After a long and sometimes hard home-and-way season, the finals finally arrived.
The Bulldogs Under 18s finished third – and so ventured to Inverloch on Saturday to take on sixth placed Nar Nar Goon – whilst the Reserves finished fifth heading to Warragul to take on fourth placed Koo Wee Rup.
The Seniors and Under 16s welcomed a week of finishing second and first respectively.
Reserves:
Heading to Warragul on Sunday in perfect football conditions, the Bulldogs Reserves were well-prepared to take on latter - day nemesis Koo Wee Rup.
Two close encounters against the Demons in 2023 going one each, with the most recent final was 2022 which saw a one-point loss –provided more than enough spice for the contest.
The first quarter was to prove decisive, and for the second week in a row – it was all Bulldogs.
In the perfect – if perhaps slightly windy conditions - the Bulldogs jumped the Demons, scoring the first five goals in a free-flowing game of football – something coaches Nicolaci and Taylor have been working on all year.
Moving the ball with slick delivery better than seen at any time this year, Ben Taylor and coach Nicolaci led the Demons defence a merry dance, benefiting from on-ball dominance from Jarrod Witnish, Noah Bee-Hickman and Tom Aylett in the middle.
A stunning opening and a 30-15 first quarter lead.
The Demons came back hard in the second, with continual forward thrusts being repelled by an excellent Bulldogs defence led by Tully Dickie and Kirby Fuller.
Evergreen Daniel Larsson was having a day out, fitting given that he was celebrating his birthday in the middle.
In a tough second quarter a Bulldogs goal late resulted in a strong 38-15 lead at the big break.
The Demons came again in the third, at times able to penetrate the Bulldogs defence, but not being able to capitalise on their entries with a string of behinds and complete misses.
Robbie Linford continued to dominate his back flank, whilst Hunter Clarke provided a great target when the Bulldogs were able to clear the ball from the Demons defence.
Whilst the ball spent most of the time in the Demons forward line, a one goal to zero third saw a Bulldogs lead 39-24 at the three-quarter break.
Having dominated possession for most of Q2 and Q3, the Demons looked to be full of running for the last.
But it was not to be.
The Bulldogs young guns – Tully Dickie, Tom Aylett, Noah Bee-Hickman and Hunter Clarke – put the pedal to the metal and turned the tide.
Jarrod Witnish continued his mid-field domination, Tyce Kleverkamp split packs and elder statesmen Dean Blake and Rod McKenzie stood up.
Dominating the early part of the final quarter, two vital goals saw the Bulldogs stretched the margin to four goals before a late Demons goal.
All in all, a fantastic win in the elimination, meaning the Bulldogs reserves moved forward to next week’s cut-throat semi final against Inverloch at Bass on Sunday.
Scores:
Phillip Island: 5.0.30, 6.2.38, 6.3.39, 8.3.51
Koo Wee Rup: 2.1.13, 2.3.15, 3.6.24, 4.10.34
Goals:
Phillip Island: James Nicolaci – 3, Ben Taylor – 2, Tom Aylett, Tully Dickie, Leon Matthew – 1.
Koo Wee Rup: Zacary La’Brooy, John Ramos, Tyson Twite, Brodie Yapp – 1.
Best Players:
Phillip Island: Jarrod Witnish, Hunter Clarke, Tom Aylett, Tully Dickie, Noah Bee-Hickman, Leon Matthews.
Koo Wee Rup: Matthew Drommel, Samir Kazizada, Tyson Twite, John Ramos, Riley Battams, Cody Miller.
Next week
So, a successful first round of finals, with all 4 Bulldogs sides in action next week.
On Saturday at Nar Nar Goon – and battling for a place in their respective grand finals - the Under 16s take on Warragul Industrials, whilst the Senior Bulldogs front up against Inverloch for a prize a place in the Senior grand final.
On Sunday at Bass, the Under 18s meet Tooradin and Reserves play Inverloch for a place in their respective preliminary finals.
Get out and support the Bulldogs at all levels for great community football and netball.