VAFA Divisions wrap for round 5: Bullants firing, ton won

Preston Bullants have won four on the trot and are one of the VAFA’s big improvers this season. This is what has been key in the club unleashing its scoring power.

Preston Bullants officials can see the senior group growing before their eyes but they know there is so much more potential to unlock.

The Bullants have been the surprise packet of the Division 1 season so far and it’s a run of form which peaked on Saturday with an 18-point victory on the road against premiership contender Kew.

Now sitting third on the ladder at 4-1 — the same win-loss record as the Bears, Old Peninsula and Oakleigh — there’s budding excitement at Ruthven Reserve.

But with such a young group led by coach Tom Hill and his senior assistant James Saunders, the Bullants have been quick to declare almost three-quarters of the season to play.

“We have a pretty good sense of where, as a collective we need to improve,” Bullants strategy and football operations Pat Ryan said.

“We are trying to genuinely embed a culture of improvement. We have asked everyone in the club — players, coaches, administrators, canteen staff — everyone that we have to keep improving 10-15 per cent to ensure our club thrives not just survives.

“We look at the season in four week blocks and Saturday was session one, block two. We want our players to celebrate their wins and enjoy the Saturday.

“Our ask of them is to move on quickly, make an effort on their own time for a proper recovery to allow the next training session on Tuesday to be valuable.

“Our aim, with an improvement culture focus, is to provide the environment and tools for players to execute consistently which will result in on field results.”

The Bullants, who won seven games last season, will face more exciting challenges in the next fortnight when they travel to Ormond and then welcome Old Peninsula.

One of the key areas of improvement for the club this season has been greater score power, kicking over 80 in every game since the round 1 loss to Oakleigh.

Recruit Benedict Douglas is currently the leading goalkicker with 13 in five games with coach Hill just two back.

Preston Bullants are eager to keep improving. Photo: VAFA Media.

“The senior coach and his senior assistant have really focused on educating the players in empowering them to make choices and decisions which have resulted in our ability to score in different ways,” Ryan said.

“In past years we have relied on repeat stoppages which of itself is difficult to kick consistent scores to put yourself in the game.

“We continue to look for opportunities to score in different ways with a variety of players who can impact the scoreboard.

“I find that refreshing as the players as a collective group, while young, are now more willing to accept the responsibility.

“At times that isn’t always comfortable. Our players are seeing the collective efforts made throughout the scoring chain and not overplaying the value on the last link being the goalkicker.”

According to Ryan, another area of improvement has been the understanding of game situations.

“We are only 22 per cent of the way through the season, it’s a marathon not a sprint,” he said.

“The key for me, is players starting to see that the game flows and ebbs and won’t always be on the terms you want and have planned for. Being able to adapt in the moment.

“For me, seeing the improved body language, a greater sense of calm, when the game is against you in that moment is a sign of a more maturing group.”

TON WATCH IN DIVISION 1

We’ve got two clear contenders in the race for Division 1 goalkicking award — Old Peninsula’s Bailey Payze and Oakleigh’s Luke Ashen. Payze currently leads the way on 29 goals in five games despite being held goalless in round three. On the weekend, he booted eight in the Pirates’ big win over Therry Penola, to go on with the nine he booted against Ormond a week earlier. Ashen has 26 goals in four games and has shouldered a large part of the forward responsibility since Aaron Cloke departed the club at the end of last season.

PLENTY OF REASON TO CELEBRATE

Brunswick skipper and hard nut Ben Wilson celebrated his 100th game for the club in style as his side recorded a 103-point thumping in the Division 2 grand final replay. Wilson was named among the better players, kicking two goals, as Brunswick moved to 4-1. Returning gun Daniel Mott was best afield while Brunswick’s full scoring power was on display as Oscar Watt (six goals), Joe Gale (five) and Mitch Hicks (four) hit the scoreboard heavily.

JOCS WIN A SHOOTOUT

Fans of attacking footy were treated to a shootout at Thomas Carroll Reserve as St John’s recorded its second win of the season in a monster 21.8 (134) to 19.6 (120) shootout against MHSOB. Mitch Barry produced his best performance of the season with six goals while young youn Harvey Emery booted four to continue his impressive season. Club legend Daniel Cattolico celebrated his 150th game.

A STATEMENT TO GET ON THE BOARD

South Melbourne Districts has its season up and running after recording a 82-point over Hawthorn, who both sit at 1-4. New recruit Austin Murphy continued his impressive start to life with the Swans, booting five goals after three on debut against Whitefriars last time out. Conor Jacoby was the best player on the field.

Albert Park has won two on the trot. Photo: Dennis Timm/VAFA Media.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD FOR ALBERT PARK

Albert Park has won two games on the trot after securing a two-point win over La Trobe University. Lewis Parker, who joined the club from Fitzroy, continued his impressive form to start the season with two goals in a best on ground performance. The Falcons improvement will be put to the test when they next take on Power House.

POWER HOUSE’S PREMIERSHIP STATEMENT

Power House showed why it is one of the Division 3 premiership favourites with a statement 47-point win over Richmond Central, another top side, on Saturday. Michael Timmons carried the scoring load in the absence of Jack Taylor-Evans with five goals. Joseph Halloran was named best afield. Sean Scotland celebrated his 50th game for the club.

Division 2 clash abandoned after ‘horror’ injury

A Victorian Amateur Football Association game was abandoned on Saturday due to what one club described as a “horrible broken arm”.

The Division 2 senior men’s clash between Whitefriars and Old Yarra Cobras was abandoned in the second term after Cobras player Matt Falkingham suffered the injury and was unable to be moved as he waited for the ambulance.

“Unfortunately ‘Falk’ sustained a horrible broken arm in the 2nd quarter, unable to move until the ambulance arrived, the game was timed out and we will share the 4 points on the day,” a social media post from Old Yarra Cobras on Sunday said.

“Player welfare is always the main priority, well done to the umpires and coaching staff from both teams on how the situation was handled. A big thank you to Jules and the trainers from Whitefriars Football Club for the great care shown for Matt until help arrived.

“We wish Matt all the best with the surgery and recovery.”

Under VAFA rules, the result at the time of the incident didn’t stand as halftime had not been reached. The Cobras were leading by three points when played stopped.

The game was a top of the ladder clash.

“In the event of a match being abandoned by the field umpire the board may, as it sees fit, decide whether any premiership points should be awarded to the participating teams and the manner of allocation of any points so awarded and may impose such penalty on either participating team as it considers appropriate having regard to the circumstances of the abandonment,” the VAFA rules said.

Whitefriars posted its own statement to social media.

“For clarity we are posting to explain the abandoned game result for our senior men today v Old Yarra Cobras. With 3 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter an Old Yarra player suffered a serious arm injury which necessitated an ambulance and the player could not be moved,” the post said.

“The delay in the game was greater than 30 minutes which, under VAFA HQ Rules, means the game is abandoned.

“We thank Old Yarra, the umpires, and all those who co-operated to show great care for the player. Of course we wish the injured player well in his recovery.”