Brett booted five of his match-high seven goals after half-time when scores had been level twice in the third term and then with the margin under a goal three times in the final stanza.

His key forward partner Jayden Burke was also important but he wasn't as accurate as Brett, finishing with 5.7 on the day.

The Bloods had Ron Best medallist Kaiden Antonowicz also in fine form. He booted five majors to cement his standing in the BFNL's top three goalkickers for 2021.

And South swingman/half-forward Alex Smith-Ralph was an excellent second target in attack, finishing with three goals.

Golden Square had to overcome a sluggish start with only a single major on the board at quarter-time as the Bloods steamed away to a 21-point lead.

But then the Dogs clicked with a seven-goal second quarter and posted 17 goals to 10 in the concluding three terms to win 18.18 (126) to South's 15.8 (98).

Early on it was all South. Antonowicz nailed two majors, the second from a high, curling snap shot, and Mitch Goodwin added another from 45 metres out from a free kick.

Burke didn't land Square's first goal of the match until the 19-minute mark of the opening quarter, by which stage South had four on the board.

Then the Bulldogs got moving. Midfielders Jack Geary and Ryan Hartley provided the second term drive, Brett collected a loose ball and with an around-the-corner goal got the Dogs going.

Hamish Morcom won a contested ball on the pavilion wing, spotted up Brett and the key forward's major handed Square the lead: 6.8 to 6.4.

With the half-time siren not far away, Geary sent the ball inside 50 and from a two-grab mark Burke landed Square's eighth goal after the siren had sounded.

South added six majors to the Dogs' four in the third quarter with mids Brody Haddow and Riley Walsh on top and providing plenty of drive.

Mike Herlihy, who was prominent all match, steered home his second goal of the day with a spot-on set shot from 40 metres out.

When Antonowicz took one of the marks-of-the day and banged home another Bloods' goal suddenly the scores were all tied up: 10.11 (71) to South's 11.5 (71).

Brett eased Square out to a narrow lead but South replied again to once more level the scores.

Square's Ryan Hartley collected a loose ball at the Maple Street end, shot home a major with just 40 seconds left on the clock and handed the home side a five-point last change lead.

Early on it was goal-for-goal in the tense last term, with first the Bulldogs ahead by a point 91-90, before Burke extended the lead with a long shot from a wide angle at the Wade Street end.

That major handed the Dogs an 11-point advantage: 14.17 to 14.6.

South wasn't finished yet. Antonowicz landed his fifth goal from straight in front to once more narrow the gap to five points.

Then enter Joel Brett. After Burke had steered home his fifth of the day with less than four minutes to play Brett banged home three goals.

The second of these was goal-of-the-day. Brett nailed a flying mid-air shot as the ball bounced high and Square was home by 28 points.

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