Australian Football

Match Report

Saturday afternoon football sees us head out to the northern suburbs, the Bulldogs facing the Eagles at My Money House Oval in Elizabeth. The Bulldogs couldn't take a trick against the Eagles in 2016, dropping both games in Rounds 11 and 20 by 88 and 25 points respectively. But despite their dominant showing in 2016, it was not to be their year after once again dropping their guard at the wrong time of the year. Two minor premierships, two 2nd Semi-Final wins, no flags. The Dogs were probably the least hobbled by departures, welcoming back two players from the AFL along with a former Port player, while the Eagles lost several members of last year's side and regained a former player of their own from down the road at Alberton. 

There were high hopes out at the Ponderosa, but soon enough the Eagles were dousing those hopes as they kept the Dogs to three behinds whilst kicking 3.2 to lead by 17 points at quarter-time. The Dogs found the big sticks in the second term, but could only chip a few points off the Eagles' lead. Centrals scored 3.6 to 3.3, the visitors leading by 14 points at the long break. Both sides would score 2.3 each when play resumed, leaving the deficit unchanged at three quarter-time. The Bulldogs wouldn't get any closer after this, the Eagles' final term score of 6.5 to 1.2 saw them off to a 47-point win. 

James Boyd played like he had a point to prove to his former club, taking best afield votes for the Eagles while the Dogs named Chris Jansen as their standout.