GOLDEN Square co-captain Jack Geary is confident the round 18 tussle against Eaglehawk that went right down to the wire will hold the Bulldogs in good stead ahead of their BFNL finals opener this Saturday night.
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The Bulldogs will take on Strathfieldsaye in Saturday night’s qualifying final at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
There was no soft finish to the home and away season for the Bulldogs last weekend when they were pushed to the brink by Eaglehawk in a one-point win as they ended the season with a 15-3 record and in second position on the ladder.
“It was a real grind last week against Eaglehawk, who have been one of the form sides of the second half of the season,” Geary said on Thursday.
“It was a finals-like type game, so it was good for us to go into the finals on the back of a game like that and a good warm-up for what it’s going to be like this weekend against Strathfieldsaye.
“The good thing is we’re pretty much at full strength for Saturday night, so we’re looking forward to getting back on the QEO.”
The Bulldogs and injury-hit Storm are 1-1 in their two meetings this season.
Golden Square ended Strathfieldsaye’s 39-game winning streak with a 24-point victory in round three, while in their return bout in round 11 the Storm were three-point winners in a low-scoring game where the Bulldogs had Geary, Tom Toma and Chris Ryan all playing for Vic Country that weekend.
The game pits what has been the No.1 ranked defence this season in the Storm against the Bulldogs, who have been the No.1 ranked attack.
Among those who have made their mark for the Bulldogs this year has been Dylan Johnstone, recruited from Mooroopna.
Johnstone won the Ron Best Medal as the league leading goalkicker with 79, while the Bulldogs also have Ryan Herring (38 goals) as a tall target inside 50.
“Dylan was just what we needed this year… he’s a big lump of a lad and kicks the ball really well and compliments Herring in the forward line,” said Geary, who shapes as a Michelsen Medal contender later this month.
“Herring is happy to work a bit higher up the ground and Dylan likes to stay at home, so they work well together.”
The winner of Saturday night’s clash will meet minor premier Sandhurst in next weekend’s second semi-final.
Saturday signals the start of the Bulldogs’ 12th-consecutive finals series, while the club has all eight of its football and netball teams playing in September.
Saturday night’s qualifying final at the QEO starts at 6pm.