Senior Boys Football

On Monday March 5th The Warrnambool College Senior Boys Bullants football team ventured to the Friendlies Societies Park to take on Brauer and Emmanuel College in the Round Robin challenge to see who would be crowned as Warrnambool’s best Senior Boys football team for 2018. There was a strong cross breeze blowing toward the coach’s boxes. The Bullants were taking on Brauer in the first game and Emmanuel in the final game. When we arrived at the ground, we were surprised to find out that Brauer were not participating this year, so Warrnambool College and Emmanuel College decided to play a 4-quarter game beginning at 4.30pm.

The Bullants were pretty fired up to make amends for the previous year’s defeats by small margins against Emmanuel. Most of the Bullants had fresh ‘hair cuts’ and were ready to march together in battle. Our focus for the game was to defend and apply great pressure, be composed with our ball movement and back ourselves in and play with our Bullant Spirit.

The first quarter was full of pressure. Both sides defended well and closed down the space of each player when they had the ball, which caused turnovers. It was the Bullants forward pressure and our ability to gain repeat forward entries that enabled us to hit the score board and lead by 22 points at quarter time. Our midfield of Eamon Dowd, Mitch Bidmade, Ethan Harvey and Jalen Porter were getting first hands on the footy and getting it out to our runners who continually kicked the footy into our forward third to players such as Josh Folkes and Harry White who were providing a great target and making some terrific contests. Our defence held up well which was led by Mitch Burgess, Isaac Couch, Xavier Mitchem, Luke Byrne and Jack Johnstone.

The second quarter was an arm wrestle and to Emmanuel’s credit they fought back hard kicking 2 goals, to our none. Emmanuel were able to create a spare defender and repel our attacks. The Bullants allowed this spare defender to sit off and this is something that we needed to address for the remainder of the game. Another area we identified was that our stoppages, we were breaking down and needed to spread our colour and team mates, so we have balanced numbers at our stoppages. At half time the Bullants led by 2 goals.

During the third term we kicked point after point and couldn’t capitalise on our play. We over did our handball a little and were as efficient. One play by Mitch Burgess was outstanding, where he applied 3 or 4 efforts in a row to win the footy when he was outnumbered and drove the footy forward. At 3 quarter time, we extended our lead to 14 points, but we were extremely worried as Emmanuel were kicking to the scoring end and this had an all too familiar feel to the game as previous years, where Emmanuel had come from nowhere to steal victory. Both Adam Dowie were concerned, but both believed we could execute an effective last quarter to get the job done.

Our message to the Bullants at 3 quarter time was to defend hard to the north side, possess the footy and when going forward make sure we have equal numbers in our forward 50 to kick to, before we kicked it in there. We also reminded the Bullants to not allow a spare defender and to make sure we had an even spread of Bullants at stoppages.

The fourth quarter started with a goal to each side, before Emmanuel kicked another to bring the margin back to 7 points. From that point on both teams cracked in hard and the pressure and dedication of both teams was amazing right to the final siren, where we held on only just to win. Although, this game meant nothing in the scheme of things, for the Bullants to come out victors will give the playing group enormous confidence and belief when we play Emmanuel again in the Premier League in May.

We’ll show the Bullants some video footage of the game and go through what we did well and what we need to improve before training this in preparation of the Premier League in May.

Results

Warrnambool College Bullants

4 Goals 9 Behinds = 33

defeated

Emmanuel College

4 Goals 2 Behinds = 26

Goal Kickers for Warrnambool College Bullants: Harry White 1, Josh Folkes 1, Lachie McLeod 1, Mitch Burgess 1.

Best Players for Warrnambool College Bullants: Ethan Harvey, Mitch Burgess, Isaac Couch, Jed Henderson, Mitch Bidmade, Josh Folkes and Luke Byrne.

The 4-quarter game was great preparation for our Premier League competition which kicks off in the second week of May. Our first game is against Boxhill at Boxhill, then we play Emmanuel College followed by Seda SC.

A special mention to the following Warrnambool College Bullants who made the boys Rebels squad in 2018! Well done to Mitch Burgess, Isaac Thomas, Jed Henderson, Mitch Bidmade and Ethan Harvey.

I also want to recognise some more special Bullants who made the girls Rebels squad for 2018! Well done to Renee Saulitis and Lucy Moloney.

To have 8 students representing the Rebels at the highest level for students under 18 is a great result for the students involved, the local clubs they play for and for the Warrnambool College Football Academy.

Thanks

Danny Finn

Senior Boys Bullants Coach.