Seniors
The Bulldogs entered the seniors Grand Final against Inverloch in near-perfect conditions.
Kai Mackenzie celebrating his 50th senior game, and captain Jack Taylor his 150th game being highlights of the pre-game.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they remained in the hunt for no more than the first 15 minutes of the game.
A tight opening saw the ball pinging from end to end, but with the Sea Eagles using the ball with more precision, as well as dominating through the mid-field.
Eventually, the defence was unable to hold on under the barrage, with the Sea Eagles moving out to a 21-0 lead by quarter time.
The second was not a lot better for the Bulldogs, with their first score finally coming at the 11-minute mark of the second through the returning Hayden Bruce, at which point Inverloch were already four goals seven.
The Bulldogs were fortunate that the opposition were spraying their goal shots, leading by 33 (4 goals 9) to 8 at half time.
Interestingly, the other score that was firmly Inverloch’s way was the free kick count 18-7 at the big break.
The free-kick count continued to head in the same direction for the third, with a dubious Inverloch free and 50m penalty resulting in another goal and a 39-8 lead.
At that point, the Bulldogs entered their most productive stage of the game with Jack Taylor leading the charge, Mark Griffin and Daniel Pearce stemming the tide in the backline and Billy Taylor and Max Blake providing targets in the forward line.
Goals to Cam Brown, Max Blake and Orlando Kane Gillard brought the Bulldogs back into it, with a 53-27 deficient at three quarter not looking insurmountable.
The final began with another Max Blake goal, before Coach Pedersen – having injured his knee during the third – finally retiring to the bench.
The low-light of the game came at the 12-minute mark of the last when Jack Taylor was knocked out cold attempting to mark the ball and being collected in the head by a Sea Eagle hip – made worse by amazingly not resulting in a free kick to the Bulldogs despite pleas from all and sundry.
Some late goals to the Sea Eagles ultimately saw them run out winners 75-40 in a comprehensive victory.
So, the gallant Bulldogs' end of season run ended with a second placing, but a great year of transition and blooding of new and exciting talent that will only get better for 2024.
It’s been a fantastic ride with a great vibe around the Bulldogs Kennel in 2023, so strap yourselves in for more in 2024.
Scores:
Phillip Island: 0.0.0, 1.2.8, 4.3.27, 6.4.40. Inverloch-Kongwak: 3.3.21, 4.9.33, 7.12.54, 10.15.75
Goals:
Phillip Island: Max Blake – 2, Hayden Bruce, Orlando Kane Gillard, Travis Woodfield – 1. Inverloch-Kongwak: Will Hams – 3, Nicholas Baltas, Taite Cumming, Clinton McCaughan, Archer Reid, Lachlan Scott, Oscar Toussaint – 1.
Best Players:
Phillip Island: Mark Griffin, Daniel Pearce, Jack Taylor, Billy Taylor, Damien Holmes, Max Blake. Inverloch-Kongwak: Will Hams, Ethan Park, Dylan Clark, Andrew Soumilas, Nicholas Baltas, Shem Hawking.