Round 2 came after an unusual display for the Bulldogs in Round 1. The annual contest versus Cora Lynn was upon us and it had all the makings of a tightly fought contest and it did not disappoint.
On an indifferent day where Cora Lynn was unable to field the U16 or U18 sides set the tone for important Reserves and Seniors matches. With both teams being perennial finalists this is set to be a ripping game.
Phillip Island moved the magnets and both Billy and Jack Taylor were swung forward from the backline and big man Daniel Bourke was sent down back to help curtail the Cora Lynn talls.
The first quarter began and it was clear it was going to be a hard-fought game, the intensity around the stoppages and aerial contests was ferocious.
Stand up Billy Taylor who had the ball on a string slotting three first quarter goals.
Through the middle of the ground Aaron Harris was throwing his frame around, and aided by Jaymie Youle and Hayden Bruce the island was thrusting the ball inside 50.
Mark Griffin had the mountain of the task on the dangerous Gardner and kept him statless in the first quarter with help from his wingmen Daniel Pearce and Coby Olarenshaw. The first quarter ends, island 24 to Cora Lynn 20.
In the second quarter the island put the foot down and started to use the entire ground to pull Cora Lynn's defense apart and were able to add three-goals four-points to Cora Lynn's one-goal two-points.
This brought the game at half time poised at 46 to 28.
Would the island's inaccuracy come back to bite them?
Cora Lynn came out firing in the third term, as they had shown in Round 1 only going down by 10 points versus last year's premiers Inverloch.
Cora Lynn started to win the ball at stoppages and ran in waves out the front of contest.
Jack Taylor (five goals) on the day was deployed back to stem the flow. In an arm wrestle, the island was able to counter punch and land three goals for the quarter to go in leading 66 to 60.
The final quarter started and it was anyone's game, Charlie Bruce was standing tall and offering grunt and skill around the ball.
Travis Woodfield had his defender covered and was presenting at the ball all day (three goals). Young players Yianni Caffieri and Brady Ross (first game) were standing tall and looking composed with the ball in hand.
Captain Jack took a contested mark to put island up by seven points late in the game. Cora Lynn pushed the ball forward and from a tight angle was able to kick a goal.
That made it a one-point game; step in big William Thomas for Cora Lynn who grabbed the ball out of the ruck and kicked a point, scores level.
The island quickly bought the ball in and took the ball to the high side of the ground and once again Billy Taylor found space and kicked the ball inside 50 to Max Walton. But the siren sounds and it's a bittersweet result with a complicated decision late in the quarter reflecting a drawn game.
Scores: Phillip Island: 4.0.24, 7.4.46, 10.6.66, 12.7.79. Cora Lynn: 3.2.20, 4.4.28, 9.6.60, 12.7.79.
Best players: Phillip Island: Billy Taylor, Jack Taylor, Charlie Bruce, Travis Woodfield, Mark Griffin and Jesse Patullo. Cora Lynn: William Thomas, Lachlan Coverdale, Luke Hartley, James Munro, Heath Briggs and Chase Blackwood.
Goal scorers: Phillip Island: Jack Taylor - 5, Billy Taylor - 4, Travis Woodfield - 2 and Aaron Harris - 1. Cora Lynn: Lachlan Coverdale - 4, Nathan Gardiner, William Stephenson - 2, Luke Hartley, Cory Machaya, James Munro and Luke Ryan - 1.
