Lyrebirds wreak revenge on Cats
BULN BULN have somewhat avenged their 2022 grand final defeat, this time putting themselves on the right side of another dour defensive struggle to win 7-9 (51) to 6-11 (47) and create some early season momentum.
With many tuning in to see which side would be the team to beat when the season re-commences after Easter, both sides entered the contest with several changes to the sides that played off in that final match in September.
While Buln Buln added Riley Rundell, Dylan Cann and Mitch Nobelius to its lineup, among the outs were Sam Langford, Matthew Stevens and Hayden Baker, who will miss some time with injury.
Neerim South entered the clash missing Josh Morrison and Nick Caddy, along with captain Kody Wilson who is currently interstate and expected to miss a month.
Jared Doyle returned to the senior side for the Lyrebirds and should see more senior level opportunity this year, particularly if he can repeat his efforts in producing goal of the day to put the Lyrebirds in front during the last quarter.
Good use of the body from Thomas Crole saw him capitalise on an opportunity provided by Nathan Bayne, but it was the Lyrebirds who would hold a narrow lead throughout.
A sliding mark and conversion from Jack Symes closed the gap, before coach Bob McCallum saw the Lyrebirds hit the front heading into the first change.
McCallum was the threat up forward for the Lyrebirds, and finished with four majors. He set up their next, with good body work allowing Nobelius to put through a soccer.
Cooper Clancy plucked one from the boundary throw in to close the gap, only for McCallum to hold sway at the other end for his second.
An opportunistic snap from Luke Kinder closed the gap before Chris Urie, who had been playing up the ground following the addition of tall target Crole, put through a running goal to give the Cats the slightest of advantages.
Both sides traded minor scores as the defensive battle continued in the third term, with goals proving hard to come by until red time.
Rundell found McCallum to see the Lyrebirds take the lead, before the Lyrebirds went deep to find McCallum again to create a buffer.
Crole feigned a handball and snapped truly to close the margin to just two points and set up an epic finish.
Jack Blakey, Ayden Ramm, Clancy, Matthew Edwards, Urie and Tyssen Morrow were keeping the Cats in the contest.
While trying to assume control for the Lyrebirds were Daniel Axford, Nobelius, Shaun Beecroft and Matthew Gray, who assumed majority of the ruck given McCallum's dominance up forward.
A contested mark to Crole for his third returned the lead to the Cats, just as Isaac Fuller made his way from the ground with a calf injury.
A slashing run from Daniel Axford, who played a key role with his brothers in defence, saw Doyle swoop on the ball for a roving snap from 20 metres to put the Lyrebirds back in front.
A defensive struggle of repeat stoppages ensued for the final 15 minutes, the ball deep in the Cats' forward line as the siren sounded with the Lyrebirds four points to the good.