Orlando wins it for West Gippy’s greatest show

By Aiden Box

WITH the minor premiers Tooradin-Dalmore awaiting their Grand Final challenger, Phillip Island and Warragul did battle in what is now undoubtedly the league’s greatest ever game. 

The two sides were barely separable all afternoon and a quick goal to start the fourth term brought the Dusties within four points and they continued to press for five minutes, until a Bulldogs settler provided a rare calm to the crowd. 

Although the Dusties were good enough to answer once again, after tempers flared and a 50 penalty was given up by the reigning premiers. 

Just two points separated the teams after 15-minutes, as the seniors showcase lived up to the order of the day… absolute nailbiters. 

Warragul moved the ball with class and carried the extreme momentum they had built on their fairy-tale run to the penultimate weekend of the season, although class and guts from Bulldog Billy Taylor kept his side in it. 

A massive smother kickstarted a Warragul foray forward but they could not find a major to cap it off, the Bulldogs lead just one after 21 minutes.

Yet another smother ignited one final surge from the Dusties, as the crowd urged them on feeling as though the fairy-tale was due to continue, but the shot missed forcing the crowd to look away, scores locked at 45 with 25 minutes played, it couldn’t be a tie, could it? 

SIREN. 

After three quarters and almost 26 minutes of tension, the script had yet another twist, OVERTIME football in the prelim! 

Without the assistance of a coach’s huddle, the teams regrouped and played 5 minutes, each end, to decide their fate in season 2022. 

A late chance to Island saw them go inside 50 but to no avail, a timely Warragul intercept mark stopping them in their tracks. 

After four quarters and five extra minutes, the teams still could not be separated, the teams swapped ends, and the game went on. 

The ‘Dogs showed improvement in the second overtime, finally breaking the deadlock with a Jesse Patullo behind, putting them up by one. 

The Bulldogs then repelled a Dusties forward entry, blasting it into the middle of the ground but into the hands of Kane Taylor who clunked an absolute gem in the middle of the pack. 

Warragul wasted no time and got the ball inside 50 and it was picked up off the deck by Mason McGarrity on the run, his snap from 40 metres bounced and bounced… and rolled in! 

The Dusties had the lead with only moments remaining, six points clear as the clock ticked up to the four-minute mark, their crowd in hysterics. 

It was time for the reigning premiers to find something, and they did, they belted the ball forward and were able to get it into the hands of Jesse Patullo, but the heat of the moment had him rush his snap close to goal and it missed. 

The ball then found the hands of his brother Jordy, who too played on and could only manage a behind as the clock ticked towards six minutes, it looked as though the Bulldogs had run out of time. 

But as the saying goes, the great teams find a way, it’d be silly to ever count out these Bulldogs, with under a minute on the clock the Dusties ventured to the outer wing but were cut off. 

The ball found the hands of Kai Mackenzie, who had been terrific in defence all day for the ‘Dogs, he took off towards his attacking 50 and placed the ball onto his left boot, it seemed to skew off the side and float in the air… and into the hands of Orlando Kane Gillard diving to his knees for the mark. 

SIREN.

After a day full of mayhem, the script had one last twist, the game and the fate of the Bulldogs premiership defence rested on the boot of the Bulldogs young number 27 with his team four points down. 

The tension reached an all-time high, he ran in, took his kick and it was pure teammates flocked to the young gun from all angles, it was bedlam at Dalyston.

Orlando Kane Gillard with a clutch goal to will his team into the Grand Final. 

After four quarters and 10 minutes of extra time the Bulldogs never gave in, clinching their third consecutive Grand Final berth in as many seasons and keeping their three-peat dreams alive. 

They now must prepare for another bout with the colossal force that is Tooradin-Dalmore, who tore them apart in the Second Semi Final, kicking 10 goals to one after half time.