Woods’ 10-goal brilliance for Bulls

Mt Barker moved even closer to clinching a finals berth after overcoming Albany by 59-points in their NAIDOC Round encounter at Sounness Park on Saturday, led by a 10-goal haul from veteran Dionne Woods.

The evergreen 39-year-old proved the difference between the two sides as he booted 10 goals to leap to the top of the Sean Plaisted Medal standings, as the Bulls prevailed 15.15 (105) to 7.4 (46).

The Bulls are now three games clear of fifth-placed Denmark-Walpole heading into the last five games of the regular season.

Woods got the Bulls off to an electric start after he kicked three of the first four majors of the match and had four by the first change.

However, the first quarter was soured by an injury to Bulls captain Pete Taylor who restrained his quad and played no further part in the game.

The Sharks fought back late in the first and then as the rain fell in the second began to gain some control but they trailed by 17 points at the long break.

The home side skipped clear in the second half, kicking eight goals to two on their way to a fifth win that draws them level on points with North Albany.

The Sharks worked hard in the final term and had got within 32 points but the Bulls were able to respond and kick the last six majors as Woods booted three in the fourth to take his tally to 10.

Woods had the forward 50 to himself for much of the afternoon, which left space for him to lead into or use clever body work one-on-one to mark and then goal.

Livewire Jesse Wynne was terrific playing up the ground while Leigh Conwy and John Lee (three goals) were also great contributors. Bulls coach Brad Hook said Woods’ performance was pretty special.

“Doop (Dionne) spoke to the boys before the game,” Hook said.

“It was a special day for him NAIDOC Round, he pumped himself up for a big game and he certainly delivered.

“The Sharks played better in the wet in the second quarter but we are exactly where we thought we’d be winning three games in the second round.

“Things are starting to click.”

Hook expected Taylor to miss a month with the recurrence of the quad injury.

Sharks defender Mitch Jackson was terrific for his side, Robbie Lee and Jack Banks both slotted two goals and tried hard all day while Hamish Fuller was impressive in defeat as well.

“We got reward for effort kicking the last three goals of the first,” Sharks coach Kim Mayfield said. “The rain in the second seemed to suit us and we could have been in front at half-time and we got it back to five goals in the last but then they kicked the last five or six.

“I don’t think it was a nine-goal (margin) game.”