Sheep stations, kitchen sinks and a spot in the Grand Final – there was everything to play for today as the top spot Dogs with one game clear came up against a spirited Cougars outfit who needed the win to equal points with a superior percentage could see them take top spot.
From the centre bounce it was clear this was going to be an arm wrestle and whoever had more passion for the footy was going to come out on top. The Cougars opened their account first with an attacking tackle by Young Tommy whose first shot at goal sprayed but the kick in was intercepted by the revived Jamie Day who recovered from his crippling cramp in the previous week and put the boys from Uni on the board. Attack around the ball was ferocious and the ball swapped ends many times. Sammy Burdett was solid in defence taking a diving mark on wing but his kick went down the throat of champion rookie Dan Brooks. Dan put it up and Nathan Ryan flew in with a big pack mark, passed to Mavor whose centering bomb scraped the finger nails of Champs out stretched hands. Dogs defensive kick down the wing went out on the full and Jinxy started up the rhetoric-
“They don’t want it cougars” he yelled.
Although neither team could punish the other on the scoreboard the Cougars were playing harder for the ball.
Beams punted a dangerous kick back into the corridor from deep in defence and Wazza who intercepted couldn’t control ball enough and sprayed another point.
Dozer decided enough was enough and laid a big tackle at centre half forward on Jock the big cougar ruck and went back and kicked a decisive goal.
Irish import Beams forgot which game he was in and ran out of the square for a kick out and it was brought back for a ball up at the top of square. Cougars won the ball and were able to clear it and zig zagged the ball up the ground into the wind with clean kick-mark-kick. Switching the ball many times to eventually hit Edy within scoring range. He pushed the ball too far but it was marked by Champs on an acute angle in the pocket. Going back he decded to try a tight banana but missed the lot. Where’s the drop punt Champs? aka Dom Sheed.
Quarter time Cougars 1.1- 7 Bulldogs 1.2 - 8
Bulldogs opened the second quarter with Jared slotting a great goal from a pack after Mad Dog cut off a helicopter defensive kick from Jinxy and pumped the ball back into attack finding Jared.
Floats like a butterfly stings like a bee Brad Cargill laid a text book tackle on Stefan and rugby kick to Brennan who finished off hitting the post.
Cougar Connor made a desperate defensive kick on the run but into Dozers arm at Centre half forward who went back to the centre circle half way for a marathon run up - the big pack formed and Rhodesy pulled it in again.
Nice example of linking play saw Toby who had a cracking game take a great contested mark feed ball quickly to Kearnsey who shot quick ball to Mad dog. Who pumped long into their forward line.
The defence was too strong for each team and with no clear route to goals lots of opportune points kept the scoreboarder busy. Especially at half time. Monster marks 50m out slight angle and tries for goal but it pushes wide where Jamie takes mark tight in the pocket with seconds to go he passes to Richie Williams and marks on the siren 15 metres out basically in front. He goes back and makes a sloppy kick which is touched on line by grub at head height. Could have been the most basic of goals.
Cougars 1.9 15 Bulldogs 2. 2 14
Third quarter saw the Bulldogs depleted bench get even lighter when Jared rolled his ankle and grub came on. Cooky was marking a lot across half back and finding Wazza and Sheep in reply, but one second too long with the ball and Waz was caught by Jinxy who immediately played on to hit big Dan upfield. Some tight play on the wing saw the veteran Becky clean up the mess with some deft foot work and boot the ball downtown to make it someone else’s problem like all good backman should.
Although it fell into big Cougar ruck man Jocks arms who kicked to Mavor who boots another highball to Rhodesy who kicked to advantage of Tommy who inexplicably runs to boundary line before jacking it across his body to goal truly into the wind which fires up the cougars.
Dev made a masterful combination of veteran football and acrobatics on the wing with the ball coming in hard and down low he managed to keep it in front through a pack, fall over, Get up, push it forward - fall over, soccer ball forward - fall over, get to feet kick into opposition then get it kicked back into your guts hold onto it and then kick it away whilst falling over – again ! That was too much and Dev came off for a well earned rest.
Last goal for the third quarter saw Day running straight to a low pass with a long handball backwards to Edy coming through for a big 50m goal which floats and dips and just goes over the top of Burdett’s outstretched hands.
3/4 time Cougars 4.10 34 Bulldogs 2. 2 14
Cougars were kicking with the wind in the last quarter and they got an early goal through
Swiftys left foot pass to Ryan showed they were trying everything to keep ahead. Monster desperation for the ball was very difficult to stop with a good burst across centre half forward clearing the pack and kicking long to find Jamie Day again on the burst in front of Sammy. His post goal celebration pumped up the big cats.
Without a bench to call on the Dogs were running out of steam with hardworking Stefan laying a hard convincing tackle but his legs were too tired to kick over Brennan who smothered on the mark.
Another moment where the dogs were waning when Stoat went for a big run straight up the guts with three bounces thru the middle and looking to kick long into attack only to have a fast running cougar force a handball instead that turned into nothing and Cougars responded swiftly with a Swifty goal. Cue the celebrations as the final siren went.
It was the first win over the Bulldogs since the 22 September 2012 and means they go straight to the Grand Final. A good finish to a season that has been building with momentum. Coach Chris Mintern should be very proud of the way he has shaped this team and built the culture over the last three years.
The Bulldogs play the Blues in a semi-final in the hope they make the Grand Final and finish off their three-peat.
Big thanks to Craig Varce who had to umpire solo today whilst the other umpires were injured or away.
Author: Steve Langridge
Last Modified on 28/10/2018 21:50