Bulls fast start helps upset previously undefeated Lions in Great Southern Football League reserves decider

Mt Barker saved their best performance of the season until the Great Southern Football League reserves grand final against Royals at Centennial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls went in as underdogs against the red-hot Lions, who had won all of their 10 regular games plus their preliminary-final clash last weekend. However, a dominant five-goal-to-one first term and three unanswered goals in the final term were the catalysts for the Bulls’ 9.7 (61) to 3.6 (24) upset victory. Bulls coach Tristan King said his team played with spirit and belief in the decider. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet; I’m just super stoked for the boys,” he said. “Four weeks ago, the boys probably didn’t believe they could do it but after that win against Railways they gained plenty of confidence going into the grandy. “We just wanted to bring lots of pressure and get a good start. “That’s our best first quarter of the season and it set up the victory. “They really challenged us in the third term and we were a bit worried but the boys hung tough in the last term.” Power forward Jack Horrocks kicked the first goal of the game for the Bulls before Lions ruckman Nick Callaghan responded immediately with a long set shot. The Bulls hit top gear from there as Clinton Gilbert rolled one home only minutes later and then George Liddiard’s shot carried the goal line before goals from Bradyn Bennett and Tristan Ballard helped them take a 25-point lead into the first change. Small forward Anthony Coyne had his set shot smothered at the 16th minute but was awarded a 50m penalty, converting from close range in what would be the only goal of the second term as his side extended the advantage to 32 points at the main change. The Lions rallied in the third quarter, booting the only two goals through Regan Askevold and Corey Linthorne, to reduce the deficit to 18 points by three- quarter-time. At the five minute mark of the final term, play was stopped after Kye Griffiths went down with a knee injury and had to be taken off on a stretcher. The Bulls responded to the Lions’ challenge when play resumed as Mick Hick and Horrocks helped deliver premiership glory, the Bulls’ first reserves flag since 2011. Hick was awarded a 50m penalty at the 11th minute to push the margin to 23 points before Horrocks booted two set shots to spark wild celebrations for the Bulls. Bennett won the Jim Hull Medal for best on ground with a stellar display across half-back while Russell Wynne was impressive through the middle, Horrocks (three goals) was important, Ryan Ballard was solid at full-back and George Liddiard was also strong in the 37-point win. Askevold and Callaghan each booted a major for the Lions and were among their best along with Lochy Jones while Mackenzie Batten and Brandon Elliott toiled hard but their side fell short. “I’m absolutely gutted to finish the season like that but you can’t win them all,” Lions coach Scott Ganzer said. “They came to play in the first quarter and we didn’t.”