Sam Lloyd outscores Whittlesea single-handledly in Bundoora’s big win

Ex-AFL star Sam Lloyd inspires Bundoora to a big win over Whittlesea, the boom recruit outscoring the Eagles single-handedly.

Kain Proctor fires out a handball for Bundoora. Picture: Steve Tanner

Bundoora’s boom recruit, ex-AFL star Sam Lloyd, booted eight goals to single-handedly beat Whittlesea on Saturday.

The former Richmond and Western Bulldogs forward produced his best performance for the NFL Division 1 club in a rousing 75-point win at Yulong Reserve.

Bundoora finished with 16.15 (111) and Lloyd’s eight majors were more than Whittlesea’s total of 5.6 (36).

Bulls coach Michael Ryan was rapt to see Lloyd rewarded.

“I think Sammy’s been good the first two games but he just hasn’t been able to validate it by hitting the scoreboard,” he said.

An 8 goal bag from star recruit Sam Lloyd has guided @BundooraFNC to a huge 75 point win over winless @TheNest1 at Yulong Reserve in @northernfnl today. pic.twitter.com/LD7KVyLOBR

— Nathan William Media (@nwmsports1) April 24, 2021

“On (Saturday) he was able to get on the end of a few and finished with eight, so it was good for his confidence more than anything.

Lloyd split his time between midfield and the forward 50m in the opening fortnight of the season but the majority of his time in attack against the Eagles.

“In all fairness (to opponent Zach Molloy), a couple of goals he kicked they were just too hard to defend … he was up and about, Sammy,” Ryan said.

Young forward Jesse King added four goals in his third game for the club where his father Paul is a premiership player.

“Jesse’s probably our hardest trainer at the club and cutting his teeth in senior football so for him to bob up with four is really good for us and him,” Ryan said.

“His dad is a legend at Bundoora, so it would be great if Jesse can have a long and distinguished career like his dad did.”

Bundoora coach Michael Ryan. Picture: Steve Tanner

Bundoora jumped out to a 29-point lead at quarter-time and extended the margin to 47 at half-time with Whittlesea held to just three goals.

It only got worse for the Eagles in the second half, scoring just two majors while the Bulls added seven.

Coburg-listed midfielder Bailey Thompson impressed for Bundoora while skipper Xavier Dimasi, Blake Watson and Mitch Andrews were Whittlesea’s best.

Following a Round 1 lesson from premier West Preston-Lakeside, Bundoora has picked up wins over Montmorency and Whittlesea.

The Bulls face undefeated Heidelberg in Round 4 in a mouth-watering clash.

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Ryan said there were no easy games and early wins would be worth their weight in gold.

“You’d nearly say four of five games every week are 50-50, it’s such a tight competition,” he said.

“We’ve got a big game against Heidelberg, we’ve got them at home, and banking games early is going to be invaluable at the back end of the season.”

Whittlesea is still chasing its first win of the season and faces a daunting task against West Preston-Lakeside at Moore Park on Saturday.