Australian Football

Match Report

The Playford Alive Oval in Elizabeth played host the Northern Derby between the Bulldogs and the Roosters. For the last three years, it has been the Roosters who have ended the Bulldogs season. In 2012 and 2013, the Roosters were the ones that dumped the Bulldogs from the finals, then last season they met in the final round of the year at Prospect where the Roosters finished their own year a winner. This time around though, the Roosters have been a mere shadow of those teams, sitting at the foot of the ladder after last week's loss to the Tigers. The Doggies have been playing some good football, but have been let down by dropping a quarter or a half of a game.

But that wasn't going to happen today, it seems that the Doggies have needed something to really sink their teeth into... enter the vulnerable Roosters and their interim coach Mike Handby. The first term didn't offer any insight as to what was to come, the Dogs' inaccuracy resulted in them scoring 3.5 to 1.1 to open the match. But then they went on the hunt from there on in, keeping the Roosters to just one behind in the second term whilst bagging 5.2 for themselves to go into the long break with a 47-point lead. The Dogs heaped on the punishment when play resumed, despite inaccuracy creeping in again they would still ram home 6.6 whilst keeping the Roosters scoreless. At three quarter-time Centrals were away to an 89-point lead. Any Bulldogs fans hoping to whip out the old "one goal in mind" joke would end up disappointed, the Roosters managing to kick three goals to finish their abysmal afternoon, the Dogs kicked 4.4 to finish the match 99-point winners.

Thomas Stevens nailed six goals and was named best for the Dogs in only his seventh league appearance, the Roosters named Joe Anderson as their one true standout.