Bulldogs fall short for 3-peat
In perfect conditions, the game started evenly, with the Bulldogs matching the early intensity from the Gulls.
Another Grand Final for the Bulldogs Seniors, this time up against arch-rivals Tooradin-Dalmore in the Bulldogs’ bid to win a third premiership on the trot.
An almost annual visit to the Garfield Recreation Reserve beckoned, with the Senior Bulldogs taking to the field with four other Bulldogs teams in their respective ‘big dances’.
Unlike the other four teams who were successful on the day, for the Seniors the day was ultimately to be one of huge effort, but frustration as the Seagulls were to prove too strong.
In perfect conditions, the game started evenly, with the Bulldogs matching the early intensity from the Gulls.
An early goal to Cameron Brown – up against his old team in his first Grand Final – kept the Bulldogs in the hunt until a couple of late goals saw a deficient of 13 points at the first change.
The second was to be the quarter where the opposition took charge.
Champion Gulls forward Julian Suarez took over in the forward line, kicking all three goals, providing a big lead.
A late goal to the Bulldogs kept them in the hunt at the big break.
Despite the efforts of the Bulldogs led by Cam Pedersen, Zak Vernon, the defence was under siege.
Mark Griffin and Matt Jackson led the defence, but eventually the walls broke, and the Gulls were able to run out comfortable winners by 46 points.
So ended a wonderful year of Bulldogs footy – a remarkable effort to make three Grand Finals in a row – and the fantastic reign of Beau Vernon, who will now take a well-earned break and hand the reins over to Cam Pedersen for 2023. Bring it on!
Scores:
Tooradin-Dalmore: 3.2.20, 6.6.42, 10.7.67, 13.10.88.
Phillip Island: 1.1.7, 2.1.13, 5.4.34, 6.6.42.
Goals:
Tooradin-Dalmore: Julian Suarez 5, Stewart Scalon 2, Blake Grewar 2, Piva Wright, Steven Robb, Lewis Hill, James Tresize.
Phillip Island: Cameron Brown, Billy Taylor, Jordy Patullo, Cameron Pedersen, Orlando Kane Gillard, Jesse Patullo.
Best Players:
Tooradin-Dalmore: Piva Wright, Brent Macaffer, Julian Suarez.
Phillip Island: Cameron Pedersen, Zak Vernon, Eli RIchards, Mark Griffin, Orlando Kane Gillard, Matt Jackson.
Scroll through to view action shots from the game.
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