Bulls redeem defeats with another win

Mt Barker produced the perfect response after a disappointing loss last week, booting 10 goals in a dominant second half as they easily accounted for Railways by 60 points at Tigerland on Saturday.

Consecutive losses leading into the round 10 Great Southern Football League clash had meant the Bulls slipped to third place on the ladder but they were ultra-impressive in far better conditions at the weekend as they snapped their way back into form.

The Bulls midfield was superb in their seventh win of the season and it was set up by ruckman David Stone who amassed a plethora of hit-outs as he clearly outpointed three different opponents.

Stone’s dominance over Riley Quilty, Shane Braimbridge and Laurie Dowsett gave his midfield silver-platter service and the Tigers even resorted to using utility Matt Van Schayk at ruck contests in the final term.

The Bulls led by 16 points at half-time and the Tigers kicked two of the first three majors in the third to reduce the margin to a little as eight points before the visitors took control.

Stone’s tap work produced two brilliant stoppage goals inside their forward 50, one to livewire Russell Wynne and the other to Kym Monteath, as the Bulls kicked five unanswered goals heading into three-quarter time.

It was a big task in front of the home side trailing by 38 points at the final break and hardworking Tigers midfielder Logan Stubber showed his class with a running goal to open the last term but that’s where the joy stopped for his side.

Goals to Nic Chidgzey, Corey Byrne and Sam Lehmann after Stubber’s second major capped strong performances from the Bulls trio as they ran out comfortable winners, 16.11 (107) to 7.5 (47).

Wynne was terrific off his wing, regularly pumping the ball long inside 50, with Stone’s influence again telling while Chidgzey and Peter Taylor were also strong contributors.

Full-back Adam Tissott had Coen Marwick’s measure and Monteath finished with three goals but spent the majority of the match in the midfield.

Bulls coach Shane Thompson was pleased with his side’s response after a poor performance against North Albany last week.

“I thought we should have been a bit more in front at half-time,” he said.

“We lowered our eyes and used the ball better and we kicked straight with 10.5. We had a good balanced side today, our back seven were very good and our midfield really stood up. We had winners all over the ground and got back to how we wanted to play.”

The Bulls were boosted by the inclusion of Claremont’s Cam Quenby, who played on a permit because of a WAFL bye, while the Tigers regained Claremont midfielder Bailey Bennett.

Bennett was outstanding in the first half before fading out of the game as the Tigers were best served by captain Bodhi Stubber, Logan Stubber and Ethan Knee.

Tigers player-coach Craig Frost was disappointed by the fade-out.

“Stoney getting first use really hurt us,” he said. “They got clean ball use out of the middle and that five-minute burst before three-quarter time was costly.”