TonyK
CibbuanoDogs through to NAB Cup grand final
March 5th 2010 11:29
THE Western Bulldogs have booked their place in the NAB Cup grand final with a thrilling three-point win over Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
The Bulldogs will face the winner of Saturday night's clash between St Kilda and Fremantle after prevailing 1.11.17 (92) to 1.12.8 (89) in a contest of fluctuating fortunes.
Barry Hall backed up his six-goal performance on debut for the Dogs with four majors and set up the match-winning goal for Brian Lake.
The former Sydney premiership forward took a huge pack mark with just 69 seconds left on the clock and the Bulldogs trailing by three points before dishing off to Lake who slotted it home from 25m out.
Daniel Cross racked up a game-high 24 possessions and laid 12 tackles, rookie Brodie Moles put in yet another impressive performance while Adam Cooney and Robert Murphy were busy contributors.
For Port, Robbie Gray, Kane Cornes, Troy Chaplin and Travis Boak won plenty of the football.
Daniel Stewart was the Power’s most productive forward with three goals but he went off the ground late in the match after a clash of heads with Bulldog Easton Wood.
Port dominated the clearances, stifled the Dogs with their relentless pressure and opened up an early break thanks to goals from Gray, Warren Tredrea and Cameron Cloke.
Despite being completely outplayed in the first term the Bulldogs found themselves trailing by just nine points at quarter-time after a 50m penalty against Power skipper Domenic Cassisi resulted in a super goal to Ryan Griffen.
Hall had the chance to kick the first goal of the second quarter but he unselfishly handballed over to Cooney who made no mistake from close range before goals from Daniel Stewart and Paul Stewart gave the Power a 16-point advantage.
The Dogs started to find their groove and responded with four of the last five goals of the half, including a major from Hall after the siren to go into the main break seven points in front.
A super goal from Danyle Pearce levelled the scores early in the third term before majors from Hall and Shaun Higgins put the Dogs 13 points clear.
Daniel Stewart then bobbed up with two goals in as many minutes and when Mitch Banner snapped truly the Power was up by one straight kick.
Hall’s third moments before the siren ensured both sides went into three-quarter time on level terms.
After a Brett Ebert major in the opening minute of the final stanza, Hall converted his fourth and then set up a goal for Moles.
Port hit back late in the match with two goals in three minutes from former Brisbane Lion Scott Harding and appeared to be on course for victory before Hall stepped up.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 1.0.3, 1.5.8, 1.8.13, 1.11.17 (92)
PORT ADELAIDE: 0.3.3, 0.6.4, 1.9.7, 1.12.8 (89)
SUPERGOALS: Western Bulldogs: Griffen
Port Adelaide: Pearce
GOALS: Western Bulldogs: Hall 4, Akermanis, Griffen, Hahn, Cooney, Higgins, Moles, Lake
Port Adelaide: D.Stewart 3, Gray 2, Harding 2, Tredrea, Cloke, P.Stewart, Banner, Ebert
BEST: Western Bulldogs: Cross, Moles, Cooney, Hall, Murphy, Boyd, Higgins
Port Adelaide: Gray, K.Cornes, Boak, T.Chaplin, D. Stewart, Chaplin, Banner
INJURIES: Western Bulldogs: Nil
Port Adelaide: D.Stewart (concussion)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Stevic, Donlon
CROWD: 10,531 at ETIHAD STADIUM
| 19 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
