Bulldogs' nets catch Seagulls!

A beautiful, clear, and crisp (well downright freezing) morning greeted all at the Kennel, with ice on the windscreens, and a balmy 1C on the weather station.

No wind, but of course that was bound to change (and it did).

As the faithful began arriving for the return bout against the other WGFNC heavyweights – the undefeated Tooradin-Dalmore Seagulls – all marvelled at the sight of the brand new sherrin-catching nets behind each goal.

Standing tall, strong, and resplendent in the crisp morning air, the regular chasing of footies from the trees was to be a thing of the past. At least football operations dreamed such wonderful thoughts!

Seniors:

With returning players Holmes, Blake and Jackson added to the last week's winning side providing added confidence, the day started with a wonderful, animated intro by coach Vernon using a footy-ground layout with witches-caps for players! Just as well it was indoors as the wind sure had arrived, that wonderful northerly straight of the bay. Hmmm, toasty!

The Bulldogs started brilliantly, with quick goals straight up.

With the second goal, the footy cleared the wonderful new nets and lodged permanently in the Cyprus trees at the scoreboard end. Dreams of no more missing person reports for Sherrins immediately dashed, and police reluctantly called again!

Focusing on the game, a complete reversal of form from game one at Tooradin was evident.

The Bulldogs dominated the first and headed into quarter time with a 20-point lead which should have been 26 but for an on-the-siren goal to the Seagulls.

The Taylors Jack and Billy, the Patullo-2, Cam Pedersen, and Max Blake fired, and the boys were away. Stout defence led by Matt Jackson, Sauce Tomada and Levi Robinson had the gulls on the back foot.

The second continued as the first, with a couple of early goals, and a 32-point lead. But good sides fight back, and the Seagulls lifted their intensity and fought their way back into the contest.

Replies from Stewie Scanlon and Liam Adams reduced the margin, and another after-the-siren goal to Julian Suarez cut the margin back to 10 points at the major interval.

With the intensity so high it was giving the stats man writer’s cramp from recording tackles and pressure acts, the third was intense.

When Scanlon struck again, with a brilliant set shot from the forward pocket at the four-minute mark of the third, the Seagulls were back within four points and appeared to have all the momentum.

The dogs steadied with huge goals to Max Blake and Noosh Kane Gillard giving the Bulldogs a 17-point advantage. 45+ tackles by three quarter time also helped!

Brady Egan from the gulls closed the gap to 11 points just a minute into the final term.

A comical mix up between Sauce Tomada and Cam Pedersen in the centre (although it wasn’t comical at the time) resulted in a turnover goal to Liam Adams, and the gulls had closed to two points at the 16-minute mark.

An intense period was relieved with Zak Vernon finding Zach (Dr Evil) Wagner free inside 50 (although Evil would tell you it was at least 80 metres!), who duly converted. Max Blake booted a long goal which opened a 14-point margin.

The icing on the cake with a centre clearance ending with Noosh Kane Gillard, who kicked a 40-metre (or was it 60!) goal on the run – directly in front of the Phillip Island faithful – to begin some joyous celebrations.

So life-giving breath returns to the league competition with the gulls first loss for the year, whilst the search continues for that missing sherrin!

Scores:

Phillip Island: 4.4.28, 6.5.41, 8.8.56, 11.8.74.

Tooradin-Dalmore: 1.2.8, 4.7.31, 5.9.39, 7.12.54.

Goals:
Phillip Island: Max Blake 3, Orlando Kane-Gillard 2, Cameron Brown, Jordy Patullo, Zach Wagner, Harry O’Brien, Eli Richards, Jack Taylor.
Tooradin-Dalmore: Stewart Scanlon 2, Julian Suarez, Liam Adams, Blake Grewar, Brady Egan, Trent Adams.

Best Players:
Phillip Island: Jason Tomada, Cameron Pedersen, Eli RIchards, Jack Taylor, Max Blake, Cameron Brown.
Tooradin-Dalmore: Brent Macaffer, Liam Adams, Dylan Paarlberg, Cooper Shipp, Steven Robb, Brady Egan.