Bundoora claims biggest win of its NFL season, smashing Greensborough

Two former AFL-listed stars inspired Bundoora to its biggest win of the NFL Division 1 season, smashing a woefully inaccurate Greensborough.

NFL Football: Bundoora v Greensborough, ruckman Hamish Shepheard looks to dispose of the ball. Picture: Steve Tanner

Inspired by former AFL-listed stars Sam Lloyd and Hamish Shepheard, Bundoora smashed Greensborough by 58 points on Saturday.

The Borough endured a horror day in front of goal at Yulong Reserve and the Bulls took full advantage to claim their biggest win of the NFL Division 1 season, 16.8 (104) to 5.16 (46).

After missing the past two games ruckman Shepheard was best-on-ground in his return, ensuring Bundoora’s midfield had first use.

The former Fremantle big man has been in outstanding form in his first season with Bundoora, earning the praise of coach Michael Ryan.

“Hamish Shepheard was superb in the ruck and our mids were able to get on top as a result of his dominance,” he said.

Sam Lloyd is congratulated by teammates after a goal. Picture: Steve Tanner

Tom Brindley and Hamish Shepheard battle in the ruck. Picture: Steve Tanner

“He missed the North Heidelberg and Hurstbridge game and it’s no surprise we lost the midfield battle both times. When he does play the boys walk taller.”

Lloyd booted five goals, including three in the fourth term, getting the better of Greensborough’s star defender Nick Riddle in an epic battle.

John Jorgensen added four majors, while Jesse King and Bailey Thompson booted two apiece.

Reigning club best-and-fairest winner Thompson has had a quiet season so far but produced his best against the ladder-leader.

“That was Bailey’s best game by far for the year, he’s a very selfless player,” Ryan said.

“He always works back hard to help his defenders but holds his wing position really well and was able to get on the end of a couple (on Saturday) and hit the scoreboard.”

Tylar Young played his second game of the season after being dropped by Frankston and impressed across half-back.

Greensborough had nine scoring shots to four in the first quarter yet trailed by five points and the day only got dirtier from there.

Greensborough players gather at three-quarter-time. Picture: Steve Tanner

Tristan Brown in action for Bundoora. Picture: Steve Tanner

The Bulls limited their rival to just one goal in each of the next three quarters while piling on 12 themselves, including seven in a fourth-quarter romp.

Ryan couldn’t have asked for a better performance after the competition’s three-week lockdown break.

“It was easily our most complete performance, we were a lot more controlled with the ball and our pressure around the source was really good as well,” he said.

“We’ve had it happen to us the past two games, we’ve been pretty inaccurate and it’s cost us games of footy, scoreboard pressure is the best kind of pressure you can put on a team.

“Our defenders were doing a really good job of making sure when Greensborough were having shots they were under the pump.

“They probably weren’t getting as much clean ball as they would have liked and our midfield can take a lot of credit for that.”

The Borough were without reigning Rosbrook Medallist Tom Bell and were best served by ruckman Jake McNamara, Riddle and Jack Johnston.

The win keeps Bundoora in fourth, behind Heidelberg on percentage, and now just a game back of Greensborough.

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However, Ryan wasn’t getting complacent with a tough trip to Whittlesea this week.

“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, footy is such a great leveller and we found that out against North Heidelberg and Hurstbridge,” he said.

“We’ve got a big game this week against Whittlesea and they’re a lot more formidable up there, our record up there in the past hasn’t been great.”

Greensborough will look to bounce back against Macleod.