GISBORNE'S brilliant start to the Bendigo Football League season rolled on in Saturday's hard-fought victory on Eaglehawk's turf at Canterbury Park.
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The Bulldogs unbeaten run is now at six following the 12.14 (86) to 10.10 (70) triumph in what was the 200th senior game for gun onballer Ollie Messaoudi.
On a day where Messaoudi reached a significant milestone, James O'Hare played his first senior match.
Gisborne led 32-28 at half-time and then dominated the third term.
The Dogs' first entry inside the 50m arc in the third quarter ended up with Michael Thornton being on the end of a chain of handpasses and kicking the team's fifth goal.
A few minutes later and Hamish Govan charged along the scoreboard wing and through half-forward to pass to Pat McKenna for another goal at the town end.
Further goals to Shaun Comerford (2), Riley Paterson and Matthew Knox put the Dogs up 69-37 at a quarter to go.
The Borough never stopped trying and scored 5.3 to 2.5 in the last.
Tyler Miles (2), Brodie Collins, Sean Williams and Brodie Filo were on target for the Two Blues.
Gisborne's goals in the final term were kicked by Ethan Minns and Matthew Knox.
In his first season as senior coach, club great Rod Sharp knows how difficult a task it can be at Canterbury Park.
"This is one of the toughest places to play," Sharp said after the match.
"We have made an outstanding start to the season," he said of a run in which nine players have made their senior debut across six matches.
"As a coaching group we are rapt with how the players are responding to instructions and their execution, not just skills, but in their workrate and mental approach to every contest."
Sharp said reward for effort was achieved by scoring six goals in the third quarter.
"We were running to and winning more contests."
The Bulldogs' best were led by Shannon Greetham who limited the impact of the dangerous Filo through midfield or in attack.
Tim Walsh's play in defence was among the many highs for the red, white and blue.
Leading goalkickers for the winners were Comerford, Minns, Knox and McKenna on two each.
Eaglehawk's attack was led by Sean Williams, three, Tyler Miles and Justin Bateson, two apiece.
Gisborne heads to the QEO next Saturday to play Sandhurst.
Eaglehawk is at Golden Square's MyJet Oval in the seventh round.