Winning ugly. This year NOBSPC have turned it into an artform. Get the early break and hold on has been a formula that has served us well. This week it was 5.3 to 0.0 at quarter time which proved to be the difference in the end as we eventually ran out winners by 39 points. Brutalist art has always been unfairly maligned anyway.

To be fair it was a tough day to play footy as a northwesterly wind whipped across Gillon Oval. As it turned out, a burst of 4 goals late in the opening term was crucial, with Christian Ryan to the fore on his return from injury. In the first half the defence led by Mick O’Donoghue was superb as we held the Bullants to a solitary goal. Worryingly we had another very poor third quarter. The effort in the last term was better but overall we missed many chances in front of goal to win by a big margin.

Ryan was excellent all day, finishing with 4 goals, and Dylan Clarkson showed plenty of class. O’Donoghue relished the role of loose man in defence, while Sauce Ezard and first-gamer BJ Lawless were very good contributors.

We face Williamstown CYs next week in a classic 8-point game at Gillon. The chance to atone for one-that-got-away earlier in the season and to really put ourselves in the frame for second spot awaits. We would love to see a big crowd turn out to support our boys.