SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

[SlimPickens]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Long's crumbling goal was just beautiful, even more so for a 17yo. Adcock had a lot of key touches too.

Has some tricks Longy. Hamilton stepped up late as well.

[always right]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

For those putting their hand up for Friday, Dale did himself no harm even though he was much quitter in second half. Campbell disappointing but had a huge last quarter.

[Eastdog]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Excellent weekend. We start it with a win for our AFL side and finish it with a win for our VFL side both still in and advancing deeper into September.

[Twodogs]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

A lack of any afl listed quality developing forwards is hurting us too. It'd be nice to have a couple of big kids down there and working towards senior selection.

Hopefully Honeychurch wins the Liston, that's something for JMac to argue in value.

Win a VFL grand final and the value of your tradables seems to go up again.

What a poor quarter by Footscary... absolutely dreadful. Only one teams looks like they want it.

I was scared we would lose that game for about 3 quarters and 23 minutes.

Bailey Dale our KPF. At 182cm & 70kg.

He just looks a lot bigger than 70 kegs.

Long gets one

Get the kid on our list. Bugger the rookie list, the real list. He's got some tricks and I hope he is on our radar.

[Twodogs]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Great win. I thought we were cooked at 3/4 time. I thought we were cooked halfway through the last quarter but the boys stuck at it and gave us supporters four days we won't forget in a hurry.

We had lost our last 3 finals. We went out in straight sets last year to the same team. Those players must have dug so deep in that last quarter. That's quite a win.

[LostDoggy]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Wow, I was not expecting that after the third quarter. Very happy though.

Bloody hell, if Campbell had finished the game in the same style he'd played for most of it, i'd have been pretty pissed but he seemed to do better later on.

[comrade]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Adcock had an epic last quarter.

[G-Mo77]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

How did Dale go in the 2nd half. Looked great in the first half. Really clean and finished well.

[Twodogs]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

How did Dale go in the 2nd half. Looked great in the first half. Really clean and finished well.

Much quieter but did a couple of nice things in the frantic finish though. I am a big fan so I may be biased.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Dug deep and deserved the win. Really missed a physical presence from Will and Tom for most of the game. i like the look of Bailey Williams and young Lynch. Bring on the 'pies.

[dadsgirl16]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Rookie list Hannan NOW!

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Dug deep and deserved the win. Really missed a physical presence from Will and Tom for most of the game. i like the look of Bailey Williams and young Lynch. Bring on the 'pies.

Bailey Williams looks a better player than Suckling.

[1eyedog]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Bailey Dale our KPF. At 182cm & 70kg.

Nah he said he's 189 cm at the Collingwood game this year and has grown 7 cm since being drafted. I'm 185 and I look up to him.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Nah he said he's 189 cm at the Collingwood game this year and has grown 7 cm since being drafted. I'm 185 and I look up to him.

Fair growth spurt, if/when grows into that frame he will be a good size. But I think I'd like a young KPF (or two) developing at Footscray so he doesn't have to be our KPF.

[Bornadog]

Re: SEMI FINAL 1 2016 - Footscray Bulldogs vs Essendon

Bombers away, Footscray storm into Preliminary Final

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Nathan Hrovat of the Footscray Bulldogs is congratulated by his teammates after kicking a goal in the final quarter during the VFL 2nd Semi Final match between Footscray Bulldogs and Essendon at North Port Oval on September 11, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Media)

Completing the perfect finals weekend for the Bulldogs, Footscray have secured a VFL Preliminary Final berth after a stunning come-from-behind win over Essendon at North Port Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing by 18-points at the final change, the Bulldogs piled on six goals to one in the final quarter to emerge 19-point victors in a spirited fight-back.

After bowing out of the VFL finals last year in an identical fixture, the Bulldogs were not to be denied 12 months on, in a gutsy performance in front of the packed, parochial terraces of the inner-suburban Port Melbourne venue.

Following a quiet opening three quarters, Mitch Hannan caught alight in the final term to kick three goals and help send the ‘Scray on their way to a match-up with Collingwood in next weekend’s VFL Preliminary Final.
While the damage was done on the scoreboard, it was the defensive work of captain Jordan Russell, Fletcher Roberts and Anthony Barry that invariably set-up the victory.
Staunch under pressure, the trio amassed intercept possessions, and helped launch the Dogs into attack from defence when the game was in the balance.

Mitch Honeychurch, Jed Adcock and Liam Nash were industrious in the midfield, while Nick Jamieson proved an important link player cross half forward, kicking two goals of his own for the match.
Following a finely balanced opening half that saw the ‘Scray enter the main break with a five point advantage, the Bombers dominated proceedings in the third quarter to stretch the lead to three goals.

Essendon held sway across the ground, creating 23-6 inside 50m entries, and lead the contested possessions count 40-19 for the quarter.
The Bombers were however left to rue missed chances, kicking 4.7 for the term.
Essendon kicked the first two goals of the quarter, to go with two unanswered goals kicked late in the second term, swinging momentum well in their favour.

Nick Jamieson steadied the Footscray ship to kick one of his two goals for the day, reducing the margin back to one kick, before the Bombers added the last two goals of the term.
The final term saw a complete turnaround of fortunes, as the Bulldogs swung the tide, finding the outside run that had eluded them in the third quarter.

With 16-4 scoring shots in the final term, the rampaging Bulldogs finished full of running and confidence, to which the Bombers had no answers.
“It’s a massive victory for the boys and they certainly deserve it,” coach Ashley Hansen said post match.
“We’ve been in this position before which has really obviously helped set us up for what we had to combat and what we had to do in the last quarter”
“I have complete faith in this group, and am really proud of what they’ve achieved this year, and once again they’ve stood up when it mattered.”
With the game played at a frenetic pace early, with both teams showing nerves with ball in hand, it was some hands in the back of Tom Campbell from Bombers defender Jack Crawford that handed the Bulldogs their first goal from point blank range.
Consecutive goals to Dale and Hamilton saw the Dogs skip out to a 19-point lead, before the Bombers matched the effort with two of their own.

A mark and goal from Jamieson on the quarter time siren saw the Bulldogs take a 13-point advantage into the first break.
Hrovat and Honeychurch were industrious around the ball early with 10 disposals each, while Brad Lynch playing off half back had also had 10 touches to the first change.

The Dogs had the run of play through the first term, dominating the uncontested ball count while breaking even inside the contest.
The second term started with a run of play to the Bombers end, with a barrage of forward 50m entries. Their inaccuracy hurt them, converting only 1.4 from shots on goal, before the Bulldogs scored through Bailey Dale against the run of play.

Dale kicked three opening half goals and looked the most lively option forward of centre for much of the day.
The Bulldogs will now reset for a Preliminary Final match-up against Collingwood next Saturday at North Port Oval, with the first bounce scheduled for 2:40pm.

Playing each other just once in the home and away season, Footscray will enter the match with confidence, after securing bragging rights and a 33-point victory over the Magpies at Victoria University Whitten Oval in Round 21.

Final Scores:
Footscray Bulldogs 4.3 6.5 7.7 13.16 (94)
Essendon 2.2 5.6 9.13 10.15 (75)
GOALS: Mitch Hannan 3, Bailey Dale 3, Nick Jamieson 2, Declan Hamilton, Tom Campbell, Jordan Staley, Nathan Hrovat, Ben Long

BEST : Jordan Russell, Jed Adcock, Liam Nash, Nick Jamieson, Fletcher Roberts, Mitch Honeychurch.