Australian Football

Match Report

In the final match for Round 1, the premiership defence of the Bulldogs would commence on home turf under the lights of Hamra Homes Oval against the Magpies in front of just over 5,000 people. The last time these two teams met, the Bulldogs went on a rampage at Alberton, romping to a 40 point win. The off-field dramas surrounding the Magpies was sure to provoke a response from their players but early on this night it wasn't showing. 

A depleted Dogs outfit would start off best, but poor shooting on goal would only allow a 15 point margin at quarter-time, 4.5 to 2.2. But the Dogs turned up the heat half-way through the second term, a 4.2 to 1.5 scoreline saw the gap go out to five goals at the half-time break. The Magpie spirit finally came to the fore in the second half, the visitors pushing hard to make the Bulldogs cough up three easy goals early on in the third term. By the three-quarter time siren, a 30 point lead was cut to just two goals after Port landed home 5.3 to the Bulldogs' 2.3. The Magpies kept up the pressure on the Bulldogs, but in the final term the reigning premiers had an answer for every challenge that Port threw at them. They were outscored by just one point for the quarter, Central's 3.2 to Port's 3.3 was enough to see the home side through by 11 points but the message was clear... dismiss the Magpies at your own peril. 

Captain Paul Thomas was voted best for the Dogs, while Port named Zane Kirkwood as their best.