NFL Division 1 2018: Bundoora climbs back into top five after 52-point victory over Whittlesea

BUNDOORA is confident it can make an impression in Northern Football League finals regardless of whether it clinches a double chance.

BUNDOORA is confident it can make an impression in Northern Football League finals regardless of whether it clinches a double chance.

Only two clubs in the past five years — Macleod (2014) and Northcote Park (2013) — have progressed as far as a Division 1 preliminary final after finishing outside the top three.

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Bundoora returned to the top five after a 13.17 (95) to 6.7 (43) victory over Whittlesea on Saturday, but is two games and percentage behind third-placed North Heidelberg.

Skipper Brent Marshall said the Bulls were realistic they would likely have to take the long road to success.

“If we can win our next three and hopefully the other teams go our way, we could maybe get that double chance,” Marshall said.

“”If we finish fifth and we have to do it the hard way, so be it.

“It just makes it a little bit more rewarding when we do go that whole way.

“I don’t think it’s always that good to have a week off.”

Liam Byrne gets wrapped up during Bundoora’s victory over Whittlesea on Saturday.

In welcome news for Bundoora, reigning league best and fairest Matt Dennis will return from a two-game suspension to face Hurstbridge this weekend.

Dennis has only played nine times this season due to injury and suspension, but Marshall believes his latest lay-off will have him primed to finish the campaign in style.

“Having those two extra weeks off … it could be beneficial for him to rest up for another couple of weeks,” he said.

“He has been training and been training really well. When we get him back on Saturday he will be red hot.”

Whittlesea’s Xavier Dimasi fires a handball out off the deck.

The Bulls pulled away from bottom side Whittlesea in the second half at Yulong Reserve, with Dale Marshall and Jai Burns two of their standouts.

Brent Marshall, Nathan Thomas and Ben Nesci also impressed.

Bundoora is equal with Heidelberg at 8-7 but sits fifth on percentage ahead of its Round 16 clash with Hurstbridge.

Elsewhere, Greensborough pipped Heidelberg by three points with a goal just before the final siren, West Preston hammered Northcote Park by 73, Macleod withstood Montmorency by 17 and North Heidelberg accounted for Hurstbridge by 25.