Bulldogs flex their muscles

PRE-game saw a couple of changes to last week’s team, with Daniel Bourke and Damien Holmes coming back in something almost akin to Father and Son!! No other changes on the day, so at least no surprises there.

But surprises were to continue! After an even start the visitors took early control, dominating through the mid field, putting the Bulldogs defence under enormous pressure. 

Goals to Anthony Daraio and Taylor Gibson got the Panthers going, and then all of a sudden these two gentlemen stepped up again, and surprise, surprise, it was the Panthers leading with 4 goals whilst the Bulldogs were still appreciating the sun! Up stepped captain Jack Taylor for the home team, being instrumental in goals to Max Blake (21 mins) and Jesse Patullo, and the Bulldogs were back in it, 26-15 down at the first break.

The second opened with a freakish goal from Daniel Pearce that looked like it was kicked from 70m out, and the game tightened. In stepped man-mountain Alex Duyker who took over in defence repelling attack after attack from the visitors. 

Then up stepped the next surprise – everyone’s favourite umpire took over awarding free-kicks and 50m 
penalties galore to keep everyone guessing! With goals to Jesse Patullo from the boundary line, Brendan Kimber and Max Walton, the Bulldogs took over, answered by a goal from nowhere from Dale Gawley from the visitors. Half-time saw the Bulldogs in front 49-33. 

In the third, The Bulldogs took complete control. Forward pressure was up, ball delivery improved, and goals came from everywhere. Trav Woodfield stepped up for a couple, Max Blake for a couple, and the lead ballooned. The Panthers fought back with Nathan Foote, Lochlan Scott and Taylor Gibson determined to stop the run. All in all, 8 goals to 3 in the third saw the Bulldogs up 100-53 at the last break.

Not sure what happened in the last, as the Bulldogs went from irresistible to unattractive, whilst the Panthers reasserted control. 

It took 7 minutes to see any score in the quarter, with many forays forward resulting in comical turnovers for both sides until Anthony Daraio decided enough was enough and snuck a couple through, giving the visitors a surprising chance to get back into the game. 

It took until 23 minutes in for Kai Mackenzie to range up from defence to put through a sealing goal for the Bulldogs.