The Inverell Saints gave the Gunnedah Bulldogs a football lesson for the second time this year, as the Saints romped to a huge victory in last Saturday’s AFL North West men’s tussle at Wolseley Park.
With the Saints in equal-first position on the ladder while the Bulldogs were yet to record a win this year, the visiting side was ruthless on the way to a 21.22.148 to 3.9.27 triumph.
The margin was only slightly smaller than when the teams met on Inverell soil in round one back on May 3, when the Saints prevailed 24.18.162 to 5.8.38.
Gunnedah also had some setbacks as last Saturday’s game progressed, with Malcolm Roberts suffering a dislocated shoulder and Zeb Dillon receiving a knock to the knee while Charlie Osland had cramps.
The Bulldogs could not be accused of giving up or not showing up, but they were simply outgunned by a much stronger team.
Several Gunnedah players made a good impression, including Osland, Mason Louis and Michael Etheridge.
The tone was set in the first minute of play as Inverell’s Angus Croft took a good mark and nailed the opening goal.
A goal to Noah O’Neill took Inverell’s tally to 5.5.35 on the stroke of quarter-time, after a major from Ben Neale was Gunnedah’s only score in the first term.
Gunnedah player-coach Jakob Vearing kicked a major in the second term which also featured six behinds to the host team, while the visitors kicked five goals and four behinds to set up a 51-point advantage.
Vearing also landed a goal in the third term while Gunnedah’s only other score was a behind. Inverell meanwhile registered four goals and seven behinds in this period, with a behind bringing up the century mark just before three-quarter time.
The Bulldogs managed two behinds in the final quarter while the Saints kicked seven goals and six behinds.
The clubs have a bye this weekend due to representative fixtures on Gunnedah soil.
To order photos from this page click here
