Experience may be the key to Bannockburn’s flag bid, says Fulton
BANNOCKBURN big man Kieran Fulton says the club’s 2016 grand final loss leaves his side better prepared for what to expect in Sunday’s season decider against Thomson.
A young Tigers outfit was outgunned by a hardened Bell Post Hill three years ago.
Bannockburn has kept the core of that team together, with 14 players from the 2016 grand final featured in the side that beat Werribee Centrals in Saturday’s preliminary final.
Fulton played in that loss to the Panthers and said he was fully aware what to expect when he comes up against the city Tigers this Sunday.
“It (playing in a grand final) is unreal. It’s a reward for all of our hard work,” Fulton said.
“I played when we lost to Bell Post Hill, so that still hurts. Hopefully we can get some redemption this week.
“I reckon all the blokes who played know what it’s all about now. We were a pretty inexperienced side back then.
“I’ve played finals every year since then, so the boys have the experience now and we’re ready to win one.”
Fulton was named in the best in the qualifying final against Centrals last month and was his side’s best in the loss to Thomson in the semifinal a fortnight ago.
He was again superb in Saturday’s win over Centrals, dominant in the middle of the ground against a smaller opposition. But he almost didn’t play, after suffering a pretty bad bout of gastro in the leadup to the game.
“He was enormous,” Riccardi said. “No one knew, but he was crook (on Friday). He was in bed the whole day. We were tossing up whether to play him or not. He was massive for us (on Saturday), so it’s a credit to him.”
Fulton credits a dodgy meal for his gut problem.
“It was shocking. Thursday night, I ate something shocking, I was up at 5am (Friday) morning chucking my guts up,” Fulton said on Saturday.
“I sent the message about 7am saying I might be a bit dicey for the weekend. I pulled up not too bad (Saturday) morning, but still felt a bit s---.
“Once you are playing you try not to think about it. It is what it is.”