Bulls run out of steam
BY ROY WARD, 07 May 2012
with permission

Pictured right: Raging bull: Noble Park's Craig Jacotine gets a kick away against
East Ringwood on Saturday. Picture: Lucy Di Paolo

TWO-time EFL division 1 premier Noble Park fell to its second loss in three matches against the previously winless East Ringwood at Pat Wright Senior Oval on Saturday. After winning the past two premierships, the Bulls now face major questions about the form and fitness of their core players and their desire to again climb to the top of a much-improved competition.

After a sterling win over Balwyn in round 1, the Bulls' form has slumped and coach Mick Fogarty will spend this week speaking with his players and coaches looking for answers.

Fogarty said his side had to regain the ability to play four full quarters of football. They dominated the second term and the early part of the fourth against the Roos but got little return on the scoreboard. "I'm disappointed," Fogarty said after the game. "I don't think it's our confidence. Our core players just aren't getting the job done. They aren't playing the way we know they can."

The Bulls aren't pushing any panic buttons despite the slow start. Instead, they will look internally leading to their next clash against in-form Blackburn this Saturday. Both teams have snared only one win from the first three games. "The beauty about footy is that each week brings you a different challenge and we are just three games into the season," Fogarty said.

As rain fell through most of the second term, the Bulls failed to make the most of repeated ventures inside 50, kicking one goal, five behinds to take a slight lead as the Roos failed to score for the term. The third term was all East Ringwood as Roos stars David Bell, Luke Vogels, Gary Conyers and Cam Purdy all kicked goals to open a 19-point lead at three-quarter time. Fogarty challenged his players to make up for their "non-existent" efforts in the first three terms but Vogels goaled to start the final term, leaving the home side 25 points adrift.

From that point Bulls star Shayne Allan and small forward George Angelopolous spurred their side back into the game. Allan kicked three goals in quick time and just missed a further attempt. But just as the game looked within reach for the Bulls, the Roos' minds returned to the game as they held the home side out before Vogels kicked his fourth goal to seal the win.

The final-term comeback left Fogarty questioning why his side couldn't reach top level for a whole game. "We can't try and win the game after playing one or two bad quarters; you just leave yourself too much to do. If we play four quality quarters of football then our games would surely end in our favour."

Fogarty praised Angelopolous and unheralded big man Stuart Cleeve for their efforts and hoped the rest of his side would emulate their energy and passion. Midfielder Ziggy Alwan and utilities Daniel Rigg and Matt Pearce could all return from injury next match.

Noble Park gets away in Balwyn clash
By Connor Ryan (Leader) - with permission

BALWYN coach Daniel Donati summed it up best: "You just can't give a side like Noble Park an eight-goal head start."
That's exactly what the Tigers did at Pat Wright Senior oval on Saturday, in their EFL Division 1 season opener, and they paid the price.
The reigning premiers swamped the visitors in the first term, capitalising on every turnover and finishing with aplomb.
By the time Balwyn had the chance to take a breath, it was quarter-time and the margin was 42 points.
Things could very easily have gotten ugly from there, but the Tigers dug in.
Over the course of the next two quarters, Balwyn kicked 5.10 to the Bulls' 4.4 and, with some better finishing, they would have been right back in it.
Instead, the Tigers' wayward kicking had them trailing by 30 points at the final change, and the last term was more of the same story.
The visitors struggled to split the uprights, and Noble Park hung on to begin its quest for a third flag on the trot in winning fashion, 15.9 (99) to 10.16 (76).
Balwyn coach Donati, in his first match in charge of the club, said he was pleased with everything after quarter-time.
"They just jumped us in the first quarter," he said.
"Every time we fumbled, they scored. They didn't miss, they just made us pay. Before we knew it they were eight goals in front.
"The next three quarters were super, we just missed too many goals. We had them on the ropes.
"The way the boys responded after quarter-time was fantastic. We just kept coming and coming."
Steve Kenna led the way for Balwyn with his tireless running, while Cristian Sanfilippo did a good job on the always-dangerous Ziggie Alwan.
Newcomer John Milhuisen was a rock at centre half-back, and VFL stalwart Ryan McMahon impressed in his first outing for the Tigers.
Jeff Gobbels kicked four goals to lead Balwyn's scoring.
Balwyn will return home this week for a marquee match-up with Vermont.
Donati said he expected plenty of improvement from his side in the coming weeks.

Balwyn's John Milhuisen is tackled by a Noble Park player. Picture: Valeriu Campan Source: Leader

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 – 2012 NOBLE PARK GIFT:

Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty will coach the Eastern Football League division 1 and 2 interleague side in 2012.

Two EFL sides, a composite division 1 and 2 side along with a division 3 and 4 side, will play two Victorian Amateur Football Association teams at Bayswater Oval on April 1 in the Nine News Challenge.

The EFL division 1 and 2 team will play a VAFA Premier A and B side and the EFL division 3 and 4 team will play a select group from the VAFA C-division 1 grades.

Fogarty, who has coached the Bulls to the past two EFL division 1 premierships, will lead the division 1 and 2 side. Ringwood mentor Nick Tennant will coach the division 3 and 4 team..

NOBLE Park will begin its quest for a third straight Eastern Football League division 1 premiership against Balwyn at Pat Wright Oval on April 21.

Balwyn will be coached by ex Bulls premiership player Daniel Donati in 2012. This should prove to be a very interesting first round match and a huge crowd is expected at the Bullring.

The Bulls will also play the Balwyn Tigers in a special Queen's Birthday weekend clash on June 9. No other games are scheduled for that round, the rest of the league playing on June 16. The Club is also considering more night games at the Bullring in 2012 after not having any this year and its obvious that the night games attract bigger crowds and suit many families to attend. Details to be announced soon about the night games.

Noble Park's Tory Dickson
drafted to Western Bulldogs at 24

By: Paul Amy, Leader November 25, 2011

Tory Dickson takes a mark for Noble Park during a game against Scoresby this year.
Picture: Andy Drewitt. Source: Leader

THE talk about Noble Park 2010 premiership player and century goalkicker Tory Dickson being drafted was right... But the club was wrong.

It was widely thought Essendon would take Dickson at last night's AFL national draft, having seen him play well for its VFL partner, Bendigo Bombers, this year. James Hird, it was said, rated "Dicko" highly. So too did Bendigo coach Shannon Grant, who crossed to the Western Bulldogs in October.

Grant's influence was doubtless at play when the Doggies nabbed Dickson with the No. 57 selection. "Can play," Grant said a few minutes after 24-year-old Dickson's name was called. Grant coached the right-footer to a best and fairest at Frankston in 2009 and, after keeping abreast of his exploits at Noble Park in 2010, set about him recruiting back to the VFL. It wasn't easy.

"It's fair to say he was a bit reluctant to leave at the end of last year," Bulls coach Mick Fogarty said last night. "'Shag' (Grant) was chasing him hard. In the end he rang me and said, 'Come on Mick, you've got to ring Dicko and get him to have a meeting with us'. "We spoke to Tory and in the end he committed to playing at Bendigo." But it was late in the pre-season, which added merit to Dickson's effort to kick 48 goals from 19 games. The Bombers thought him operating at 70 per cent.

As Fogarty pointed out, new Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney was also at Essendon this year and watched Dickson at Bendigo. The Noble coach believes Dickson will have an impact with the Doggies. "Once he gets into an AFL environment and gets himself AFL-fit, he can play a role as a defensive forward. No doubt."

Fogarty said the Bulls were thrilled for Dickson. "It's a magnificent result, it really is. He decided to have one more crack at it and it's paid off. Everyone at Noble Park is really rapt for him," he said.

The Bulls' former junior Alex Woodward was also drafted, with Hawthorn listing the tough midfielder.

Coates hangs his hat at ROC:

By: Paul Amy, Leader November 09, 2011

WHEN ROC officials rang the club's former premiership coach Mick Fogarty and asked if he could suggest any prospective senior coaches, his reply was swift.

"Steve Coates," he said, offering the name of his assistant coach at Noble Park. Fogarty steered Noble to the 2010-11 premierships and valued Coates' input as midfield coach. ROC gratefully accepted the tip and locked in Coates.

"He'll leave no stone unturned in regards to discipline and dedication and trying to bring success to that footy club," Fogarty said. "He'll work his butt off to get them into the top five and challenging for a premiership.

"ROC is a wonderful club the people there gave me my first chance to coach senior footy and I'll never forget it and when they asked me for a name `Coatsey' was the obvious choice. He's got the passion for it."
Coates played the bulk of his football at Noble Park and was good enough to kick a century of goals. He also had a coaching stint at Garfield in the late 1990s.

Coates said he was thrilled to get ROC's senior position and would use Fogarty as a template. "He's already helped me immensely," he said. "He's reinforced how hard you need to work to try to get a few recruits on board and get around to the existing group and get a feel for the place. "If I can galvanise the players as well as Mick has at Noble Park I'll be very happy."

Saints add new string to Beau

By: Paul Amy, Leader November 07, 2011

Beau Dowler has moved from Box Hill to Sandringham. BEAU Dowler signed at Sandringham last Friday and starts pre-season training with St Kilda today, desperate to reignite an AFL career that began with his selection as the number six selection in the 2005 national draft.

The 23-year-old had five years with the Hawks, getting in 16 games. Tall and athletic, the Under 18 All-Australian gave the impression there were greater things to come, but in the end he was unable to turn promise into performance. The Hawks let him go after he finished last year in the Box Hill Hawks reserves. Dowler spent this year at his junior club, Noble Park, playing in a premiership. He started the season as a Noble Park forward but finished it superbly in the backline.

His relationship with new St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen when at Hawthorn helped Sandringham secure him. But it would be no surprise if the Saints themselves sign Dowler as a mature-age rookie.

"We're absolutely delighted to have a player of Beau's quality join Sandringham Football Club," general manager John Mennie said.

The strong right-footer was introduced to new Sandy coach Simon McPhee last Friday, as was new reserve grade coach Paul Kennedy, a former Frankston midfielder who later coached Seaford to a premiership in the MPNFL. Kennedy works as an ABC sports journalist and is not to be confused with Frankston captain and 2006 Zebras premier player Paul Kennedy.

Meet the Faceless Men a group of sponsors who remain anonymous

EFL Grand Final: Delahunty a happy Bull

BY ROY WARD 18 Sep, 2011 08:16 PM

LACHIE Delahunty had a good feeling from his first visit to Noble Park training and two years later that notion is fully realised after playing in his second-straight premiership with the Bulls on Saturday. The Murtoa export was named in the best players as the Bulls stormed to a 70-point win over Scoresby in the Eastern Football League division 1 grand final at Bayswater Oval, Melbourne.

Delahunty, who is also a listed player at Victorian Football League club Bendigo Bombers, said playing in two-straight premierships was more than he ever dreamed of when he first turned up at Bulls training. “This is special, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said. “You couldn’t find better team mates, this is what it’s all about.”

Delahunty joined the Bulls when he was told to find a Melbourne club to play at when not in the Bombers' senior side. Despite not knowing anyone at the Bulls he joined the club on the recommendation of then Bombers coach Shannon Grant who was friends with Bulls coach Mick Fogarty. “It’s the best decision I have ever made in my life,” Delahunty said. “After one training session I knew I would play here. I said to myself ‘this club is going places’. “The year before I got here they didn’t make finals, I wasn’t expecting miracles, but they have a great bunch of people, as soon as I got here I felt part of it, they welcomed me with open arms last year and for us to stick together this year and win another flag was just fantastic.”

Delahunty also thanked a number of vocal friends and family from Murtoa, Ballarat and Melbourne who cheered him on during the grand final. Delahunty didn’t get too much of a look in at Bendigo this past season but made up for it with strong form as a Bull playing 18 matches and making the best players 11 times. “It’s more than a club you know,” he said. “It’s a lot like a country club there is a lot of older people around the club who love the players. The people here really get around the side.”

Double delight for cheeky Bulls player

BY ROY WARD 19 Sep, 2011 12:00 AM

NOBLE Park goal-sneak George Angelopoulos has spent the better part of his career with the Bulls first in the junior ranks and more recently in their senior side.
But until last season Angelopoulos had never played in a winning grand final in five previous attempts. Now he is a two-time premiership player with the Bulls' win over Scoresby in the EFL division 1 grand final on Saturday.

Angelopoulos, who kicked one goal in the win and provided plenty of forward pressure, credited Bulls coach Mick Fogarty and the Bulls' keen desire to go back to back as the key reasons behind the premiership. "He gets us up. Without him we don't go back to back."

Angelopoulos has always drawn plenty of scorn from Scoresby supporters and at times it presses the boundaries of acceptable conduct.

Angelopoulos said he always lifted in a clash with the Magpies. "I always cop a bit from their crowd and I played with a few of their boys when I was at Box Hill."

Late in the game Angelopoulos took his chance to give a little bit back to the supporters, making a choke sign towards a vocal group of Scoresby supporters.

"We were about eight goals up and I'm still copping a bit from the crowd. I thought, hang on a minute. We are eight goals up and they have no chance of beating us, so I gave them a bit of the old double hander."

PHOTO: Little Bull: Noble Park's George Angelopoulos shows his joy as he celebrates the win. Picture: Wayne Hawkins

Noble Park Bulls deliver fairytale win

BY ROY WARD 19 Sep, 2011 12:00 AM

NOBLE Park coach Mick Fogarty constantly tells his players there are no fairytales in footy.
He even used the phrase in his pre-game address before the Bulls' 70-point win over Scoresby in the Eastern Football League division 1 grand final at Bayswater Oval on Saturday which handed the club its second straight senior premiership.

But Fogarty's players proved him wrong as they controlled the match from the outset against the tall, well-drilled Magpies and didn't let up until midway through the final term when it was clear they wouldn't be beaten.

The Bulls finished each term with a flurry of goals led by Peter O'Brien (four goals), captain Craig Anderson (three) and Luke Mann (four). The win gave veteran midfielder O'Brien his own fairytale as he turned on an inspirational performance on the way to winning the medal for best player in the grand final.

O'Brien, who announced to his teammates last Tuesday that he would be retiring after the game, was the centre of celebrations post game and was carried from the field. "The guys wanted to send me off in style," he said. "I'm really happy going out the way I am playing; I couldn't have gone out in better fashion. I don't know if I was best on ground but I will take it."

All season Fogarty has preached to his players about controlling their own destiny by first winning the minor premiership, then taking the first place in the grand final and finally by dominating from the start and winning the premiership. Perhaps sensing the fairytale air of the day, Fogarty left the coaches' box with about 10 seconds left in the final term and ran through the crowd to his wife Michelle. An emotional Fogarty said he simply wanted to spend the first few minutes of the premiership celebrations with his wife of 24 years. "Her influence on me is enormous, I had to see her. I owe everything to her."

Scoresby coach Dale Bower resigned after the game. Magpies football manager Brent Cadd said Bower broke the news to his players soon after they came into the change rooms following the post-game presentations. Bower declined to speak to the Weekly when approached after the game.

PHOTO: All smiles: Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty led his side into the EFL division 1 grand final on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Hawkins

EFL GRAND FINAL
Noble Park 6.5, 10.10,14.14,17.20(122) Scoresby 2.1,5.3,6.5,7.10 (52)

Goals
Noble Park: P O'Brien, L Mann 4, S Allan, C Anderson 3, Z Alwan, G Angelopoulos, M Dunne; Scoresby: K McConnon, B Wilson 2, L McDonald, L Gibbons, A Parker.
Best
Noble Park: P O'Brien, S Kemperman, L Delahunty, K Martin, C Anderson, R Kemperman. Scoresby: M Krawczyk, L Van Rheenen, K McConnon, A Parker, L Gibbons.

EFL: Noble Park wins premiership!

BY ROY WARD 18 Sep, 2011 08:18 AM

NOBLE Park is the toast of the Eastern Football League after claiming its second-straight division 1 senior premiership. The Bulls led at every change against Scoresby winning 17.20 (122) to 7.10 (52).

Bulls veteran midfielder Peter O’Brien was named best on ground in his final game of football. The former Springvale VFL star retired after the game and was carried from the ground by his team mates.

Bulls captain Craig Anderson said his team mates had archieved something incredible in claiming back-to-back premierships in the very competitive EFL. “It’s still hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “We will celebrate for a couple of days and then hopefully we will realise what we have really done.”

Bulls coach Mick Fogarty has already re-signed for season 2012 with an option for season 2013.

Anderson said he was also locked in to return and he hoped to convince O’Brien to come back for another season. “You never know with blokes like O’Brien, we might talk him out of it,” he said. “There is no reason why he couldn’t play again, look how well he did today.”

Scoresby had a horror grand final day and it got no better after the siren with coach Dale Bower quitting the club. Magpies football manager Brent Cadd said Bower told his players as they returned to the change rooms. Cadd commended Bower’s world ethic and contribution to the club.

East Ringwood won the reserves premiership while Scoresby won the colts premiership.

IRRESISTIBLE. Exceptional. Unstoppable. Any way you put it, the Bulls are the best. Source: Conor Ryan from Leader. Pictures: Josie Hayden

Noble Park capped an exceptional season by thrashing Scoresby by 70 points in the Division 1 grand final at Bayswater Oval on Saturday to make it back-to-back premiership successes against the Magpies. It was less a contest than a victory procession for the Bulls, who confirmed what many had suspected all season they were a cut above, and everyone else was just fighting for second place.

The sunny conditions brought in a good crowd eager for a spectacle, but what they got was a systematic dismantling of the Magpies by a ruthless Noble Park outfit. Scoresby never looked likely. After losing the toss and kicking into a strong breeze, the Magpies started nervously. Luke Mann had the Bulls on the board with barely a minute on the clock. Scores by midfielder David Marcius tried to take matters into his own hands shortly after, throwing a right hook at Kyle Martin's mid-section. But the umpire saw it, Marcius saw a yellow card, and Shayne Allan goaled from the resulting downfield penalty.

The Magpies held their own for much of the first term, with Lucas Gibbons and Kirby McConnon finding the goals, but they went to sleep late and the Bulls kicked three goals in time-on to lead by 28 points at the first break. The teams traded goals early in the second, before a booming Ben Wilson goal brought the Magpies back to within three goals. They would get no closer, though, as a pair of Peter O'Brien wonder-goals from deep in the pocket helped the Bulls restore, then extend, their quarter-time lead to 37 points at the half.

If not for some wayward finishing by the Bulls, the result would have been beyond doubt. As it turned out, the second half offered little to anyone other than the Noble faithful. Early goals to skipper Craig Anderson, O'Brien and Matt Dunne put the Bulls further ahead, as they continued to cut the Magpies to pieces with their precise ball use; Scoresby's was a death of a thousand cuts. The margin was 57 points at three-quarter time and some late goals in the final term pushed Noble even further ahead, winning 17.20 (122) to 7.10 (52).

Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty said premiership success was even sweeter the second time around. "It always gets better," he said. "I said to the boys 'you don't need alcohol, you don't need anything'. This is the best feeling in the world. "They've earned it and they deserve it. It's just an outstanding feeling. "Just from where we were a couple of years ago, to be able to win two premierships is a reward for everybody involved. It was an outstanding effort and the club should be really, really proud. I know they will be". "It's a team effort amongst the whole club, from our trainers, to our physio, to our committee, to our president, to our players and to our supporters, who are so important to us". "That's what it's about."

Noble Park had winners all over the ground. The backline was as solid as a rock, with Beau Dowler keeping Steve Pimm whisper-quiet, while the Kempermans, Stewart and Robbie, didn't lose a contest all day. The combination of midfield jets Anderson and Martin was a devastating one, the former now a two-time premiership captain, the latter celebrating his 21st birthday in brilliant style. Another young gun, Lachlan Delahunty, had a superb game, patrolling the ground a kick behind the play and repelling countless Scoresby attacks. Luke Mann benefited from great service, kicking four goals, while Shayne Allan kicked three and could have had three times that number with straighter kicking.

The sentimental favourite, and a deserved best-on-ground winner, was Bulls stalwart Peter O'Brien. Having announced his impending retirement during the week, O'Brien provided one hell of a send-off, kicking four goals to win the Blue Ribbon medal. The humble 34-year-old simply said the game "wasn't one of my worst", before being chaired off the ground by his victorious teammates.

For the vanquished Magpies, the hurt of last year's grand final defeat seemed amplified by their inability to trouble the Bulls. To the end of the match, the Magpies didn't stop trying but, if the day's events had proved anything, it was that effort alone would not suffice. Big man Luke Van Rheenen won almost every ruck contest he reached, but the Bulls were dominant when the ball hit the deck. Kirby McConnon looked dangerous with limited opportunities, and captain Matt Krawczyk gave his all.

Noble Park Bulls star keen to bag another flag:

by Roy Ward: Leader September 12, 2011

Ready for action: Peter O'Brien can't wait for the Bulls EFL division 1 grand final this Saturday. Picture: Teagan Glenane

NOBLE Park midfielder Peter O'Brien never gets tired of winning premierships and hopes to add one more to his trophy cabinet when the Bulls face Scoresby in the Eastern Football League division 1 grand final at Bayswater Oval this Saturday.
The 34 year old has excelled in the past month as the reigning premiers entered the finals in search of a second straight flag, with his coach Mick Fogarty describing his play as "super".

O'Brien has been part of two of Greater Dandenong's most successful football clubs during his career after playing about 120 games and winning two premierships with Victorian Football League side Springvale Scorpions, now known as Casey Scorpions, and in the past eight years with the Bulls where he has played 173 games and played in three premierships.

He said success was expected at Noble Park each and every season. "I think whenever I say I play with Noble Park people's automatic response is 'they're a good club'," he said. "The outside perception is that we are a strong club and that comes from being close-knit.

"There are a lot of people who have been with the club for a long time and donate a lot of time and effort into it. I also believe the investment back into team facilities makes a big difference; I rate our ground as the best in the league in terms of surface and available facilities."

While O'Brien is at top form he is considering retirement after this Saturday's game. He admits he could still probably play another season or two but with a young family and growing work commitments he wants to leave football while he is still at the top of his game and not fall out through the reserves.

"I always wanted to make sure I finished contributing and playing reasonable footy rather than battle for a year; this way I could finish on a high," he said. "I had a good game in our last finals match and got a bit of the footy but by comparison I haven't been as influential this year as the previous few years."

The Bulls lost to the Magpies and Balwyn during the regular season after holding commanding early leads only to be overrun in the second half. O'Brien said the side had learnt how to regain control of matches. "We had a couple of lapses early in the season but since we lost those two matches we have won every game and haven't had those lapses again," he said. "We had some discussions and plans around what to do if we get in that position again... If it happens again we will look to change our approach, try and play the game on our terms and not be gung-ho about moving the ball quickly when we need to slow the ball down. We have that inner belief that we can wrestle a game back and put it on our own terms."

The Bulls are expected to make one change, with star midfielder Kyle Martin likely to return to the side.

O'Brien said his side had a big chance to claim the rare honour of back-to-back premierships.

Footnote- Peter O'Brien No. 24 officially announced his retirement after this Saturday's Grand Final and announced his decision to his team mates prior to training last Tuesday 13/9/11. He leaves the club as one of the most decorated players to ever wear the Blue and Gold. He has won many Club and EFL League best and fairests (we will update this once we count up how many he has one!) has played 173 Senior games including 19 finals including 3 premierships 2003, 2004 and 2010 also played 2 Reserves games for disciplinary reasons for not turning up for a sunday training session, kicked 209 senior goals. O'B we are going to miss you....We wish you and your family all the very best.

How's Tory Dickson Going

Here is the latest stats on how Tory is going for the Bendigo Bombers so far this season. Keep watching here weekly as we update his results.

SOME STATISTICS:

Bulls Run to Victory:

by Conor Ryan From: Leader September 04, 2011

The spectators at Bayswater Oval on Saturday could be forgiven for getting a sense of déjà vu. Just as they did last year, Noble Park and Scoresby were contesting the Division 1 second-semi final on a windy September weekend, and again it was Noble that won the day.

The margin this time was less comprehensive, but the end result was much the same, as the Bulls booked a spot in their second consecutive EFL Division 1 grand final with a 16-point win.

Having earned a week's rest as reward for the minor premiership, Noble was rusty early, as the Magpies took advantage of a strong wind to kick the first four goals of the game in rapid succession. The Bulls steadied, though, and were able to sneak some crucial goals into the teeth of the wind to trail by 21 points at the first change, before unleashing an eight-goal-to-none second term to lead by 29 at the main break.

Picture: Martin Reddy Source: Leader
Left: A Scoresby player gets taken down by a Noble Park player
Right: The Bulls Ziggy Alwan strides away towards goal

Our Colts side were gallant in defeat!

On a morning where you could not have wished for better weather and with the wide expanses of the MCG sized Jubillee Park bathed in 18 degree sunshine, the young Bulls Colts side came out and played inspiring physical football in the first half of Sunday's Elimination Final to lead by 8 points going into the main break with a great team effort which Blackburn seemed at a loss to match.

After half time though, the momentum changed and Blackburn slammed on 7 goals to Noble's 3 to take a very handy 17 point lead going into the last quarter. The wind was slightly favouring Noble's end but the Bulls could not stem Blackburn's flow into their forward's where they kicked another 5 to Noble's 1 goal in the last to run out comfortable winners.

Wilkinson was the one of the best for Noble along with the strength and skill of Beirouti, Benoit and Saina as solid contributors as well. The Colts side needs to be congratulated though on a great season to get where they made all of us feel proud. "Curl", Jack, Laurie, Bugger and the all the players and everyone else who has assisted during the year in any way, can all hold your heads up high. We are sure they will bounce back even bigger and better next year as the team moves into the Under 19's age group competition.

Noble Park's Ziggy Alwan had a memorable
100th game, his side thrashing Knox by
79 points. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Alwan has a ton of fun

By Paul Amy, Leader August 07, 2011
ZIG Alwan could hardly have marked his 100th game for Noble Park with a more classy or commanding performance.

The key forward kicked four goals and took a bag of marks at the Pat Wright Senior Oval on Saturday as the ladder-leading Bulls dealt with fourth-placed Knox in a manner that took even coach Mick Fogarty by surprise.

"I'm completely blown away by what you've just done," he told his players as they took a seat after singing the club song for the 14th time this season. The final margin was 79 points.

Fogarty reserved special praise for long-armed Alwan, saying he played brilliantly. The remark prompted a burst of applause from officials, supporters and members of Alwan's family. The Alwans, of South African descent, made a lot of noise throughout the afternoon, even getting in a chant of "Ziggy, Ziggy" as he came to the bench for a breather in the third quarter. And cameras clicked as he was chaired off the ground.

This was a superb display from the Bulls against an opponent that went in to the match with a 10-5 record.

A downpour left the ground slippery in the first half but Noble Park went ahead with purpose and panache, sustained by running players Craig Anderson, Peter O'Brien, Kyle Martin, Sam Monaghan, Lachlan Delahunty, Daniel Galante and Tom Paterakis.

Luke Mann kicked three goals in the second quarter, the last coming from a free kick for being taken high in a marking contest. Burly Mann happily accepted the decision, but the Knox supporters were entitled to howl about it. They were even more incensed when Bull Matt Dunne was paid a mark he clearly didn't hold.

But there were no disputes about Alwan's two goals from set shots as Noble left the Falcons spluttering.

Opportunity Knox, but the visitors simply weren't good enough to claim the biggest scalp of all. They failed to score in the third quarter as the Bulls added 7.6, parading strength in all positions.

While Mann and man-of-the-moment Alwan did the bulk of the scoring, at the other end of the ground Beau Dowler, Jarryd Plymin, Stewart Kemperman and Tim Kelly gave the Knox forwards no peace. If Noble Park has any weaknesses, they are not obvious. Balwyn will be searching for one or two this Saturday at Cherry Rd, when it attempts to knock over the Bulls for the second time this season.

Meanwhile, president Kevin Wright confirmed Noble Park had reappointed Fogarty for 2012, with an option for 2013.

* At halftime of the senior game Noble Park life member Ian "Pissy" Wilson interviewed 1972 Carlton premiership player Andy Lucas, who was a guest of a club sponsor.

* Noble Park wore black armbands in honour of Dot Duggan, the wife of long-serving timekeeper Brian Duggan. Mrs Duggan died suddenly last Friday.

Noble blows Lions away:

By Paul Amy: Leader 01.08.2011 (With permission)

You didn't need to any great powers of perception to know it was going to be a blow-out at the Pat Wright Senior Oval on Saturday. Round 15 of Eastern League Division 1 brought together top of the ladder Noble Park and bottom team Mulgrave, and the Bulls won by 167 points. They boosted their percentage from 169.38 to 183.38. Forty nine scores to seven tells the tale.

Noble coach Mick Fogarty said the Lions were competitive only in the first half of the opening quarter: "They had Luke Ablett and Peter Greenstreet out, and they're two of their more senior players", he said. "Look, they battled hard, but I probably felt sorry for 'H' (Mulgrave coach Hayden Stanton). Iknow him pretty well and he was pretty shattered after the game. But that's footy and we're not going to apologise for anything. We've got top spot to hang on to. That's giving us plenty to play for. We know Blackburn's draw is pretty soft in the next three weeks and we've got Knox and Balwyn at Balwyn. We want to control our destiny in regards to where we finish, not rely on other teams".

With Bendigo having the bye in the VFL, Tory Dickson returned to the Bullring and kicked nine goals, giving him 19 fromhis three outings. But having already played more than 12 VFL games, he will be unable to play in the EFL finals. It was his final match for the blue and gold this season. "He didn't have to play but he just wanted to have one more run with the boys" Fogarty said. Mulgrave wishes he hadn't.

Matt Dunne slotted seven goals and crafty Shayne Allan six. Dunne, listed with VFL club Frankston in 2009, had been a surprise package through the middle of the season.

Aside from wins in all three grades, Noble had good news in the form of Glen "Chuck" Manson returning from a long lay-off with a hip injury and being named best-afield in the reserves.

Tim Harper (foot) and the experienced Dianel Rigg (hamstring) also came through the curtain-raiser. But all will probably need another run or two before the selectors promote them.

George Angelopoulos will come into the team for Saturday's clash with fourth-placed Knox at the Pat Wright Senior Oval. Knox was knocked over by East Burwood last Saturday.

Gwilt's season over

The Age, July 18, 2011 by Matt Murnane

ST KILDA'S late-season surge to the finals has been hit a big blow, with in-form defender Jimmy Gwilt set to miss the rest of 2011 due to his knee injury...
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Bulls open up their ladder lead with 13-goal burst

18 Jul, 2011
NOBLE Park kept on keeping on with a 108-point belting of Croydon in Eastern Football League division 1 on Saturday.

The Bulls kicked 13 last-quarter goals to blow out the margin, in the process expanding their percentage lead over second-placed Scoresby to 36 per cent.

Bulls midfielder Kyle Martin again revelled in more time in the forward line, kicking five goals, while Ziggy Alwan, Shayne Allan and Craig Anderson each added four majors.

Martin, Anderson and Craig Jacotine were best players for the Bulls. Damian Cupido kicked four goals for the Blues.

Just quietly, Saint Jimmy settling in

The Age, July 16, 2011 by Martin Blake

IT'S NOT often you get an audience with ''The Quiet Man of St Kilda''. ''I just like playing footy,'' says Jimmy Gwilt, by way of explanation for his near-total absence from the normal media circus over eight seasons of playing for the Saints. ''When I get asked, I'll say something. But I'm not one to talk for the sake of talking.''
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Noble Park proove premiership credentials

On top: Noble Park captain Craig Anderson
grabs hold of Scoresby’s Matthew Krawczyk
as the Bulls took top spot on the EFL ladder

BY ROY WARD Dandenong Weekly, 11 Jul, 2011
DOWNHILL skiers, front runners and pretenders.

Noble Park has been called some nasty names this year but in its 41-point win over premiership contender Scoresby on Saturday the Bulls wanted to set the record straight and prove the Eastern Football League division 1 premiership will be decided on their terms.

The Bulls controlled proceedings from the start despite playing on Scoresby Recreation Reserve and while the Bulls gave up a big lead to the Magpies in their clash earlier this season the visitors were never going to relent, winning each quarter and holding the home side to just 38 points for the day.

Bulls coach Mick Fogarty said the win meant a lot to his players and to the Bulls’ chances of claiming the minor premiership.

‘‘We were challenged and we had to make a statement,’’ he said.
‘‘The boys have been called a few names like downhill skiers and front runners so we had a few points to prove.
‘‘There was a fair bit at stake because if we lost, Scoresby would have been two games ahead of us and we would have also fallen a game behind Blackburn.
‘‘We would have still been in contention for a second chance in the finals but top spot would have probably been beyond us — now we have top spot and a good chance to stay there.’’

The Bulls moved star midfielder Kyle Martin into a deep forward position for the match and he responded brilliantly with five goals. With Martin away from the middle, Sam Monaghan took control of the stoppages along with Craig Anderson.

Fogarty also paid tribute to the responsible play of Tom Paterakis in a defensive role on Magpies star Adam Parker.

‘‘Parker was named their best player but I thought Tom did a great job on him,’’ Fogarty said. ‘‘It wasn’t a full-on tag but it was a role with some responsibility. Paterakis had an impact.’’

The Bulls are now setting themselves for the run to the finals and with Glen Manson, Tim Harper and Daniel Rigg all slated to return form injury in the next three weeks Fogarty expects his side to be ready for anyone they face, starting with a resurgent Croydon this Saturday.

‘‘After the emotion of this win we can’t afford to have a let down,’’
Fogarty said.
‘‘Damien Cupido is in form and is a dangerous player so we will have to be ready".

Hawk Savage a hero at the Bulls

BY ROY WARD Dandenong Weekly 04 Jul, 2011

LAST Friday night Hawthorn midfielder Shane Savage was at Noble Park junior football club training at Ross Street Reserve, yesterday he was on the MCG facing Collingwood.

If the 20 year old needed any reminding of how far he has come, it was all before him as he looked over players from his former junior club going through their paces on the tiny oval.

Savage reckons little has changed at the ground or around the club, which was buzzing with the return of a former hero and the snapping of team photos.

"It hasn't changed much at all except for the new buildings in the distance," he said.

Savage was a little late for the training session due to peak hour traffic but that was easily forgiven by the Bulls faithful as he was led from team to team and player to player saying hello and having a few laughs.

"I was always one of the first to training so I could kick a few goals before we started," he said. "Watching these kids out here, it reminds me of when I was a little kid."

Savage has established himself as a key member of the Hawks side this season and he said the combination of a great preseason and a little faith from the Hawks coaches had helped him find his niche at the AFL level.

"I worked on a lot of things to help play the way I have, like my endurance and my strength," he said. "But I still have a long way to go."

The Hawks have suffered some significant season-ending injuries to players such as Jarryd Roughead but Savage said the team remained confident it could have a successful season.

"You lose a soldier and you replace him with someone else," Savage said. "It's definitely too early to write us off."

He said he loved the chance to return to his old junior club, something he hadn't done since moving to the AFL.

"It's all part of being a professional athlete," he said. "It's great to give the kids some time and also see some familiar faces among the junior club volunteers. They haven't changed too much, they are still keeping the place up and going."

The Bullring hosts the ACC Football Grand Finals

Last Wednesday night 29th June a big crowd was in attendance to witness the Associated Catholic Colleges Football Grand Finals. In what was a perfect night for football under lights the first match was the Division 2 Grand Final between SALESIAN vs CBC ST. KILDA at 5pm then followed by the Division 1 Grand Final at 7pm between ST. BEDES MENTONE vs ST. JOSEPHS GEELONG.

From all reports the ACC Executive Officer Mr. Paddy McKenna was very happy to be able to secure "The Bullring" for their Grand Finals with only a week before after the original venue at Box Hill Football Ground turned out to be unavailable.

Hopefully we can play host to this magnificent competition next year and suggest to anyone who missed this spectacle that you would have really enjoyed the skill that these young players and future stars displayed.

This is the second time this year that the Bullring has been used for night matches with the previous being when the Vic Metro Championships were played on Wed. 1st June between the Eastern Football League vs. South East Juniors with two teams playing that night in the under 14's and under 15's.

Here are the results, you can download the program here.

Bulls best burners

By Paul Amy From: Leader June 27, 2011
IN his time as coach of Noble Park Mick Fogarty has spoken often about the need for the Bulls to "make a statement" and "respond to the challenge".

Noble Park Coach Mick Fogarty:
We refused to get over-run.
Picture: Lawrence Pinder Source: Leader

Against Blackburn at Morton Park on Saturday, they achieved both.

Make a statement? Beating the top team at its home ground does that. Respond to a challenge? The Bulls faced one early in the last quarter, when their 29-point lead at three-quarter-time was trimmed to 10.

At that stage they looked as shaky as a fat man on stilts. Blackburn's Stefan Denadic kicked the first goal of the final term and Bulls full back Tim Davison gifted the home team another when he took a poke at Burners spearhead Ben Fraser.

The ball was brought back from the centre, Fraser kicked a goal and Davison copped a yellow card and a round of free advice from the Blackburn supporters as he trudged to the bench.

Three minutes later Fraser threaded a miraculous goal from the forward pocket near the scoreboard, and Noble's lead was back to 11 points.

Then came more drama for the Bulls, when champion midfielder Peter O'Brien also received a yellow card, for what appeared to be a push in the chest of a Blackburn player, who theatrically made it look worse than it was.

So Noble had two players sent off and was down to no men on the bench after Nick Williams had been carried off in the third quarter with a knee injury and Matt Dunne had hurt a hamstring. Blackburn skipper Jeff Ryan missed a set shot that would have cut Noble's advantage to five points.

It turned out to be the home team's last hope. Midfielder Kyle Martin kicked a long goal to steady the Bulls, and Shayne Allen and Beau Dowler followed up as Noble finished full of run and resolve. The final margin was 33 points. A challenge had been met.

"They came at us very hard. In the first 10 minutes of that last quarter, Blackburn dominated," a delighted Fogarty said in the rooms after the match.

"Then we came again. We tightened up at the stoppages, we started winning the footy. We refused to get over-run." Asked about the yellow cards, he shot back: "Let's not talk about those."

Two bursts of goals set up the victory. There were three in six minutes early in the second quarter, from Allan, Craig Anderson and O'Brien, giving Noble the first decent buffer and condemning Blackburn to a game of catch-up.

And Luke Mann, O'Brien and Anderson hit the scoreboard quickly in the third term to swell the lead out to six goals.

Noble supporters were delighted but they were dismayed later in the quarter when Williams hurt his knee. A stretcher was called for, but the umpires refused to let the trainers carry him along the boundary. Instead they had to cart him through the crowd. Bulls president Kevin Wright was fuming about it.

Noble's mean defence - Davison, Trent Robertson, Williams, Danny Rigg, Jarryd Plymin and Tim Kelly - served it well again, and Anderson, wingman Lachlan Delahunty and Sam Monaghan had almost 90 possessions between them.

Monaghan was credited with 31 disposals and 15 tackles yet Noble did not name him in the best six players! The Bulls host their great rival Vermont this Saturday and should regain Stu Kemperman, who had the flu on Saturday.

Noble Park 3.6, 8.7, 14.8, 17.14 (116) d Blackburn 3.2, 5.7, 9.9, 12.11 (83).
NP Park goals: L. Mann 3, B. Dowler 3, K. Martin 2, P. O'Brien 2, S. Allan 2, C. Anderson 2, Z. Alwan, T. Kelly, G. Angelopoulos.
Best: C. Anderson, L. Delahunty, K. Martin, J. Plymin, D. Rigg

.

Bulls off the pace, fade after a spurt

By Conor Ryan,  Leader 14 June, 2011
THE mid-season break has arrived a week too late for Noble Park, as the tired Bulls were humbled at home by Balwyn to the tune of 27 points on Saturday.

Noble was like a sports car with a dodgy transmission - quick off the line, but couldn't find an extra gear. After racing to a five-goal lead early in the second quarter, the Bulls would manage just two more goals for the match. In fact, they had plenty of faulty parts to contend with as injuries took a heavy toll early. Nick Williams was gone by quarter-time, Glen Manson at half-time and Tim Kelly not long after.

Discipline was another issue for the Bulls, who conceded three times as many free kicks as they received in the first half, including a couple of costly ones in front of goal. Despite trailing by only 15 points at the final change, the Bulls never looked like regaining the lead.

Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty lamented his team's inaccuracy in the crucial second quarter: "The first three shots at goal in the second quarter, we missed. If we kicked those, you're talking about a six-seven-goal lead and really putting the opposition on the back foot," he said.

" We start well. I can't complain about our starts. Our second quarters probably haven't been great.
"Competing against a side like Balwyn, with their season not on the line, but they came in at 5-3, they came here to prove a point."

"I just said to our group that, at times like that, if we're going to be a side that gets challenged in finals and so forth, we've got to be able to cope with that and take our footy to the next level.We didn't do that today, which was disappointing."

Kyle Martin was clearly the Bulls' best, oozing class with every disposal, while Sam Monaghan did a bit of everything, as he often does. Beau Dowler kicked three first-quarter goals, without stamping his influence on the game, and Shayne Allan had a rough time up forward, finishing with one goal from a half-dozen attempts.

Noble remains in top spot on the ladder despite the loss, but will fall to third after this weekend if, as expected, Scoresby and Blackburn record wins. The Bulls will enjoy this week off, before travelling to Morton Park to take on Division 1 surprise packet Blackburn the following Saturday.

Fogarty said his team was well and truly ready for the week's rest. "We've been going a long time and now, at 7-2, you'll take it. We've got to regroup, refresh, have the week off then look forward to Blackburn at Blackburn. We've failed in our tests against Scoresby and Balwyn, so, as I said to the group, if we've got any substance, this is it. We've got to fight back and show that we're a team that can have an impact later in the year."

Great day of footy for East's women

By Conor Ryan,  Leader 13 June, 2011

THE Eastern Football League was taking its cues from the AFL over the weekend, using the big Queen's Birthday clash between Noble Park and Balwyn to celebrate the involvement of women in football.

The EFL's move coincided with the AFL's Women's Round, with the clash between the in-form Bulls and Tigers offering one of the league's biggest stages. The reserves match was officiated by women, with an all-female crew of boundary, goal and field umpires taking charge, while AFL goal umpire Chelsea Roffey was guest of honour.

EFL head of umpiring Cameron Nash said Roffey's presence would be a great motivator for the young female umpires:

"To be able to appoint an all-female panel to a high-level match such as this displays how far the initiative of females taking up umpiring has come," Nash said. "There's no reason why more females won't be umpiring at higher levels in the near future."

League CEO Rob Sharpe said the day was a "great opportunity to recognise the role that women play in our great game".

For the record, Balwyn won the big clash, 14.14 (98) to 9.17 (71), against Noble Park.

EFL: Noble Park Bulls primed for fireworks

By Roy Ward  Dandenong Weekly 06 Jun, 2011 12:00 AM

ALL eyes will be on the Eastern Football League when Noble Park hosts Balwyn in a special Queen's Birthday clash at Pat Wright Oval this Saturday.

With the rest of the EFL having a bye, along with most other suburban competitions, the Bulls are primed for a big crowd for their showdown against Balwyn, which is in sixth place and only a couple of percentage points from East Ringwood in fifth place.

The league is also using the occasion to celebrate women's involvement in football, the match coinciding with the AFL's women's round on the same weekend.

The reserves match between the two clubs will be officiated by women umpires from within league ranks.
A league spokeswoman said the league wanted to showcase the standard of its female umpires.

"These young women are very strong and capable individuals that the EFL believe have the potential to umpire at a much higher level in the future," she said.

Noble Park will go into the match in top form after comfortably beating East Ringwood by 38 points on Saturday. The Bulls kicked ahead by four goals at quarter time and were rarely challenged from then on.
Tory Dickson returned to the Bulls side from the Victorian Football League and kicked three goals while teaming with star forward Beau Dowler, who kicked five.

Bulls Shield of Honour

By staff writers. Leader newspaper May 29, 2011 4.18pm

NOBLE Park won the premiership last season but along the way surrendered the Blue Ribbon Shield, going down to East Burwood in a surprise result.

Redress came last Saturday when it thumped the Rams at the Pat Wright Senior Oval.

Noble Park's Peter O'Brien has East Burwood's Mathew
Jessop in trouble. Picture: Jason Edwards. Source: Leader

The Shield is the clubs' tribute to police officers killed in the line of duty and it was presented to the Bulls following a 73-point victory in a match that had a bit of niggle.

Noble captain Craig Anderson took the medal for best-afield, shading teammates Kyle Martin, big Lachlan Delahunty and Peter O'Brien.

After a lengthy spell out of the finals, East Burwood has shown significant improvement this year, even knocking over Scoresby. Impressively, it has risen not by doling out big match payments, but bringing along home-grown talent.

But Noble showed the Rams they still have a way to go.

With their midfielders Anderson, O'Brien and Martin constantly winning the ball and streaming forward, the Bulls bolted clear in the first quarter, only for East Burwood to pull them back with a perky second term.

It was set up for an entertaining second half. But a struggle became a stroll as the Bulls slotted eight goals to none in the third quarter.

Their ball movement was as precise as a stop watch.

"Yeah, we had it going pretty well," coach Mick Fogarty said. "We can split sides open when we get it together. It's been a bit lacking this year so it was good to see against good opposition."

Although tall forwards Beau Dowler and Luke Mann had little impact, Noble's crafty small forwards and midfielders amply compensated, with Shayne Allan booting four goals and George Angelopoulos, Martin and the redoubtable Anderson three each.

That is Noble's great strength. If a handful of key players is down, others take the slack.

In defence, Tim Davison and Trent Robertson gave the Rams only grief. Forwards earn every kick on these two snorting Bulls.

"Love 'em," Fogarty said. "Just love their aggression and the way they go about it."

Despite the comfortable winning margin, Fogarty saw room for improvement.

"It would be nice for us to put four quarters together," he said.

"We just can't do it at the moment. We had two last week and three yesterday, so hopefully we're building up to four." On Saturday the Bulls (6-1) visit East Ringwood (5-2), which is coming off a loss to Vermont. Remarkably it was the Eagles' first win this season.

Noble Park 6.5, 8.7, 16.8, 22. 10 (142) d East Burwood 2.1, 7.1, 7.5, 10. 9 (69)

Noble Park goals: S. Allan 4, G. Angelopoulos 3, K. Martin 3, C. Anderson 3, S. Monaghan 2, L. Mann, M. Dunne, T. Harper, P. O'Brien, D. Galante, S. Kemperman, B. Dowler. Best: C. Anderson, K. Martin, S. Monaghan, P. O'Brien, G. Manson, L. Delahunty

East Burwood goals: A. Fiore 2, D. Gribbin 2, A. Gileno 2, S. Henshaw 2, M. Mariani 2. Best: M. Holland, M. Jessop, B. Hislop, S. Kilduff, W. Cripps, S. Henshaw.

Reserves - Noble Park 1.2, 3.6, 7.9, 9. 13 (67) d East Burwood 3.2, 5.3, 6.5, 9. 7 (61)

Colts - Noble Park 4.2, 7.5, 12. 7, 18. 15 (123) d East Burwood 1.0, 3.0, 4.1, 4. 4 (28)

Noble Park Bulls' racer kicks on

By Gilbert Gardiner

WHAT do you get if you put a horse in a Bulls' paddock?

A lot of happy faces, says Noble Park "Bulls" Football Club president Kevin Wright.

Aptly named Noble Park, the three-year-old gelding part-owned by club past great Paul Williams has got tongues in the Bull Ring wagging after winning three of his first four starts - including a last-start at Flemington.

"The players cleaned up, now we just have to get their minds back on playing football," Mr Wright said.

Mr Williams, a four-time Bulls' premiership player, said: "I grew up in Noble Park and I've got a lot of friends still there.

"Naming him Noble Park was just a way to remember the place and give a little back."

A long-time supporter of the club Mr Williams is donating money from Noble Park's track successes to help upgrade the football club's gym equipment.

The Sydney private equity firm director said he was yet to see the gelding race in Melbourne but that, by all reports, the roar from the back bar at Flemington was as big as it had been for a while. "As long as they don't come after me when it loses it's all in good fun," the 45-year-old said.

After the Michael Moroney-trained gelding's stirring come-from-behind win, the plan was to set the gelding for next month's Queensland Derby.

The plan has now been shelved in favour of a Spring Carnival campaign for Noble Park.

"We had a chat and decided he's had a great first campaign," Mr Williams said. "He's well-bred and is winning on natural ability.

"We'll put him out to spell and bring him back in the spring with the ultimate goal of winning the Caulfield Cup. We're playing it by ear, as I've come to learn anything can happen."

Noble Park Bulls' Shane Savage an AFL rising star

BY ROY WARD, 17 May, 2011 excerpt from Dandenong Weekly

FORMER Noble Park junior footballer Shane Savage has won the AFL Rising Star award nomination for round 8.

The 20-year old midfielder starred in Hawthorn's win over St Kilda at the MCG last Sunday with a career-high 26 disposals, 14 marks, five tackles and two vital goals as his side won by 30 points.

Savage has fought hard to make his name with the Hawks this season after slim pickings in his previous two seasons playing three matches since his debut in 2009.

This season Savage has played all eight matches for the Hawks.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said Savage had earned his place in the Hawthorn midfield.

''Shane has stepped up this year and has injected a great deal of pace, energy and footy nous into the team,'' he said.

''His long, penetrating kick and ability to find the goals has been a great feature of his game and he has been a valued and consistent performer in 2011.''

''This nomination is a great nod to a young kid who has shown much improvement over the course of his three years at this club and I think from a members' and supporters' point of view, he's one to watch in coming years.''

Savage was drafted by the Hawks from Noble Park Junior Football Club with the 75th overall pick in the 2008 AFL Draft.

Club legends Mark Bays and Tony Morwood Inducted

Congratulations to Mark Bayes and Tony Morwood for recently being inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame Legend Status in Sydney on April 30, 2011, for more details click on this link.

Maffra practice match 19.03.2011

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BULLS EYE TV

New scoreboard lights up

The new state-of-art LED scoreboard electronic scoreboard at the Pat Wright senior oval shone magnificently on its debut. Not only did the scoreboard look great, but displayed a 125-point winning margin to the Bulls – reflecting a record win against reining premiers Vermont. It went very smoothly and never missed a beat all day.

We were especially pleased with the final score showing a win to the Bulls by 125 points. The scoreboard is computer driven by the operator it also displays sponsor and community messages and has a roller shutter to protect it when not in use.

The club would like to thank the Bendigo Bank Dingley, and the Noble Park Football Social Club for making the construction of the new scoreboard possible. The official launch of the new scoreboard was onSaturday May 29th against the Scoresby Football Club.

The 2010 Annual Ball

The club's annual ball was held on Saturday
7th of July and was enjoyed by many.
Download the photos