The Gunnedah Bulldogs men’s AFL team put in two highly competitive showings last Saturday as the revamped squad had trial matches against the Dubbo Demons and the Parkes Panthers on Dubbo soil.
Nobody observed the scores too closely although the Bulldogs apparently lost both games by a couple of goals, following a tight result against the Tamworth Kangaroos on Gunnedah turf a week earlier.
The fixtures at Dubbo comprised 20-minute halves, with Gunnedah player-coach Jakob Vearing saying his team could have won the first game had a few scoring opportunities not been wasted.
Vearing said the Bulldogs seemed to “run out of legs” in the second game as there were no substitutes, while some players sustained sore knees or cramps.
Vearing was upbeat in any case, saying there was progress since the first hit-out of the season.
“It’s all about effort and fun,” he said.
With the Bulldogs encountering a number of physically bigger opponents, Vearing said his team “didn’t shy away from the physicality”.
“We probably gave more than we received,” he said.
“It was a very good confidence-building exercise.”
Vearing rated Tom Carlyon as Gunnedah’s “ultimate standout” performer, with the player-coach saying Carlyon combined well with teammates and that his clearance work improved while his deliveries were dangerous.
Vearing also praised the displays of Michael Etheridge and Ben Neale, with Etheridge repelling a lot of advances as he played in the backline while Neale “did an awesome job” in the ruck.
Describing the ruck as “one of the most difficult positions on the field,” Vearing said Neale “really took the game on which was really exciting to see”.
Next for the Bulldogs will be round one of the AFL North West season on May 3.
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