Bundoora thumps Macleod to secure Division 1 football and send Kangas down

Bundoora coach Heath Scotland said relegation was never on the Bulls mind, instead the thumping win over Macleod was about showing it’s best brand of football.

Jack Briskey in action for Bundoora. Picture: Field of View Photography

Saturday’s 62-point mauling of Macleod was never about relegation survival for Bundoora.

The Bulls were still a mathematical chance but last week’s win over finals-bound Banyule all but secured NFNL Division 1 football for 2025.

Instead, coach Heath Scotland said Saturday was about finding the club’s best brand of football.

And it delivered with a dominant 19.10 (124) to 9.8 (62) victory at Yulong Reserve to move to eighth on the ladder and condemn Macleod to Division 2.

Scotland said the second half of the season had shown what his players were capable of.

Nelson Lane gets a kick for Bundoora. Picture: Field of View Photography

“It was a really good performance, bar maybe the second quarter we dominated, so it was a good display.

“There was a narrative about relegation but we were two games clear and percentage, so for us it wasn’t about relegation it was about getting our brand right.

“I know it was on the line a couple of weeks ago but the Banyule game probably put us in a position where we didn’t need to worry about the last two games.

“If you look at our season we’ve lost four games by under a goal, we lost to West Preston by two points the other week, some of those wins go your way and we’re sitting on eight or so wins.

“We’ve had a couple of down games against quality sides against Heidelberg and North Heidelberg but we’ve played some good footy in the second half of the season.”

Bundoora burst out of the blocks with a seven-goal opening term, while keeping Macleod goalless, to take a 45-point lead to quarter-time.

The Kangas hit back in the second term, booting five goals to one to close the margin to 19 points at half-time.

However, it was all Bulls from there.

Peter McEvoy kicked five goal for Bundoora. Picture: Josh Chadwick

The hosts piled on five goals to one themselves in the third term to again lead by 45 points at three-quarter-time before finishing with a six-goal fourth quarter.

Peter McEvoy finished with five majors to take his season tally to 39, ranked fourth in the competition, while Jesse King bagged four.

Liam Mallia was named best-on-ground in a superb midfield display, while Sam Green, Jackson Davies and Lachie East also impressed.

“Liam was fantastic, he’s had a big responsibility all year and played a lot of midfield minutes,” Scotland said.

“He’s played on some very, very good players in the competition and he can hold his head high on all the tasks he’s had.

“For him, to have another dominant performance, but also hit the scoreboard was really pleasing.

“We had eight goals from midfield, our ability to push forward we haven’t had that much this year.”

For Macleod, Kurt Manuel was best afield and Kobe Brandt, Zach Hudson and Ryder Jones all stood tall.

Bundoora will finish off the year against Eltham at Yulong Reserve.

Scotland’s first season in charge has been difficult after a number of players departed in the off-season and the club turned to its youth.

The Bulls were 1-8 at the half-way mark of the season before coming home 4-4 with a game to play.

The development he has seen in his young squad has Scotland confident for the future.

“We’re getting some continuity in players, we’re still missing a couple but we’re getting experience into these kids coming in and that’s coming to fruition,” he said.

“We’ve played 40 players and you look at blokes like Mitch Antonello and Josh Collins.

“We know the likes of Mallia, (Harry) Butterworth and those types, but (Luke) Lo Valvo is back after eight weeks off with injury and Brandon Compt even though he’s missed the last couple.

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“You look at the experience they’re gaining, it bodes well if we can keep the group together.”

Macleod will finish the year against Greensborough with the Borough needing a win to have any chance of a top-five finish.

Elsewhere in Division 1, the Borough’s 23-point loss to Montmorency has it sitting sixth, now a game behind Banyule after it defeated West Preston-Lakeside by 28 points

Heidelberg eased past Eltham by 75 points and Hurstbridge knocked off North Heidelberg by 46 points.