Northern Bullants secure first win of the VFL season, defeating Sydney

Heart-and-soul skipper Tom Wilson starred as Northern Bullants secured its first win of the VFL season, a prize better than any Easter chocolate.

There was no chocolate, just four points for Northern Bullants on Sunday.

The Bullants secured their first win of the VFL season with a stirring 29-point win over Sydney in Sydney – the perfect Easter present for first-year coach Ben Hart and his players.

Heart-and-soul skipper Tom Wilson led from the front, finishing the match with a team-high 35 disposals.

Hart hopes the 15.14 (104) to 13.7 (85) win can launch his team’s season.

“It was fantastic, it’s good reward for our guys,” he said.

“We’ve been close in our last couple, even though the margin might not suggest that, so to go up there and in tough conditions, stick to the task and hold on – I’m pretty proud.

“Sydney’s a well-oiled machine and to match them in the contest, which they pride themselves on, is really pleasing.”

Northern held an 18-point lead at quarter-time but found themselves a point down at half-time as the Swans piled on seven goals in the second term.

However, the Bullants responded strongly after the break, holding the AFL club to a single behind to take a match-winning 30-point lead.

“At half-time we had a reset, we were only a point down but Sydney certainly owned the second quarter,” Hart said.

“To put the pressure back on – potentially we should have scored a few more goals – but we locked the ball in our front half well and edged our way in front.

“It happened a couple of weeks prior and we didn’t respond great, we went internal, so the message was to stick to the task, don’t worry about winning the game yourself, help your teammates – and I was really proud how they responded.”

While Wilson was the prime-mover in midfield he certainly had plenty of help.

Jackson Barling and Nathan Honey played arguably their best games in an Ants guernsey, while Tim Jones shrugged off his injury concerns.

Barling was in everything with 20 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal, while Honey finished with 20 touches, three tackles and 2.1.

Jones (27 possessions), Baxter Knight (20) and Kyle Dunkley (19, 7 tackles) were also prolific.

Jack Boyd and Jean-Luc Velissaris each kicked three goals, while Mutaz El Nour continues to impress in defence with 14 touches, five marks and four tackles.

“Tommy was brilliant and he had a lot of help around him too, which was pleasing,” Hart said.

“When the time comes to put his head in the hole or make a good decision he does that pretty well.

“You can always rely on him to get things moving in the right direction for us.

“We had a good spread, Nathan Honey has been really good since moving into the midfield and I think Tim Jones played his best game for the year after some injury worries.

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“Kyle Dunkley was solid, Jack Boyd up forward took some good marks, Mutaz continues to grow and Ethan Penrith gave us some good bounce off half-back.

“I could go on and on, I’m not one to worry too much about the stats but what they’re doing, playing team footy together, is the most impressive.”

Penrith provided the highlight of the match, starting a swift counter-attack with his dash out of defence before getting on the end of a string of handballs to finish from 50m.

Having travelled to Gold Coast and Sydney in the opening four rounds, the Bullants will have the bye in Round 5 before hosting undefeated GWS Giants at Preston City Oval on May 1.