Bulldogs demolish Giants in a decisive win - Seniors

Another fine Saturday morning disrupted by wind, wind and more wind greeted the Bulldogs in their round 10 clash with Korumburra.

As something of a novelty, four games of football beckoned with the visitors bringing a full complement of teams to the Kennel beginning with Under 16s at 9am.

The positions on the ladder indicated the games may be less than competitive, which was to be played out during the day.

Seniors

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 two, 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.

Seems Finn might be one of three or four who have managed that feat, at age 15 but I bet none of the others looked like he was 20+ like the big Finn!

Proud parents Sean and Claire presented ‘Fobba’ with the famous No 31 jumper for the game!

The Bulldogs were also fielding one of the youngest teams seen for many a day with nine players under 21.

Slightly offset by some elder statesmen, such a young side representing the Bulldogs had the faithful buzzing.

Demolition

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

What can only be described as a complete demolition of the hapless Giants was to unfold.

A blistering opening of 11 goals 8 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 five goals across the first three quarters. Trav Woodfield had a day out until doing his hamstring in the third.

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.

Injury

The bad news of the day was statesman of the team Brendan Kimber sustaining a serious injury in the third 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.

A last quarter of eight goals included a great mark and goal to first gamer Finn O’Brien, Coby Olarenshaw kicking his first major and then Tom Niven kicking his first as well after the siren.

All the while, usual suspects including the Taylor three – Ben, Billy and captain Jack – Noosh Kane Gillard and Daniel Bourke peppering the forward line.

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!

Scores:
Phillip Island: 11.8.74, 15.11.101, 22.15.147, 30.23.203. Korumburra-Bena: 1.3.9, 1.3.9, 2.3.15, 2.3.15

Goals:
Phillip Island: Max Blake, Jai Jordan – 5, Jack Taylor, Travis Woodfield – 3, Daniel Bourke – 2 and many more individual goal kickers! Korumburra-Bena: Joel Cuman, Byron Walker – 1.

Best Players: 
Phillip Island: Hayden Bruce, Jai Jordan, Max Blake, Jack Taylor, Orlando Kane Gillard, Kai Mackenzie. Korumburra-Bena: Tyson Findlay, Jack Spencer, Nicholas Besley, Tarkyn Walker, Jay Walker, Joel Cuman.