NORTH Central league grand final opponents Birchip-Watchem and Wycheproof-Narraport have met three times this season, with the ledger 2-1 in favour of the Demons.
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• ROUND 4 – Wycheproof-Narraport 13.8 (86) d Birchip-Watchem 11.6 (72).
Wasn’t much in the game all day, including just one point at half-time as the Demons led 5.4 to 5.3 at Birchip.
The Demons edged out to an eight-point lead by three quarter-time, before finishing with four goals to two in the final term to win by 14 points.
Corey Jones kicked four goals for the Demons, whose best player was skipper Boe Bish.
New Birchip-Watchem key forward Stephen Paulke proved just how valuable an asset he would be this year by kicking seven of the Bulls’ 11 goals.
Best – Wycheproof-Narraport: B. Bish, G. Turner, J. Turner, A. Mead-Harding, A. Pappin, J. Coatsworth. Birchip-Watchem: N. Gordon, S. Paulke, L. Sirett, T. Carland, J. Noonan, D. Jones.
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• ROUND 11 – Wycheproof-Narraport 12.11 (83) d Birchip-Watchem 8.8 (56).
The Demons improved their record to 10-1 with a 27-point victory at home on the back of a strong final quarter.
Scores had been locked together at 8.6 apiece at three quarter-time after the Bulls rallied from a 12-point deficit at the main break.
However, the Bulls could muster just 0.2 in the final term, while the Demons, who had Jones bag five goals for the match, added 4.5 in what was a result that cost Birchip-Watchem its position in the top four.
The Bulls haven’t been beaten since.
Best – Wycheproof-Narraport: A. Pappin, G. Turner, T. Sheahan, C. Jones, R. Allan, B. Bish. Birchip-Watchem: L. Sirett, R. Hogan, S. Morales, C. Hallam, T. Carland, S. Paulke.
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• SECOND SEMI-FINAL – Birchip-Watchem 15.8 (98) d Wycheproof-Narraport 8.8 (56).
The Bulls turned the tables on the Demons with a brilliant display in the second semi-final to win by 42 points at Sea Lake and book their first grand final berth since 2002.
The Bulls applied early scoreboard pressure to the Demons, leading by 24 points at quarter-time, 6.3 to 2.3.
The Demons pegged the margin back to 10 points at half-time, but the Bulls regained control in the second half, kicking seven goals to two to end a string of what had been five losses in a row against Wycheproof-Narraport dating back to 2015.
The Demons had no answer to the brilliance of Bulls’ star Nathan Gordon, who booted six goals.
Gordon had four goals by quarter-time.
“Our half-back line stood up really well, which helped a lot, and Nathan Gordon having a day out was obviously important as well,” Bulls coach Tom Carland said.
Best – Birchip-Watchem: N. Gordon, D. Jones, L. Foott, L. Sirett, S. Morales, R. Hogan. Wycheproof-Narraport: B. Bish, G. Turner, R. Allan, J. Coles, T. Sheahan, C. Burge