Bundoora too good for South Morang to cement place in NFNL Division 1

Bundoora captain Peter McEvoy details how the club prepared for arguably its most important game of the season with its place in NFNL Division 1 on the line.

Peter McEvoy in action for Bundoora. Picture: Josh Chadwick

If Bundoora is to play NFNL Division 1 footy in 2026, this was the game that sealed it.

Bundoora and South Morang’s relegation survival hopes went on the line at Mill Park Lakes Reserve on Saturday and it was the Bulls that claimed a critical 35-point victory.

It’s not official yet but the 11.8 (74) to 5.9 (39) triumph moves the club two games clear of the Lions at the bottom of the ladder with four games remaining.

The ramifications had been the elephant in the room all week.

Bundoora captain Peter McEvoy said there was no hiding from what the game meant.

Jesse King in action for Bundoora. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We’ve had a year of almosts in a lot of games,” McEvoy said.

“We feel like we’ve made incredible progress in the way we’re playing but we’ve just fallen short in so many games, which has unfortunately put a bit of pressure on at this time of year.

“In many ways it was good to have a day where the conditions weren’t friendly, it was brutal, but we were the most prepared for a game all year.

“We spoke about (the game) quite a lot throughout the week and didn’t shy away from it, we spoke about embracing the challenge.

“Also about how well we’ve been performing in the last six or eight weeks, so there was a focus on self-belief and the connection we’ve got as a group.”

That self-belief was evident from the first bounce as Bundoora kicked five goals to nil in the first quarter to take a stranglehold on the contest.

The Bulls kicked three behinds to start before South Morang’s James Traianou looked to sustain a back injury, bringing a temporary halt to the game.

Jesse King kicked the first goal of the game before Liam Mallia caught fire with three majors in 10 minutes.

“It was fortuitous but there was an opportunity to come together – unfortunately one of the South Morang guys took a nasty hit and got medical attention,” McEvoy said.

“We’d played really well in the first 15 minutes but hadn’t kicked a goal, so from a leadership point of view it was good to calm everyone down and say how well we’re playing, and I think we kicked five goals in the last 10 minutes.”

Ex-AFL recruit Noah Cumberland got South Morang on the board 10 minutes into the second quarter and the Lions closed the gap to 18 points at half-time.

However, the Bulls took control in the second half, booting five goals to three after half-time.

In difficult conditions, McEvoy said the team’s defence was at its best.

“There’s been one or two other games but we really put it together four quarters,” he said.

“We were really impressed with how we defended and everyone’s commitment to playing their role.

“It’s a clichéd thing to say but it really can be the difference between winning and losing, where every player has done important things and not one bloke’s kicking six goals or had 40 touches in the midfield.”

Isaac McMillan was named best-on-ground in the win, winning possessions at will and dominating around stoppages.

Mallia, Harry Butterworth, Bailey Tome, Riley Greene and McEvoy himself – playing his 50th game for Bundoora – also impressed.

“Isaac was a star, he’s the engine of our midfield,” McEvoy said.

“He has such good balance and positioning around the stoppage, he’s a strong guy and a very good contested ball-winner.

“He played a phenomenal game and was certainly the driving force in our midfield, when we needed him to stand up and win a big contest he did.”

South Morang had several key players return for the clash; Davin Cameron, James Hewson, Tyrone Leonardis, Christian Mardini and Nathan Stefanile.

In his second senior game back from a pre-season knee injury, captain Tye Hall was best afield in defeat.

Jesse John Christidis, Bailey Brown and Ben Power also stood tall.

McEvoy said Bundoora’s results didn’t tell the full story.

The Bulls have had two wins, had a heart-breaking six-point loss to Banyule last week and lost to West Preston-Lakeside by 13 and second-placed Greensborough by one in the past month.

They will face Montmorency, Hurstbridge, Heidelberg and Greensborough in a difficult run home.

“We think we can win each game on its merits, we’ll be prepared and as organised as we can be and take that self-belief in,” McEvoy said.

“We know if we defend well and our system holds up then we’ll be in the contest and a good chance to win.

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“We’ve got some of the top teams but we took it up to a few of them previously, Greensborough we fell short by a point, Monty we had an ordinary first quarter and then Hurstbridge and Heidelberg will be good challenges.”

Needing to make up two games and percentage, South Morang tackles Hurstbridge, North Heidelberg, Banyule and Eltham.

In a weekend of thrilling finishes, Greensborough edged North Heidelberg by seven points, as did West Preston-Lakeside over Eltham, and Banyule came from 32 points down at three-quarter-time to stun Hurstbridge by two points.

Heidelberg and Montmorency were on the bye.