Australian Football

Match Report

We head down Port Road to the Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval in Woodville where the Eagles hosted the Bulldogs. Both sides ended last season with straight sets exits from finals action, the Bulldogs booted in week one while the Eagles copped two losses in a row to farewell 2013. The Bulldogs weren't harshly affected in the off-season by the Crows and Port like the Eagles were, but still lost key personnel to rival SANFL clubs including their old Grand Final nemesis of Oval Avenue. Those two players would front up against their old club, which was taking on a very new look indeed.

The Bulldogs would have the first two goals, but their first term efforts ended there as the Eagles kept the Dogs to just one behind whilst kicking four goals without a miss, taking a quarter-time lead of 11 points. Controversy marred the opening term, after a clash of bodies left an Eagle somewhat winged, a follow up incident which could have been considered a retaliation left one Bulldog down for the count and possibly finished with football.

The Eagles owned the second term, although inaccurate in goals the Bulldogs could only manage one behind as compared with the 3.5 kicked by the home side. At half-time, the Eagles were ahead by 33 points. The Dogs returned to the field seemingly fired up and determined, bringing the gap back to a couple of kicks by three quarter-time after they bagged 5.1 to 1.3, a nine-point lead to the Eagles at the final change. But the Eagles would keep the visitors to just 1.1 in the final term, adding 4.3 to their tally to take out a 31-point win. The umpires would not have endeared themselves to the Bulldogs faithful, a startling 27-12 free kick count no doubt boiling the blood. Luke Powell led by example to take out best afield honours for the Eagles, while Josh Glenn was named best for Centrals.