The Bulls’ Annual Grassroots Round was underway, and they were determined to claim all three points against the Newcastle Jets.
Goalkeeper Alexander Robinson made his A-League debut, stepping in for Filip Kurto, who was sidelined due to illness. Meanwhile, captain Luke Brattan marked a major milestone, making his 300th A-League appearance.
It was a nightmare start for the Bulls, with former teammate Lachlan Rose putting the Jets ahead in just the second minute. The visitors doubled their lead in the eighth, but the Bulls weren’t backing down. Jake Hollman came close with a powerful strike, and Brattan’s superb free kick was denied by Jets’ goalkeeper Noah James.
Despite the early setback, Robinson found his rhythm, making crucial saves to keep the Bulls in the contest. Bernardo created chances with some dangerous crosses, and an early substitution saw Saif-Eddine Khaoui replace Liam Rose in the 32nd minute. Despite their efforts, the Bulls went into the break trailing 2-0.
The second half was a different story. Harrison Sawyer entered the game and proved to be the spark the Bulls needed. In the 65th minute, he soared above the defence to bury a header from a corner, netting his first A-League goal.
The Jets restored their two-goal cushion in the 71st minute, but the Bulls weren’t done yet. Ten minutes later, Tomislav Uskok connected beautifully with Brattan’s free kick, nodding home a stunning header. The Bulls pushed relentlessly for an equaliser, and in the 95th minute, Sawyer delivered once again—another brilliant header completing the comeback.
In the end, the Bulls clawed back a well-earned point, denying the Jets a win in a dramatic finish.
