Australian Football

Match Report

In the final match for the weekend, the Seven sport boffins needed a lead-in match on TV for the Showdown so they headed over to City Mazda Stadium in Richmond where the Bloods were hosting the Bulldogs. The Bloods had their winning run halted by the Blues last week, but the Doggies weren't faring much better themselves after copping it sweet from the Eagles on their home deck. Richmond hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Bulldogs for a few years now, from the last five visits to the ground they have won just once back in 2013. Even worse for the Bulldogs, they would still be without a dominant forward and one of their co-captains.

Both sides found it hard to get through the big sticks in the opening term, inaccuracy becoming a problem early on. Centrals took a one-point lead at quarter-time, 1.5 to 1.4. The second term was far more plentiful with goals, the two sides trading blows on the scoreboard but it was West that came out of the term better with their 5.4 to the Dogs' four goals without a miss. Unfortunately for the Dogs fans that turned up, this was to be another match where one quarter of football seemed to go missing. Despite more inaccuracy, Westies kept the Dogs to just one goal whilst adding 4.7 to take a 34-point lead at three quarter-time. That would end up being the final margin, both sides kicked 3.2 to finish the match. Just think what the result would have been, just as Norwood should have on Friday!

Jason Porplyzia was named best for the Bloods, while the Dogs named Chris Jansen as their best, after spending a little more time on field after the match and then a long team meeting behind closed doors.