Spirits were high leading into the Round 7 clash against Bulleen-Templestowe, and not just because Tulips was back in the side.  We had won two of our past three and the new style of footy was really starting to come together.

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The wind was a bit fluky, and mostly going across the ground, but we got off to a great start and led by three goals at the first change.  Our backline was virtually impenetrable, with Warren Jeffrey, Anthony Sheehy, Dave Huntley and Will Gilmore repelling everything that went their way.  We were also getting great service through the middle from Sean Miller and Matthew Derham.  The momentum in the second quarter started moving Bulleen's way and things started to even up a touch.  The Bullants had heaps of the footy in the last few minutes and the siren rang just as they were running into an open goal.

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There was no panic in the room despite the shift and things got back on track in the third quarter.  It was led by both Marcus Nolan and Matthew Derham through the middle, and Andrew Tulipano and James Kappos from half back.  We were running hard through the middle and the link up handball and carry was some of the best free-wheeling footy we'd seen in a long time.  As a result, Danny Nolan was starting to get some great service up forward and was hitting the scoreboard as a result.  The margin has pushed out to four goals at 3/4 time.

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Early in the last, Bulleen-Templestowe were having all the luck of Schapelle Corby at a routine customs check.  They hit the post a couple of times, and got a cruel bounce once or twice, but after weathering that onslaught, we steadied and put the foot down to kick three unanswered goals and run out 37 point winners.

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Across the day, the backline was the key to the victory, with no weak link in there.  It was great to have Tulips back adding that extra run and leadership, and also to see us move the ball with speed and precision.  Still work to be done in a few areas, and as coach Ryan Smith said, "let's celebrate the win, but not get into the backslapping just yet".  Things are looking positive though.