From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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NORTHERN Bullants easily won the battle of men against boys after trouncing Gold Coast by 105 points at Visy Park yesterday, with Carlton recruit Lachie Henderson kicking eight goals.
Across town at Casey Fields, Melbourne's Lynden Dunn was best afield with eight goals but forward Michael Newton received an ankle injury in the Scorpions' 14-point win over the Box Hill Hawks as Casey went to the top of the ladder.
The Bullants were far superior to a young and raw Gold Coast team that paid the ultimate price for two key injury losses in the first half - to experienced duo Danny Stanley and Michael Coad.
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna desperately needed some physical presence in the second half and said he joked to new recruit Karmichael Hunt about him putting the boots on early as he watched in the coach's box. "Probably when you take Charlie Dixon out of the side, we haven't really had anyone up there to catch the ball so we have to bite and scratch to get that ball back and kick goals," McKenna said.
Nathan Ablett was kept goalless and spent the final quarter in defence.
