Bulldogs ease to victory in second half

THE daunting task of taking on the high-flying Phillip Island football juggernaut has been Dalyston Football Club’s kryptonite in the last four to five seasons.

In recent times the Bulldogs have used the Magpies as whipping boys whether home or away but that playbook didn’t go to script in the first half of their round 17 contest at Dalyston.

The Island showed their usual confidence early with Jay Ladson snapping the opener at the highway end two minutes in. However, the Magpies showed plenty of spark to force the ball to the teeth of their goals to allow Blake Carew to answer.

Dalyston kept up this momentum, winning the centre clearances and with quick delivery to their forward fifty had the Bulldogs rattled. Mitch Hallahan intercepted an over cute defensive pass to kick the next, followed by Carew kicking his second because of another turnover.

Another stab pass went astray, and Hayden Wallis waltzed in for the next six-pointer to the delight of the vocal Magpie supporters.

Set shots by Pedersen, Jack Taylor and Max Walton all missed the mark as the Island took time to steady the ship.

Last placed Dalyston certainly weren’t playing like wooden spooners as they transitioned the ball coast to coast to find Hallahan within range for the team’s fifth goal of the term.

The stunned Island team needed to reassess quickly 22-points down at the first change and methodically they started to chip away at the Magpies’ advantage.

Phillip Island controlled the ball much better throughout the second quarter. By maintaining possession, they were more calculated with their delivery into attack.

Dalyston’s backline was under constant threat but the back six did extremely well to only allow three goals to hold a one-point lead at the half time siren. 

While the Dalyston faithful hoped that their team could continue in the same vein the Bulldogs showed extra bite in the second half. Billy Taylor started to work into the game and Hayden Bruce was pivotal to linking up their attacking forays.

Nine goals by the visitors to one finished off the game to see the Bulldogs pull away to a 50-point victory.

Dalyston didn’t win the chocolates however the crowd witnessed a much-improved effort against top level opponents.