VAFA 2021: Bulleen Templestowe breaks through for first win of season following horror injury run

The Bullants are on the board for 2021, snapping a long losing streak on Saturday after a horror run with injuries this season.

The Bullants sing the song with gusto on Saturday after their drought-breaking win.

Bulleen Templestowe is on the board.

The VAFA Division 2 outfit snapped a 12-game losing streak on Saturday, defeating Yarra Old Grammarians, 15.20 (110) to 12.15 (87).

It marks the Bullants’ first win in almost two years, with the seniors last claiming the four points in Round 16, 2019.

The club lost its opening 10 matches this season following an extensive injury list, which forced it to forfeit both senior and reserve grade fixtures against Melbourne High School Old Boys.

The Bullants staged a spirited return to action the next week, falling agonisingly short to Aquinas.

President Russell Wallis described Saturday’s result as a relief following a “horrendous” run with injury this season.

“It’s a real fill-up for everybody that’s been involved from the players right through to the volunteers,” Wallis said.

“It was a pretty exciting time for us after the match. They (the players) were just so happy, in the rooms, it was almost like euphoria and almost like a grand final victory to us, just getting that win.”

Wallis declared after the comeback match against Aquinas that his club was “far from a spent force”. He noted the players’ steely resolve at three-quarter time on Saturday, as the Bullants went into the final change two points behind.

“The players just didn’t want to let another one slip past,” Wallis said.

“They were really focussed at three-quarter time and a few weeks ago against Aquinas we just let it slip a little bit and they were very conscious that they didn’t want it to happen again.”

Paul Florance led the charge up forward for the Bullants with a bag of seven goals, alongside Jack Cowell with five, meanwhile Rory Harbeck bagged five for the Bushrangers.

David Dakin, Rob Edsall, Joseph Moio and Ethan Mainieri also finished among the winners’ best.

“It was probably one of the stronger sides we’ve managed to put out this year – it just all came together,” Wallis said.

“Jack’s always thereabouts and Paul was absolutely fantastic – he had a brilliant game.”

The result lifts Bulleen Templestowe off the bottom of the ladder and into ninth spot by 3.7 per cent as it looks to avoid relegation at season’s end. It plays sixth-placed Ivanhoe this weekend.

“It (the win) puts a real focus on next Saturday’s game against Ivanhoe – if we win that, we’re a chance to be able to stay in the division,” Wallis said.

“With the list we’ve got, I think we definitely belong in Division 2.”