Bulldogs topple Giants in a decisive win

WHOLESALE changes to the Bulldogs this week, with a plethora of senior players injured or being rested, with a litter of young pups coming in to fill the spots. Combined with Jai Jordan back for his
first game since Round 2, Coby Olarenshaw, Noah Bee-Hickman, U18s gun Zac Walker made it back to the seniors. Finn O’Brien came in from the Under 16s for his first game at just 15 years old –
sparking lots of discussions on the youngest player to represent the seniors for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs were also fielding one of the youngest teams seen for many a day with 9 players under 21. Slightly offset by some elder statesmen, such a young side representing the Bulldogs had the
faithful buzzing.

With an early start, the Bulldogs were away, and any doubts about the teams’ capabilities with such a young playing group were put to bed. 

A blistering opening of 11 goals in the first was to set the scene for one of the most consistent efforts across the four quarters from the Bulldogs all season. 

The first goal came just 33 seconds in the game off the boot of Bryce Hindhaugh, and from there it was all Bulldogs. 

Dominating from the centre, the Bulldogs cut the Giants to shreds all over the grounds. Hayden Bruce took over where he left off the previous week, almost certainly contracting leather poisoning from his constant winning of the ball across the four quarters.

The welcome return of Jai Jordan presented the Bulldogs with yet another big-man option. Freely rotating through the rucking and forward positions, the Bulldogs brigade of Bourke, Pedersen and Jai caused mayhem for the opposition. Being already relatively short on tall players, the Giants couldn’t figure out who they were on given the constant rotations.

In the forward line, Max Blake was to lead the show kicking 5 goals across the first 3 quarters. Trav Woodfield had a day out until doing his hamstring in the 3rd. Zack Walker admirably filled in in defence, whilst Mark Griffin returned to his role to totally eclipse the Burra’s leading forward Paul Fermanis. Kai Mackenzie provided continual drive from the back-half. The bad news of the day was statesman of the team Brendan Kimber sustaining a serious injury in the 3rd which is likely to see the end of his season – all the best wishes to him, with all the Bulldogs faithful thinking of him.

By three quarter time, the Bulldogs had extended the lead to 132 points, and it was time for extensive rotations.
Up forward went the young guns of the team, and again this worked. 

An end total of 17 individual goal kicks in the 30 kicked, and the Bulldogs with a win of 188 points showed the depth of talent with this team, and the free-flowing nature of the game that coach Pedersen is instilling in his charges!