In what was an enthralling contest, both sides enjoyed periods of dominance in a tight first-half with Dragons holding control.
Chief marksman Ryan Perkins was again central to Dragons exploits, kicking four goals to give his side a 27-17 advantage at the break. Mark Nancarrow produced a swashbuckling display around the middle, cleaning up loose balls and initiating attacking opportunities. He was ably supported by Michael Campbell, Lach de Morton and Will Cox, all of whom shone throughout.
“It was a tough battle and a really physical match from the start. We’re proud of how we stood up to the challenge,” said Dragons manager Rich Wharton. “The third quarter was huge for us, especially those opening five-10 minutes when we scored a couple of goals. That gave us a bit of breathing room which was critical in the end.
“The Bulls came hard in the last quarter and really had some momentum. We had some sore boys, so we were watching the clock closely. I’m not sure how long we could have held them off for.”
Despite losing their third final in a row, the Bulls’ commitment and dedication could not be doubted, with Jack Egan, Nathan Holly, Joseph Yodgee, Tim Leoncelli and Mark Mullally delivering outstanding displays.
Egan, in particular, has been the most devastating player in the competition this campaign and looks a genuine threat with and without the ball.
Bulls team manager Andrew Walters said: “The conditions were slippery which we felt played into the Dragons hands. They had big experienced bodies around the ball who handled the wet pill a lot better. We were frustrated with our inaccuracy when scoring, however all credit goes to the Dragons, as they were the more composed team on the night. To lose by such a small margin has really hurt the boys, so I’d expect everyone will be fired up when pre-season training kicks off in August.”
Victory also earns the Dragons a place in the history books as the most successful team in AFL Middle East history, and Wharton was quick to praise the influence of all involved.
“That stretch does say a lot about our club over a long period of time. We’ve had some great people involved and set some real standards on and off the field. We’ve got a strong culture and we like to think our results on the pitch are a by-product of that,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bahrain will re-enter the 2017/18 AFL ME League after a six-year absence. Bahrain will join Dragons, Entertainer Dubai Dingoes, Doha Kangaroos, Multiplex Bulls and Abu Dhabi Falcons in the six team competition, which will resume in September.
