Heading to Bass on Sunday for the first semi-final against Tooradin, the young Bulldog pups entered the game with justifiable confidence.
Having won their most recent encounter by a sizeable margin in Round 12, and with a near full strength team, confidence was high.
Perfect conditions in play, so no excuses.
And it was to be the Pups who took over early.
Beginning in the first quarter kicking up the hill, a couple of goals saw the boys head to quarter time 13-3 up.
Captain Finn Cashman again leading from the front, ably assisted by ever-reliable Beau Davies.
The second saw the Bulldogs take complete charge.
Brady Ross returning for his first full game for weeks was a live-wire up forward, and James Lewis was active all over the ground.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a five-goal lead mid-way through the second.
But this is junior footy, and the boys are Under 18s after all, so anything can happen, and will.
Having got that big lead, the gas-pedal came off, just when the Tooradin boys decided that they might as well go down swinging.
Dominating the second half of the second, and most of the third quarter, the lead by three quarter time was reduced to 16 points.
Darcy Thompson and Leo Savona stood up against the tide for the Bulldogs to assist maintaining that lead.
After levelling the game in the second and third, the opposition really turned up the heat for the last.
An early goal from the Bulldogs provided a handy lead, but the Gulls wouldn’t give up.
Against the flow – and going up the hill – they pushed hard scoring the next two and suddenly just a few points margin.
The final 10 minutes turned into a slugfest as each team pushed and prodded to gain the ascendancy.
Some silly undisciplined acts crept into the game, but the Bulldogs were able to win out 49-41 in a tough one.
Coach Huther, whilst pleased to get a win and entry into the preliminary final, provided an important message to the boys in his post-match address.
Next week will require a more concerted and disciplined effort – enjoy the win, but a more consistent effort will be needed.
Scores:
Phillip Island: 2.1.13, 5.3.33, 5.5.35, 7.7.49
Tooradin-Dalmore: 0.3.3, 1.5.11, 2.8, 5.11.41
Goals:
Phillip Island: Brady Ross – 3, James Lewis, Noah Muller, Leo Savona, Zac Walker - 1
Tooradin-Dalmore: Anthony Mirauta – 2, Jack Hamilton, Aaron Knight, Panos Papas - 1
Best Players:
Phillip Island: Finn Cashman, Beau Davies, Darcy Thompson, Leo Savona, James Lewis, Brady Ross
Tooradin-Dalmore: Daniel Ahern, Jack Hamilton, Adam Zoobi, Jack Grist, Cooper Bassett, Darcy Wright