Northern Bullants news

Bullants coach would welcome 'nice guy' O'hAilpin back to club

By NorthPort February 08, 2009

From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond and Martin Boulton

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CARLTON development and Northern Bullants coach David Teague said the Bullants would welcome troubled defender Setanta O'hAilpin back to the club after he served any AFL-imposed suspension.

Teague, who described O'hAilpin as a "really nice guy", was shocked at Friday's footage that showed the Irishman kick teammate Cameron Cloke following a series of punches during an intra-club match.

Vale Matthew Burrows

By NorthPort February 01, 2009

From the Official VFL website:

The Victorian Football League mourns the passing of 1990 Liston Trophy winner Matthew Burrows.

According to www.northernbullants.com.au, Burrows failed to recover from a heart attack he suffered at work on Thursday. Burrows was in his early 40s.

Burrows was a skilled half-back who also won Preston's Best and Fairest in 1992.

The Victorian Football League extends its deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Bullants ready for big sting

By administrator September 06, 2008

From The Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

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THE Casey Scorpions go into today's first round of the VFL finals against Northern Bullants facing elimination, a prospect that seemed unlikely for most of the season with the Scorpions entrenched in the top four.

But a one-point loss to Coburg in the second-last round and an upset victory by Werribee over Williamstown in the final round elevated Werribee to fourth and stripped Casey of the double chance.

"It was disappointing, but look, we probably knew it was going to happen when we lost to Coburg," said senior coach Greg Hutchison.

Although Casey had the Bullants' measure at their only meeting this season in round six, when Casey trounced today's opponents by a whopping 118 points, Hutchison believes the Bullants have the advantage this time around.

VFL ROUND 4 – Northern Bullants v Tasmania

By administrator April 20, 2008
From the ABC Grandstand website
Reported by Chris Thompson

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The Northern Bullants overcame some shocking finishing and a spirited comeback to defeat Tasmania by 10 points in a firey encounter at Princes Park this afternoon.

Both sides were fired up for the game, several scuffles breaking out throughout the day, but it was the Ants who held their nerve to kick the last goal of the match, put the Devils’ challenge to rest and run out winners 11.18.84 to 10.14.74.

Prior to that, it looked as though Tasmania would run over the top of the Bullants after the Devils kicked the final three goals of the third term and the first of the last to turn a 20-point deficit into 4-point lead.

The deficit would have been even greater had the Bullants been able to finish off their good work, a series of behinds early in the third almost proving their downfall.

But playing coach David Teague stepped up, an inspirational goal midway through the final term giving his side some breathing space before David Ellard kicked the sealer, a tumbling drop punt from 65m, to get them over the line.

Tall timber topples magpies

By administrator April 15, 2008
From the Preston Leader

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THERE is an old saying in football: no matter how long the game goes, the tall blokes don't get any shorter.

For the Northern Bullants on Saturday, that rang true as their tall timber up forward proved too strong for Collingwood in the last quarter of the Round 3 VFL clash at Princes Park.

Throughout the contest the Bullants looked the better side but couldn't break away from the plucky Magpies who held firm for most of the game.

But, as the Bullants did against Coburg in Round 2, come the last quarter they had too much strength as they raced away to a convincing 20.8 (128) to 12.5 (77) win.

Jake Edwards was a key to the last-quarter onslaught that resulted in eight goals. Quiet for most of the match, Edwards exploded in the final term with three goals.

Bullants face test of depth

By administrator May 19, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

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THE Northern Bullants lost just one home-and-away match for the entire 2006 season, but face one of their biggest tests today when they hit the road to face North Ballarat.

Barry Mitchell's group has been devastated by injuries to key personnel in the past fortnight, and a clash with the improved Roosters shapes as a true test of their depth and resolve.

Last year's VFL centre-half forward of the year, Digby Morrell, broke some ribs early in last week's narrow win over Box Hill, and looks set to miss at least a month.

The ex-Blue and Kangaroo has long been one of the competition's most dangerous players, displaying a balance of strength and agility that makes him a nightmare match-up for opposition coaches.

"We'll miss him not only as a good player but as a bit of a general," Mitchell said. "He's really important because the younger Carlton guys get to play with him and learn from him. He points them around and tells them where to go."

Roosters finish on a high.

By bullants August 14, 2004

North Ballarat capped off a fine home and away season by winning their 11th game at a rain soaked Cramer Street Oval.

The skill level of the roosters was the difference between the 2 sides, with North Ballarat players often gaining more yardage with their kicks in a game were goals were at a premium.

Yet again the bullants tried very hard, but were unable to hold out North Ballarat. Aided by the strong breeze blowing towards the Cramer Street end of the ground, they kicked 3 goals in a match winning 3rd quarter burst.

Whenever the wind blows towards the Cramer Street end you know that it's going to be a bitterly cold day. At one stage in the final quarter all but 1 North Ballarat player was wearing long sleeves.

On a day when best players were hard to find on both sides, Brett Zorzi and Jon McCormick were fine contributers for the Bullants. Zorzi kicked the only goal of the day against the breeze after a poor kick in.

Down back Brett Maloney was almost unbeatable for the roosters. For a big man Moloney played the conditions superbly and never gave the smaller bullant forwards much of a look in.

The roosters spilt the game open with a brilliant snap goal from Garth Taylor and a solo effort from Nathan Saunders who was aided by opponent Murray Boyd slipping over.

Bullants coach Barry Mitchell blasted Boyd at 3 quarter time for his choice of moulded souls, with Mitchell saying that sometimes players have to put up with playing with sore feet.

Taking a 19 point lead into the final change Nth Ballarat were almost ensured of a win but the home side fought the game right out.

After scoring just 1 goal in their last 5 quarters, the bullants managed 2 in the last thanks to some clever work from Saad Saad. Saad kicking 1 himself and setting up another for David Clarke.

It was a long day for all but imparticular Saad as he played the first half of the reserves game. He came into the Bullants side as a replacement for Ricky Mott.

Tigers outslog Bullants

By bullants August 07, 2004

The Coburg Tigers have taken another step towards securing a top 4 position by defeating the Northern Bullants at a rain soaked Coburg City Oval.

Heavy showers marred the clash with the game becoming a slog as players faced some of the worst weather conditions of the 2004 season.

After half time the Tigers were first to the ball and just too strong for the depleted Bullants line up. Matthew Hyde and Mark Janz both made their debuts for the Bullants, with Hyde playing a serviceable game while Janz had little game time.

Of concern for the Tigers is the report of Mark Coughlan who was reported for striking direct opponent Josh Vansittart. Vansittart had the better of Coughlan but it was Coughlan who set the tone of the 2nd half with a soccered goal from 20 metres out early in the 3rd term.

On a brighter note Andrew Raines was very impressive. On a day when players could have been forgiven for slipping over, his ability to keep his "feet" was a highlight.

For the Bullants Callan Beasy worked tirelessly and several others tried hard but injuries have tested the Bullants depth. Testimoney to the club's long injury list was the sight of assistant coach Peter Dean wearing the number 60 out of the goal square in the early game.

Only 3 points seperated the sides at the last change but a superb running goal from ruckman Ben Marsh deflated any hopes of a Bullant recovery.

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