No more than two majors separated the two teams for the first three quarters with the third setting a 2019 season record.

Not a single goal was scored by either team leaving the Bulldogs 12 points ahead at the last change.

But then the Square got rolling with Adam Baird, Ryan Hartley and skipper Jack Geary providing the drive as they slotted 7.3 to win 14.13 (97) to South's 7.7 (49).

The Bulldogs were super accurate in the opening quarter kicking against the swirly breeze.

They drove home five, straight majors with Adam Baird nailing two and Harry McCormick and Travis Baird adding an extra pair.

South had a bonus option with Kaiden Antonowicz. Not only did he spear home two goals at the city end which was favoured by a swirly breeze, but he also grabbed marks at the defensive end to hold Square out.

Mitch Goodwin and Bloods' captain Brody Haddow provided a lot of drive from the stoppages.

By half-time just 10 points separated the teams. Jordan Rosengren pulled in a superb horizontal diving mark and goaled, to add to Jayden Burke's accurate set shot from 25 metres out.

Antonowicz provided South's response at the Barnard Street end. Collecting a Cohen Balnaves pass the versatile Blood took three bounces as he careered into an open goal.

When skipper Haddow raced into the open goalmouth and dribbled though South's second major inside a minute, suddenly the gap was just seven points: 6.2 (38) to Square's 7.3 (45).

Read more: Saturday scoreboard

Read more: Catch up on all the latest BFNL news

Then things tightened up in the third term.

South attacked for long periods in the goalless third term but the Bulldogs defence held them out.

Just six behinds were registered - two to South and four to the Square.

The Dogs' defenders must have listened to some solid directions at the long break. They consistently chopped off poorly directed passes by the South midfielders and half-forwards.

Travis Baird and South's Jesse Sheahan got up 'sore' from full-on physical clashes, while Adam Baird had the chance to score the quarter's only goal close to red time.

But his set shot from 30 metres out hit the post with the goal umpire leaving the second flag firmly in its behind-the-padding holder.

Coach Bernie Haberman, seated for a lot of the day in a front grandstand seat, raced down the steps to rev up his Bulldogs for a big last quarter.

And they responded. Liam Barrett and Travis Baird nailed the opening two goals of the term with Barrett's the first major since the 16-minute mark of the second term.

Geary and Sam Brinsmead combined to find Lachlan Humphrey and he drove home Square's third final quarter gaol.

When Hartley added another two in quick time the Bloods were sunk.

Haberman said there would be a few sore players after a tough contest.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.