Eastern league: young Josh Tour best-afield as Noble Park defeats North Ringwood

An emerging defender known as ‘The Rubber Man’ helped the Bulls win on a day when Lachie Quaife made an emotional senior debut.

A rarity for Noble Park: champions Kyle Martin and Jackson Sketcher didn’t figure on the best players’ list.

But young Josh Tour did as the Bulls gained an important win over North Ringwood, 9.13 (67) to 6.7 (43), in the Eastern league Premier competition on Saturday.

In rugged conditions at Quambee Reserve, Noble kicked clear with five goals to one in the first quarter and kept the home team at arm’s length for the rest of the match.

“Really good start for us, and it was just a slog after that, with a lot of stoppages,’’ coach Mick Fogarty said.

Tour, a product of the Under 19s, was at half back and played his best game at senior level.

“He’s a sensational young man,’’ Fogarty said.

“His second and third efforts and his closing speed and his ability to defend were an inspiration to the rest of the team.

“He’s working on his kicking but everything else he brings is outstanding.

“Jamie Barnett (assistant coach) coached him in the Under 19s and sometimes calls him ‘The Rubber Man’ because of his ability to get an arm in, a bit like Dustin Fletcher. Now I’m not comparing him to Fletcher but just his ability to get an arm in at the last second and defend the footy, he’s a great young kid.’’

Noble Park first-gamer Lachie Quaife.

At the other end, Bailey Lambert kicked four goals.

Kieren Byers was superb in the ruck and Joel Cusack (two goals) competed hard up forward and spent some time in defence when Jake Gains gave Byers a breather.

Martin didn’t make it on the list of the best, but he had 35 possessions. He couldn’t play a bad game if he tried.

Onballer Cosi Anagnostou was another strong contributor.

MARTIN BRILLIANT AS BULLS TOUGH OUT WIN

VERMONT POISED FOR MINOR PREMIERSHIP

The Bulls gave a debut to another junior product, Lachie Quaife, an inside midfielder who played on the wing.

It was an emotional selection: Quaife lost, his father, Steve, earlier in the year.

As Lachie played his first senior game, his mother, Jen, and brother Angus ran water for the Bulls.

Noble, seventh on the ladder at 6-7 and four points away from fifth-placed Norwood, faces premiership favourite Vermont at the Pat Wright Senior Oval next Saturday.

Noble Park 5.4, 6.8, 9.9, 9.13 (67) d North Ringwood 1.1, 3.6, 4.7, 6.7 (43).

NP goals: B. Lambert 4, J. Cusack 2, L. Bull, A. Erbulut, L. Nelson.

Best: J. Tour, C. Anagnostou, K. Byers, J. Cusack, A. Erbulut.