Bulldogs hold off Eaton

A clinical Bunbury kicked two late goals to halt a furious Eaton Boomers fightback and record an eight point victory in the qualifying final at Hands Oval on Sunday.

More pictures from the game

After allowing the Bulldogs to dominate proceedings in the first half Eaton took control of the midfield battle in the second but failed to capitalise on their opportunities in front of the big sticks, eventually losing 12.4 (76) to 9.14 (68).

Eaton had 29 inside 50s to Bunbury’s 15 after the main break but kicked a wasteful 5.8, the Bulldogs recording a far more accurate 4.1 to hold on for the victory and book its place in the second semi-final against South Bunbury.

The game featured a number of questionable coaching decisions from the Boomers, including handing Leigh Kelly the majority of the rucking duties ahead of Brendan Page and playing Rohan Lilly at centre half-back with captain Will Oelsnik moving to the forward line.

Kelly held his own against Bulldog Jacob Williams but his overhead marking ability was missed up front while Lilly was repeatedly exposed by Bunbury’s talls, including for three of the Dogs’ four second half goals.

Bunbury exploded out of the gate to kick three of the game’s first four goals, midfielders Jesse Gribble, Sam Miles and Ryan Sheehan all on target with Eaton’s on-ballers taking some time to work their way into the game.

Speedster Karl Collard goaled against the run of play before Jake Ferrier pounced on a missed spoil from Codey Hay to cut the deficit to just one point.

Aidan Parker was awarded a free kick followed by a 50m penalty after he was held without the ball and Kyle Watts marked 30m in front on the quarter time siren to send Bunbury into the first break ahead by two goals.

Despite controlling play for much of the second term the Boomers could manage only one goal to Matt Buchanan while the Bulldogs made the most of entries into their forward half to extend their lead through goals to Parker, Williams and Marc Re.

The third quarter was mostly one way traffic with Eaton well on top through the midfield and launching barrage after barrage against Bunbury’s Jordan Adamson-Holmes led defence, which performed admirably under near constant pressure in the second half.

Majors to Ferrier (two), Collard and Gino Catalano cut the deficit to just five points at three quarter time and when Collard found himself all alone underneath a looping inside 50 midway through the final term the Boomers hit the front for the first time since the first quarter.

A hamstring injury forced Ferrier from the field not long after and the Bulldogs sparked back to life, Parker receiving the ball in the forward pocket and spotting a wide open Trent Gribble streaking towards goal to wrestle back the lead before Re iced the game after beating Lilly one-on-one to earn a shot on goal 35m out directly in front as time expired.

Scoreboard

Bunbury 5.2 8.3 10.4 12.4 76 def Eaton Boomers 3.1 4.6 8.11 9.14 68

Goals:

BULLDOGS – M. Re 3, T. Gribble, A. Parker 2, J. Gribble, S. Miles, R. Sheehan, J. Williams, K. Watts.

BOOMERS – J. Ferrier 4, K. Collard 3, G. Catalano, B. Page.

Best:

BULLDOGS – R. Sheehan, T. Gribble, J. Adamson-Holmes, G. Howison, M. Re, J. Williams.

BOOMERS – J. Bowe, C. Atthowe, Jye Cormack, L. Kelly, K. Collard, K. Bloxsidge.

Click here to go mobile with iNFOGO - local everywhere