Bundoora coach Heath Scotland discusses win over Hurstbridge, threat of relegation

Two wins in three weeks over NFNL Division 1 premiership fancies has Bundoora coach Heath Scotland confident his team’s best football will keep it in the top flight.

Bundoora have two wins in three matches. Picture: Field of View Photography

Bundoora weren’t to know it at the time but its three-point upset of Hurstbridge could prove season-defining.

The Bulls travelled to Ben Frilay Oval and claimed four points against a Bridges team that fancies itself the main challenger to Heidelberg.

The 14.10 (94) to 13.13 (91) victory backs up the club’s stunning win over Montmorency a fortnight ago.

It sees the club jump to eighth on the NFNL Division 1 ladder and, crucially, stay a game clear of bottom-placed Macleod, which defeated West Preston-Lakeside.

Bundoora coach Heath Scotland said the last three weeks were a strong sign of what his team was capable of in the run home.

Peter McEvoy in action for Bundoora. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“Our last three weeks have been quite promising, coming out of the break we’re playing a better brand of footy,” Scotland said.

“Montmorency was a nice win, we made a poor start against Greensborough but played well in the second half and that form continued into Hurstbridge where things clicked early.

“We were able to put scoreboard pressure on, which we haven’t done much this year.

“Hurstbridge ground away and got back into the game late but we did enough, were strong enough to hold on for a gutsy win, which was pleasing.”

Bundoora is now 10 per cent ahead of Eltham and four points and 15.5 per cent clear of Macleod.

The Bulls face both the Panthers and Kangas in the final fortnight of the season to decide which club suffers relegation.

Having seen the change to his team since the mid-season bye, Scotland is confident it will survive.

“We’re fully aware of the narrative around relegation but we can’t worry about that, can’t focus on that, can’t be panicked by that,” he said.

“Our season could have been a hell of a lot different.

“We were in it up to our eye-balls against Montmorency in Round 1, we lost to Hurstbridge earlier in the year by less than a goal, we lost to Banyule by less than a goal and North Heidelberg we were down by seven points at three-quarter-time.

“Then the losses to Eltham and Macleod were disappointing.

“I look at it and our win-loss suggests we’re down the bottom end but we could have been on five, six, even seven wins if little things had have gone our way.

“I’m pretty buoyant and confident about where we can go, we’ve got to continue pushing forward and getting games into our young blokes.

“I’m sure if we can continue to play the same brand of footy as the last couple of weeks then result will take care of itself.”

Peter McEvoy was named best-on-ground in the win with four goals, while Jack Briskey, Sam Green, Liam Mallia and Ryan Sturgess all added two.

Lachie East, Zane Barker impressed in defence.

On the compact Ben Frilay Oval, Scotland was pleased with his midfield’s work getting the ball in quickly to key targets.

“It was my first foray out to Ben Frilay Oval, a nice small deck,” he said.

“Looking at that ground and what we had centre-forward, centre clearances were going to be a huge factor.

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“We haven’t been strong in our ruck contests but I though Mitch Antonello did well and our mids were fantastic to win hard-ball and centre clearances.

“When you’ve got Pete McEvoy, Ryan Sturgess and Jack Briskey, threatening tall forwards, it gave our midfielders confidence and we were able to capitalise.”

Blake Fitzgerald continued his outstanding season, named best afield for the Bridges, while Nick Kent (five goals), Liam Middleton and Zach Reichert stood tall.

The defeat sees Hurstbridge fall to fifth on percentage in a four-way tie for third.