his second to close the gap to 29 points at the main change.
After a promising end to the first half, what transpired in the third term is difficult to describe, other than the home side stepped up a gear and crushed the hapless visitors, punishing every turnover and linking up beautifully to create an amazing scoreline of 10.10 to 0.0.
A shell-shocked Brunswick were keen to reduce the damage in the final quarter, but the Bullants’ momentum proved to be unstoppable as they extended their run of unanswered goals to 15, before a hobbling Tom Wilson deservedly hit the scoreboard from a set shot. The final siren couldn’t come soon enough for the visitors as the flag favourites racked up a massive 135-point victory.
The last man standing in Brunswick’s first-choice midfield, Angus Ross, was best for NOBs as he did his utmost to keep his team in the contest. Will McKenzie was very good again, while Whitlam Bishop also battled hard down back, as did Tahj Haddock. Josh Quattrone and Dom Oswald also cracked in all day.
This Saturday sees the NOBs return to Gillon Oval to face old rivals in UHS-VU with a great opportunity to return to the winners’ list.
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