Bundoora earned a double chance in the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 finals series after holding on for a 12-point victory against Greensborough in Round 18.
Greensborough trailed by just six points 15 minutes into the final quarter, but the Bulls showed composure and held their nerve to record the 15.11 (101) to 14.5 (89) win at Yulong Reserve.
Finals came early in the highly-anticipated final-round contest that was often goal-for-goal and filled with momentum swings and high-pressure footy.
Bundoora kicked the opening two goals of the game and looked more settled, but the Boro, as they proved to do all day, kept rallying to ensure their top-three chances remained alive.
Bulls big men Matthew Dennis and Isaac Muller (five goals) caused plenty of headaches for Greensborough, who struggled to contain their aerial dominance.
But the game was decided through the midfield, where Liam Byrne, Nathan Thomas and Kris Bardon provided plenty of drive for the Bulls.
Ricky Mullins caused plenty of havoc around the stoppages and Chris Clark’s efforts in the midfield were also gallant for the away side, while Josh Callaway’s run on the outside was a key asset.
Josh Grubb’s five majors – four of which came in the second quarter – was the spark the Boro needed up forward as they tried to leap-frog the Bulls in third position.
Bundoora had more of the ball forward early in the end-to-end first quarter and was also able to capitalise when it needed to, with Muller and Byrne putting through the first two majors of the game just six minutes in.
Mitch Hill replied for the Boro with a beauty from long range, as a noticeable increase in tackling pressure suddenly began to slow the game down.
The Boro took more control of the ball as the quarter went on but weren’t as clean going forward.
Byrne was the beneficiary of a Boro turnover in defence and put through his second major to hand the Bulls a handy 12-point lead at quarter time.
Bundoora’s ability to hit targets in the forward line continued to loom as the biggest danger for the away team, who again watched on as Muller slotted a set shot from a tight angle.
A Bulls onslaught was on the cards with cleaner ball use and more attacking prowess, but the Boro, led by Jack Johnston and Callaway, continuously rebounded out of defence and continued to attack.
Four goals to Grubb and one to Brody Tickell meant the Boro kicked five of the next six goals of the term, giving their side a three-point lead.
It took a late free kick to Moorcroft to settle the home side, as he put through his second to take back a three-point lead at the main break.
Hill and Grubb imposed themselves as their side’s main targets and put through the first two goals of the third quarter to give Greensborough the lead by nine points.
But after yet another momentum swing, the Bulls were able to claw the lead back with three consecutive goals midway through the term. The three-point half time margin turned into 12 at three quarter time, in what was set up to be a cracking finish.
Moorcroft’s third major early in the last stanza meant the Boro had to outscore the Bulls by at least three goals from then on. They managed to kick consecutive goals through Matthew Haynes and Tristan Stead to bring the margin to six points.
From there it was goal-for-goal. The Bulls couldn’t truly shake the Boro off for the majority of the hotly-contested match, but scratched their way to a vital 12-point victory.
The win consolidates Bundoora’s spot in the top-three, finishing second ahead of Northcote Park on percentage. The two sides will meet in the qualifying final on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Greensborough faces off against West Preston-Lakeside in the elimination final on Sunday.
Final score: Bundoora 15.11 (101) def Greensborough 14.5 (89)
