Northern Bullants withstand Coburg comeback to claim thrilling win
The old rivalry was alive and well in the first standalone Battle of Bell Street since 2000 and it was Northern Bullants who emerged victorious in a thriller.
Victorian Football
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The Northern Bullants are kings of Bell Street after a Sunday afternoon VFL epic.
The first standalone clash between the Bullants and traditional rival Coburg since 2000 lived up to the billing in an enthralling, thrilling and at times fiery at Piranha Park.
Trailing by 23 points at three-quarter-time, Coburg stormed home with the wind at its back but couldn’t find the winning touch.
With scores level after 25 minutes, Jean-Luc Velissaris marked 10m out and missed his set shot but it proved decisive as the Bullants’ desperate defence held firm.
Northern coach Josh Fraser said he was always confidence his defence would hold up against the Coburg surge.
“For our younger players to experience a game like that and stand up and withstand pressure was a really big step in the right direction,” he said.
“We’re an inexperienced defensive group but they’re working together really well and understanding that balance between defending and setting up our ball movement.
“For four quarters it was a strong arm wrestle and we’re happy in that space, we’re happy to back our boys in to compete in the contest.”
The Bullants’ pressure around the ground forced Coburg into a number of mistakes.
Will Mitchell finished with a game-high 25 disposals while Billy Murphy, Tynan Smith, Sunny Brazier, Nathan Honey and Glenn Strachan all booted two goals.
Bullants ruckman Daniel Hughes was awarded the inaugural Harold Martin Medal as best-on-ground.
The bullocking big man finished the game with 18 disposals, seven tackles and 35 hitouts with his hard edge around the stoppages a feature.
Hughes paid tribute to his defence and said he relished the contest.
“Against the wind it was pretty tough, we just wanted to surge the ball forward, lock it down and prevent any scores,” he said after the game.
“I love the contest, I model my game around it, being smart about it is sometimes a bit of a challenge but it’s just get that ball forward.
“Josh (Fraser) is the barometer of the group, with him around it’s just making us go forward, we play to our DNA and there’s big things coming.”
It’s Northern’s third win on the trot after knocking off Carlton and reigning VFL premier Richmond in the previous fortnight.
The 12.11 (83) to 12.10 (82) win lifts them to 16th on the ladder, leapfrogging Coburg in the process.
Kicking with the wind, the Bullants jumped out to an early 20-point lead, Liam Mackie kicking goal of the day – 55m out from outside the boundary line.
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Taking it’s turn with the wind, Coburg were quickly back in the contest as co-captain Peter McEvoy took control of the game and took a one-point lead into half-time.
Billy Murphy put Northern back in control in the third term and the three-quarter-time margin proved too much to overcome.
McEvoy finished with four majors for Coburg, while Sam Binion impressed in a shutdown role on Tom Wilson and Jesse Corigliano was strong in defence.
The Bullants will look for four straight wins next week against Port Melbourne, while Coburg will host Geelong.
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