HDFNL – Impressive Bulldogs defeat Hawks for eighth win in a row

Unlike round three when they were jumped by the Hawks early and lost by 17 points, this time the Bulldogs booted seven of the first eight goals of the game en route to a 15.6 (96) to 8.14 (62) victory – their 26^th in a row at Atkins Street.

“It was a really good four-quarter effort, which it had to be against a strong side like Huntly,” North Bendigo coach Matt Dillon said.

“The way we did it with a few injuries at the end… it was a really hard-fought win against a quality side.”

The Bulldogs lost Ryan Threlfall to a hamstring injury early, Aarryn Craig hurt his ribs and Tim Devereaux was concussed and injured a shoulder.

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The Bulldogs also had backman Lachlan Ford hurt a finger, but he played the game out.

“We were pretty banged up in the end, but the most pleasing part of today was we didn’t allow Huntly, which is a team that can score quickly, to get a roll-on at any stage,” Dillon said.

“The boys all stuck to the structures and it was a really disciplined performance.”

Key forward Sean Christopher was a handful for the Hawks’ defence early, kicking four of North Bendigo’s first seven goals before ending the match with five.

Christopher now has 27 goals in his six games since joining the Bulldogs.

“His presence in the forward line has been fantastic. He doesn’t just kick goals himself, but creates goals with his hard leading and body work when the ball hits the ground,” Dillon said.

Christopher was one of 10 goalkickers for the Bulldogs in what was their eighth win in a row and keeps them in second position.

In his return to the side following a quad niggle, gun ruckman Troy Kelm was best for the Bulldogs.

“Kelmy was really good and had a great battle with Rhett Sutton,” Dillon said.

“He won a lot of the footy and did a lot of work pushing back to help the defenders.”

Aarryn Craig across half-back and skipper Jarrod Findlay, who has picked up from where he left off in his Cheatley Medal season last year, through the midfield were also standouts for the Bulldogs.

Having won their first six games, the Hawks, who had one more scoring shot than the Bulldogs, have hit a flat patch with three losses in their past five matches.

The Hawks’ better players were led by Jayden Cordy, on-baller Jack Daley and ruckman Rhett Sutton.

An eight-goal haul to star forward Ben Weightman helped Mount Pleasant to its biggest victory for four years.

The Blues dominated Elmore after quarter-time to win 21.22 (148) to 8.2 (50).

The 98-point margin was the Blues’ highest since they defeated Heathcote by 127 points in round 13 of 2014.

The Blues led by nine points at quarter-time, 6.4 to 5.1, before booting 15 goals to three over the rest of the match at Elmore.

“It was good to see the boys keep the pressure up for four quarters today,” Mount Pleasant coach Darren Walsh said.

“We forced Elmore into mistakes and were able to capitalise on those. We would liked to have kicked a bit better, but that’s something we will keep working on.”

Weightman’s eight goals – the most by a Mount Pleasant player since Shannon Milward also booted eight in 2015 – took his season tally to 38 as he kept his status as one of just four players in the competition to have kicked a goal in every game his team has played so far this year.

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“He marked the ball and moved really well today and was feeling free in his body,” Walsh said,

Down the other end veteran defender Chris Black was also one of the Blues’ best players.

“He attacked the ball really well and gives really good leadership and voice,” Walsh said.

Bloods’ forward James Harney had the better of his match-up with Mount Pleasant defender Dale Young as he kicked five of Elmore’s eight goals, while Matt Gilmour was named the side’s best.

Lockington-Bamawm United took another step towards its finals return on the back of its best defensive effort for five seasons as it held White Hills to just three goals.

The hard-running Cats won 12.14 (86) to 3.6 (24) at Lockington in what was the lowest score they have conceded since they restricted Mount Pleasant to a tally of just 18 in their premiership season of 2013.

A mere five goals were kicked in the first half of the game as the Cats led 3.5 to 2.4 at the main break.

But following a spray from coach Kahl Oliver at half-time, the Cats responded with nine goals to one to run away with the 62-point victory.

“You can only compare yourself to your best footy, and we didn’t play our best footy today,” Oliver said.

“I gave the boys a bit of a bake at half-time and we got our act together and got some scoreboard pressure on, which was pleasing.”

The star for the Cats was tall Liam Main, who is revelling in a new role at centre half-back.

“Liam played an absolute pearler at centre half-back, and if we didn’t have him there in the first half we would have been in some real trouble,” Oliver said.

The Cats also had classy forward Lachlan Collins outscore the Demons off his own boot with five goals, while Will Hobbs on a wing made the most of some extended game time to be one of the best for the winners.

Forward Kris Bedford and on-baller Jake Allport have been the Demons’ most consistent players this season and were again their best.

“There were some positives signs in the first half and we brought a lot of pressure to the contest, but unfortunately, we couldn’t sustain it in the second half, which has been the story of our year,” Demons coach Brent Millar said.

Leitchville-Gunbower’s key forward trio of Matt Perri, Jake Vandongen and Daniel Coates combined for 16 goals as the Bombers retained top spot with a 74-point win over Heathcote – their 10^th straight against the Saints.

The Bombers won 19.12 (126) to 7.10 (52) at Heathcote, making their mark early on the contest with a 6.5 to 0.3 opening term.

In his first game back from a hamstring injury Perri slotted six goals, while Coates – who also returned to the side – and Vandongen kicked five apiece.

Vandnogen’s five kept him at the top of the league goalkicking on 41, closely followed by Perri (40).

“We got the early jump on Heathcote, which was crucial,” Bombers coach Michael Pilcher said.

“Heathcote competed really well in the second quarter and we were able to break away after half-time.

“But full credit to the way Heathcote went about it today. They probably lack a bit of polish, but their endeavour and attack on the ball was as good as any side.”

Coates across half-forward was best for the Bombers, while midfielder Jack Gleeson continues to firm as a Cheatley Medal contender after he was again influential in the engine room.

“Jack’s a hard runner, but also has tremendous skill and execution with the ball,” Pilcher said.

“He is able to get to a lot of contests and his ability to read the play and set up for what’s coming next is what’s setting him apart.”

A blow for the Bombers was an ankle injury to Brad Ladson that’s expected to sideline him for at least a month.

The 74-point margin was a significant improvement for the Saints on round three when they kicked just one goal in a 176-point loss to the Bombers.

“They blew us away early, but I thought we competed well after quarter-time,” Saints coach Luke Bell said.

“Leitchville is a high quality team and we were outclassed at stages, but overall we’ll take a bit out of today with our effort into next week against Mount Pleasant.”

Dillon Hardy, who played on a wing and in defence, and consistent midfielder Jake Condon were the best for the Saints, who had Bradley Morgan kick two goals.

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