Despite being two players down by half-time, the Northern Bullants bravely fought out their top-of-the-table match with Port Melbourne to fall 24 points short of the Borough by siren time at Preston City Oval.
In what proved a high-scoring shootout between the two undefeated teams, the Ants went in at the main change with what was a narrow but well-earned two-point lead, having posted 7.1 to 6.2 for the second quarter.
But by then, respective shoulder and leg injuries to Andrew Collins and Paul Bower had put paid to their afternoon’s work, and they were left to watch on forlornly from the dugout as Darren Harris’ men were stretched in the second half.
That said, the Senior Coach would have been extremely heartened by the bravery of his players - amongst them the hard-running Dennis Armfield and the bullocking Brock McLean, both of whom are pressing for Carlton selection as a consequence.
Kane Lucas and Wayde Twomey were also considered amongst the Ants’ best players afield, as was Ahmed Saad with his canny sense around the big sticks.
The Northern Bullants play in their first FOXTEL Cup game this Saturday at the MCG. The game will be played at 4:00pm against Greater Western Sydney - before Richmond take on the Brisbane Lions at 7:10pm. The FOXTEL Cup aims to find the best Club out of all of Australia's State League's and it also provides players with the opportunity to play on the best grounds around Australia whilst being seen by the top recruiters.
Northern Bullants supporters can purchase tickets to the game through Ticketek or on the day at the MCG. Bullants Memberships will not provide entry as this is a different competition.
The game will also be broadcast on FOX SPORTS 1 from 5pm -7 pm.
Northern Bullants 4.1 11.2 12.3 18.3 (111)
Port Melbourne 3.4 10.6 13.8 21.9 (135)
Northern Bullants: Goalkickers: Armfield, Saad, McLean 3, Henderson, Thornton 2, Watson, Kerr, McCorkell, O’hAilpin, Twomey.
Best players: McLean, Iacobucci, Armfield, Lucas, Meese, Twomey
