Bulldogs bite back in grand final replay

ROUND 3 beckoned with one of the toughest challenges in the West Gippsland League – an away visit to last year’s premier (and Bulldog conqueror) Tooradin. 

The skies we foreboding as the faithful headed from the Island, amidst the pouring rain and slippery roads. 

Upon arrival at Tooradin, and low-and-behold, sunshine and relatively clear skies. 

Combined with an oval in what looked perfect condition, the challenge didn’t look any lesser given the conditions favoured the type of game last year’s premier enjoyed. Last week’s ordinary performance against Inverloch was in the rear-view mirror, but how far all wondered?

Pre-game began with Tully Dickie presented with his game-day jumper, having been selected for his first game for the senior Bulldogs after two classy performances in the ressies. With Eli Richards, vice-captain Daniel Pearce and Jessie Patullo back in, the loss of Jordy, the Sauce and ball-magnet Kimber was reasonably offset. Message from the coach – go fast, go wide and go hard!

In what many pundits were to conclude was one of the most exciting, exhilarating performances from a team in the local competition, the Bulldogs were unrecognisable from Round 2.  

Speed on the ball, slick and clean movement, hard inside, and quick on the outside, all of a sudden, the Bulldogs found themselves four goals to one in the first. 

Eli Richards leading on the ball, Jesse P on the move, and Trav Woodfield ran the Tooradin defence ragged. Not to be outdone, the Seagull rallied with 3 goals in the last 5 to level the score – ouch!

Quarter 2 began as Q1 ended, with the Seagulls scoring and all sudden in front. 

But then, the next seven 7 goals were from the 

Bulldogs, taking over all over the ground. 

Kai Mackenzie took running charge from the backline delivering to players all over the ground. 

By mid-way through the quarter, all forwards had goals. 

The Dogs found themselves up 74-35 at the major break.

The premiership quarter was a beauty. As expected, the Seagulls came out hard, with that man Scanlan bobbing up for a couple. 

Just when the home side looked to be getting on top, Max Blake and Jesse Patullo stepped up for goals. 

With Cam Pedersen dominating from the middle, and Daniel Bourke well on top of man-mountain Piva Wright, the dogs stemmed the tied. 

The ball continued to ping from end to end, with the gulls trying to make headway, and the Bulldogs continuing the brave and precise ball movement in response. 3 goals to both teams in the third was just rewards for a fantastic quarter of football.

The last continued at the break-neck speed, with the gulls pushing and probing and the Bulldogs resisting. 

Trav Woodfield continued his day out, and with his second for the quarter finishing the contest. 

Eli continued his outstanding mid-field display, with Max Walton displaying why he is on the Box Hill list with an outstanding mid-field game. 

The gulls continued right to the end, but with stern defence the Bulldogs finished up extending their lead to a well-deserved 44-point victory.

After game celebrations were strong, but with the full knowledge that this is Round 3, and next week Nar Nar Goon await at the Kennel. 

One great win doesn’t a season make, but it certainly provided an indicator of the best the Bulldogs can put together being well on the pace at the top of the competition.