Australian Football

Match Report

In the last Saturday arvo match for the round, the Bulldogs hosted the Bloods at Hamra Homes Oval in Elizabeth. The last game between these two was one that the Dogs let slip, the Bloods tasting a rare win against the Dogs in Round 15 by eight points at Richmond. But with several key personnel out for West, they had a big task at hand even though the Dogs were missing both Gowans boys for the first time ever. 

The Dogs went about their bustling business, they took a 20-point lead at quarter-time after kicking 5.4 to 2.2 in the first term. It could have been worse for the visitors in the second term had the Dogs been more pin-point in their shots on goal but would still be down by 29 points at the long break after they scored 3.4 to 2.1 in the second term. West returned to the action with some more purpose in the third quarter, ramping up the pressure on the body but couldn't translate that into goals. They closed the gap by just three points after kicking 2.1 to Central's lowly 1.4, a 26-point deficit at the final change. The Bloods managed to get within eight points of the home side after just six minutes in the final quarter, but the Dogs pressure game would stop the Westies charge. Both teams kicked four goals in that quarter, but a single behind to the Dogs made the final margin a 27-point one. 

Ian Callinan's efforts bagged him best afield honours, while acting captain David Piasente was named best for the Bloods.