An eight-goal first term ensured the Dogs had the four points banked by quarter-time before they cruised to a 19.15 (129) to 7.8 (50) victory in the twilight game at Dower Park.

The young Roos never gave up and gave their loyal fans something to cheer about by kicking their highest total of the season, but the Dogs' experience and depth was always going to be the difference across four quarters.

"The start was a big focus for us,'' Golden Square coach Chris Carter said.

"To kick eight goals in the first was really good and set the rest of the game up for us.

"I thought it was a good four-quarter performance for us."

The unavailability of captain Jack Geary did little to stop the confidence of the Bulldogs' midfield unit.

Ryan Hartley's elite hands in close and the ball-winning ability of Terry Reeves set the tone for the visitors.

"Terry has been super all year,'' Carter said.

"He's consistent and so clean with the ball in his hand. He's a no-nonsense player and very skillful.

"I thought he and Ryan Hartley were superb for us. Compo (Matt Compston) was great in the ruck and I thought our midfield was brilliant all night."

Key forward Jayden Burke imposed himself on the game and Joel Brett looked dangerous every time he went near the ball.

Burke finished with five goals, while Brett, Jake Thrum and Harry Donegan kicked three goals each.

"We've worked on our ball use forward of centre and I thought we made some good decisions,'' Carter said.

"A month ago we were probably bombing the ball too much, but now we're thinking about it and rewarding the blokes coming up at the footy."

The Roos started to get their hands on the ball more after quarter-time, but in contrast to Square they didn't have the firepower forward of centre to consistently hurt the Dogs on the scoreboard.

While a final margin of 79 points is never going to impress a coach, the Roos are showing signs of improvement.

"Square showed why they've been a good side for a long time,'' Roos' coach James Flaherty said.

"I thought our intent was good and some of the things we've been working on in terms of ball movement and control were good.

"We did kick our highest score of the season which was a positive. Our lack of defence on the counter-attack against a team like Square that pushes up high meant we were outplayed a bit there."

Clever half-forward Hakeem Johnson was the Roos' best player in his first game back from a hamstring injury.

Johnson kicked three goals and looked lively every time he went near the ball.

The Roos' other talented young Johnson - Max - showed why he's regarded as the heir apparent to club favourite Nick Lang.

Max Johnson took some strong marks and with more experience his physicality will become a major weapon.

"Hakeem has something about him,'' Flaherty said.

"He hadn't played for five weeks and he got through the game, so now it's about maintaining that.

"Max was really good as well. There's some good signs for the club."

The Roos round out the first half of the season with games against Maryborough, South Bendigo and Castlemaine.

Round seven

Sandhurst v Eaglehawk

Gisborne v Kyneton

Strathfieldsaye v

Castlemaine

Golden Square v

South Bendigo

Maryborough v

Kangaroo Flat

33 - Lachlan Sharp (Strath)

23 - Pat Mckenna (Gis)

20 - Kaiden Antonowicz

(South Bendigo)

20 - Darcy Richards (Eh)

19 - Jake Thrum (GS)

18 - Joel Wharton (Sh)

16 - Jayden Templeton (M)

15 - Lewin Davis (Eh)

15 - Jack Dye (Eh)

15 - Joel Brett (GS)

15 - Jayden Burke (GS)

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