One point showcase a taste for the grand final

By Chris Chivers

IN perfect football conditions, at a Nar Nar Goon ground and facility that could only be described as perfect, the Senior Bulldogs took on Inverloch-Kongwak Sea Eagles for a place in the 2023 Grand

Final. By the time of first bounce, conditions were September idyllic, with the temperature hovering at around 20 degrees and not a breath of wind. A huge crowd of 5,000+ people were to witness one of the best finals games seen in the WGFNC.

Amazingly, even though a one-point margin was the result – with the final point kicked by Inverloch in a heart-stopping final two minutes – the Sea-Eagles led all day, with the Bulldogs never once being in the lead. The margin oscillated between 10 points and 26 points for most of the day, with the largest margin coming at the four-minute mark of the last with a 26-point lead. The trend of the day was a break for the Sea-Eagles, followed by a pulsating fight-back from the Bulldogs, and that went on all day!

In the periods of dominance for the Sea-Eagles, it was slick ball movement with near-perfect field kicking that was used to slice through the Bulldogs defence. Led by Ethan Park, Tom Hams and Taite Cumming in particular, the Sea Eagles were using their precision kicking to maintain possession, cutting through the Bulldogs defence with Daniel Pearce and Jack Taylor prominent for the Bulldogs.

Max Blake was splitting forward packs whenever he went near the ball, as well as slotting a goal or two as well. Marcus Touissaint was enjoying being able to get over Cam Pedersen in the centre, providing early use of the Ball. A 19-15 first quarter score reflected the early flow of the game.

The second opened with Will Hams getting into the action for Inverloch, closely followed from a pack-screamer and 50 metre goal from Daniel Bourke pulling the Bulldogs back. Matching goals from Taite Cumming again, followed by another Bulldogs forward screamer from Jordy Patullo, and the trend continued. Great combination between Bryce Hindhaugh – who was having a day out on his wing – and a Trav Woodfield saw the margin 10 points at the big break.

The third saw the game begin to open more, with goals coming freely at both ends. Gradually, the Sea-Eagles with goals through big-man Dylan Clark – who clearly loves a round-the-corner snap – and a couple of strong marks through Will Hams after being smothered by Bulldogs defence Tarquin McMillan early got on top. Ben Taylor playing his first senior game for a number of weeks slotted through a couple of sneak goals, and the margin remained six points. Then all of a sudden, the Sea-Eagles had a burst of goals and a 72-53 lead at the three-quarter time break.

The last saw an early Inverloch goal, a 26-point margin, and their final goal of the game. From that point, the Bulldogs took control. The Daniel Bourke and Max Walton centre game show took over providing drive through the middle. 

Cameron Brown playing a great game for the Bulldogs slotted one, followed quickly by Jordy Patullo slotting a second. Newly released forward Cam Pedersen pulled in another couple and all of a sudden less than a goal was the margin. The Bulldogs continued to press, with a final goal to Billy Taylor and level scores. Pulsating ball movement from both sides, with the potential of extra time looming stirred the huge crowd to a frenzy. With less than a minute to go, the Sea-Eagles somehow managed to force a behind, which was enough to get over the line.

Incredibly, after eight quarters of football between the Bulldogs and the Sea-Eagles – last round of home away and this final – only one solitary point has separated the two sides. Now that’s a close contest if one has ever seen one. The Sea-Eagles progress now to the big dance in two weeks’ time at Koo Wee Rup, with the Bulldogs heading into next week’s preliminary final at Dalyston.