From the Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Dimaond
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THE Northern Bullants must shut down North Ballarat's power forward line if they are to cause an upset in today's VFL grand final at Etihad Stadium.
While much is said about the Roosters' well-drilled midfield, the forward mix of North Melbourne's Corey Jones, David Hale and Josh Smith - alongside goalsneaks Stevie Dinnell and Derrick Micallef - has been potent and threatens the Bullants' hopes of avenging last year's grand final loss to the Roosters.
Advertisement: Story continues belowJones, who retired from the AFL and will play his final VFL match today, is the club's leading goalkicker with 49 and finished runner-up in the Frosty Miller Medal to Williamstown's Matthew Little (84).
Hale was best on ground for the Roosters last week.
Bullants coach David Teague's philosophy is to break down the Roosters' supply with their defensive strength, led by Carlton's Bret Thornton, who has become the club's most important player.
Thornton's trade week price-tag would have skyrocketed over the past month, despite not playing for the Blues in the second half of 2010.
