Bulldogs remain undefeated after impressive second half

Sam O'Sullivan was elevated to the Bunyip senior side on Saturday and shone against Nilma Darnum. 153548 Picture: ROB CAREW

By RUSSELL BENNETT

VERY little separated Bunyip and Nilma Darnum through the first three quarters at Bunyip on Saturday.

The Bombers, featuring a group of gun recruits from the Pines, started with purpose and trailed by just four points at quarter-time.

But, after his men kicked with a big wind advantage, Darnos coach Dean Alger could potentially see the writing on the wall.

“It’s a contest – it’s one we haven’t had, but one we’ve been striving for,” he told his boys.

“There’s been talk about it all week, and good players stand up against good teams.”

In a free-flowing encounter, their midfielders won plenty of ball out of the middle and used their long kicking to great effect – directly down to a forward line with plenty of firepower. It was a great opening half for the neutral footy fan to watch – open and free flowing.

But at half-time in the Bunyip rooms, with the side up nine points, player-coach Brad Walker was having none of it. Clearly and directly, he demanded his midfielders be more accountable out of the middle and apply much more defensive pressure to their opponents. Mitch Davies was dominating out of the ruck, but the Bombers were sharking too many of his taps.

With 10 minutes to go in the third, and the game being played increasingly on its own terms, it was clear Bunyip had another couple of gears to go to. Michael Laszczyk, Michael Whyte and – most notably – Jack Blakey found plenty of space and used the Sherrin cleanly, and decisively by foot. Blakey (three goals) also shone up forward, alongside the likes of Paul Carmody (also three majors) and Matt Ross (two) as their side clinched a 39-point win, 17.13 (115) to 10.16 (76).

For the full story, including post-match comments from Brad Walker, pick up a copy of this week’s Pakenham-Berwick Gazette – out now.

Click below for a video of the Bulldogs belting out their club song – with Sam O’Sullivan copping an absolute bath in the middle of it!