Western Bulldogs boot Geelong hoodoo

Gia's views on the game...

Western Bulldogs boot Geelong hoodoo
The Courier Mail | Jay Clark | August 23, 2009

A STRING of narrow defeats, including the burning memory of last year's preliminary final loss to Geelong, was the driving force behind the Western Bulldogs victory at Docklands. The Cats have had the ascendancy over the Dogs in recent years, but whatever remained of that mental edge now rests with Rodney Eade's men, after his troops' stirring triumph over the Cats.

Influential forward Daniel Giansiracusa, making his comeback after seven games out with a knee injury, suggested the Dogs' 14-point win shattered the grip Geelong had on them, ahead of a potential finals rematch.

"Tonight was not a statement game, but we've come so close to them, and we wanted to get over the line this time," Giansiracusa said.

''There was no point coming close again, we had to beat them.

"It was good in that regard, and we are probably going to come up against them in the finals again, and we will use that as confidence.

"We still didn't play perfect footy, I don't think you ever can against sides like that, when you have got two teams going at it pretty hard.

"But, luckily enough, we were on top at the end, and secured the double (finals) chance."

Importantly, Giansiracusa said the Dogs were a much-improved side since they lost to Geelong by 29 points in last year's preliminary final, and then by only two points in the after-the-siren thriller in Round 9 this year.

"I think we have matured since then, as you would after 12 months, and we've still got a few guys to come back in. Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffen are vital parts of our side," he side.

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