By Barry Kennedy, AFANA Reporter in Melbourne
In the wake of slip ups by Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs last round, the big talk in Melbourne this week was the possibility of interstate clubs filling the top four positions at the end of the year. This has been interpreted as further proof of a permanent shift in the balance of power in AFL football to the north and west of Melbourne. If that was the case, the Bulldogs, returning from heat of Darwin, (itself the longest road trip on the AFL itinerary) and with only 24 players available for selection, should have been easy meat for the rebounding Crows. At times against Adelaide that looked a likely scenario, but the Bulldogs have a growing spirit and toughness. The boys from the west combined these old fashioned qualities with a brand of electrifying 21st century football to record a famous victory yesterday.
Two of this year's big Brownlow chances, Adelaide’s Simon Goodwin and Scott West of the Western Bulldogs lined up against each other on Saturday. Between them they would accrue a staggering 80 possessions by games end. Adelaide started their All-Australian fullback, Ben Rutten in the forward line and kept skipper Mark Ricciuto off the field for half the quarter and long periods throughout. The stretched Bulldogs were forced to play youngster Cameron Wight on experienced Crow forward Scott Welsh.
With few options up their sleeves, the Bulldogs kept to their run and carry style of play particularly from their industrious backliners Jordan McMahon and Lindsay Gilbee. Adam Cooney also got a bit of the ball in the first quarter and set up Brad Johnson for the first goal of the match. Farren Ray made it two after being well spotted by Sam Power. The Bulldogs players were highly accountable, playing close to their men and using quick handballs to create ‘basketball style‘ fast breaks. By contrast, Adelaide looked sluggish, with a long-range Matthew Bode goal keeping them in touch.
Some great poise by youngsters Ryan Griffen through wing and half forward led to a goal for Cooney to give the Bulldogs a two goal lead. With West, McMahon, Gilbee and Cooney running through lines, the Bulldogs were unlucky to be only 12 points in front at quarter time. Sharp-shooter Matthew Robbins was well off his usual standards with three points from gettable set shots.
Adelaide unveiled a much more expansive running game in the second quarter, Matthew Clarke giving the Adelaide engine room much more of the ball and Goodwin, and Tyson Edwards taking advantage of the supply. The familiar rebound of Andrew McLeod and Graham Johncock from half back was the other major catalyst. Adelaide’s tall forwards benefited from the decisive run and disposal, pulling down some strong marks. Goals were produced by Nathan Bock, Welsh and emerging star Trent Hentschel who kicked two in 30 seconds to give Adelaide the lead.
Adelaide’s second term thrust led to a four goal turnaround on the scoreboard despite West working overtime as usual for the Doggies. Tough Bulldog back men Dale Morris and Mathew Boyd worked hard boarding down the hatches against the Adelaide onslaught.
Trent Hentschel kicked his third major to open the third quarter. After a quick reply from the Bulldog’s Johnson, Adelaide put on three more -- including a fourth by Hentschel -- to open up a 31 point lead at the 12 minute mark of the quarter. Adelaide’s play looked a cut above, but with the scent of victory in their midst, mysteriously reverted to a more conservative game plan.
Adelaide worked hard to free up players and used short kicks to hold the ball as it tried to hold a resurgent Bulldogs that thrived on any turnovers. Two goals from Cooney, two from Rohan Smith and another from Johnson made the scores even, while a Ryan Griffen point gave the Bulldogs the lead just before the break. Cooney, West, Cross and Johnson were magnificent in leading the Dogs back from the brink, their commitment obvious with plenty of hard tackles and accountable, tight marking helping the Bulldogs cause.
Having seized the momentum, the Bulldogs put a further two goals on early in the last quarter. Matthew Robbins showed great composure running around from a tight angle while Matthew Boyd ran into an open goal. Welsh finally stopped the rot for Adelaide after the six goal Bulldogs surge. Robbins kept the pressure on the top team with a unique mark on his back after falling down in a jostle with Johncock. His conversion maintained a 14 point advantage at the 13 minute mark of the quarter.
With a new urgency directed by the dazzling Simon Goodwin and McLeod, Adelaide redoubled its efforts. Clever small forward Matthew Bode kicked his third to make the margin 8 points. Then man mountain Brett Biglands steered through an incredible goal from hard on the flank. The instinctive finish followed a string of crunching tackles from both sides, giving the contest the intensity of a finals match.
Four minutes later Western Bulldogs ruckman Peter Street lost his head and handed Biglands a gift goal via a 50 meter penalty. Even more significantly Adelaide seized the lead.
The professionalism and poise of Adelaide might easily have closed down the contest from here and dropped numbers back in defense to help their cause. It would have worked against most teams, but the Bulldogs carry the ball better than anyone.
Seizing on a turnover and sticking to its brave running approach, Johnson and McMahon ran 60 meters for McMahon to finish from 55 meters, snatching the lead back. Adam Cooney had started the march on the half back line getting the play moving with three quick handballs. His dash was making a massive impact on the game, the Adelaide bred redhead gathered the most possessions of his short career. Scott West also got the most touches of his much longer career and the most by any player this season, on his way to 45.
The dying minutes contained a succession of nail biting plays and both teams had their chances. The Bulldogs had got their hands on the ball from stoppages more often during the match and livewire Cooney managed to take advantage of that once more. His hurried snap and goal was carried out moments before the siren and was greeted with euphoria from teammates and fans alike. Cooney’s fifth appropriately capped off the Bulldogs finest win for the year, and more significantly sealed a Finals place, for a team fast emerging as every fans ‘second side.’
West was best for the Bulldogs, his possession count the second best, behind Nathan Buckley since statistics were first taken in the early 1990’s. West’s efforts, as good as they were, only just pipped the five-goal 35 possession match by Cooney who has a mountain of talent. Jordon McMahon was terrific alongside Boyd and Gilbee at the back, while Johnson and Robbins bobbed up to kick goals at crucial stages in the absence of a big unit in the Bulldogs forward line.
Adelaide played well in stages and can take a lot from the game despite the loss. Goodwin was great as was McLeod. Trent Henschel looms as a danger man in the finals and was a big handful at times yesterday. Bode was a busy crumber and Johncock and ruck duo Clarke and Biglands had good hit outs in preparation for the challenges ahead.
Adelaide will have little respite next week against traditional rival Port and have Melbourne in round 22. In many senses their finals campaign started last week against the rampaging Fremantle and there was that sense of occasion again yesterday. Having failed those challenges, Adelaide will need to lift its form considerably.
The Bulldogs have a big test next week jostling for a high position in the Eight with St Kilda, before an easier assignment against Essendon. The Bulldogs will be crossing their fingers their injury list is reduced by the finals.
So with an interstate football behemoth hurting, and its freewheeling run to a premiership looking decidedly shaky, the Bulldogs have shown against all odds that the decline of Victorian football is greatly exaggerated.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 3.4 5.5 11.7 16.9 (105)
ADELAIDE: 1.4 6.11 10.12 14.14 (98)
GOALS – Western Bulldogs: Cooney 5 Johnson 3 Smith, Robbins 2, Griffen,
Boyd, Ray, McMahon Adelaide: Hentschel 4 Welsh, Bode 3, Biglands 2, Bock,
Edwards
BEST – Western Bulldogs: West Cooney Boyd Cross Harris Robbins McMahon
Adelaide: Goodwin McLeod Edwards Hentschel Bode Biglands Johncock
INJURIES – Western Bulldogs: Nil Adelaide: Skipworth (hamstring)
CHANGES – Western Bulldogs: Nil Adelaide: Nil
REPORTS - Nil
UMPIRES - Rosebury, Allan, Jeffery
CROWD - 29,988 at the MCG
Article last changed on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 1:08 PM EDT
