Footscray have moved to 2-2 on the season after an emphatic 62-point victory over Geelong at Victoria University Whitten Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs started strong, piling on the first five goals of the match before the Cats were able to register their first major 29 minutes into the first term.
After conceding six first quarter goals to the Magpies in the week before the bye, Coach Ashley Hansen said a strong start was crucial to his team’s chances of success against Geelong.
“That was our focus after a poor start against Collingwood. They came out and really played the three phases of the game well in regards to the contested ball, our offensive spread, and our defences structures held really strong in denying Geelong some inside 50s and keeping the game in our forward half.
“I was really pleased with how the boys started.”
Jack Macrae was impressive, amassing 34 touches, including 6 inside 50s and Brent Prismall continued his strong start to the season.
Midfielder Nathan Hrovat was at times electrifying, booting four first half goals, and Jarred Grant chipped in with four of his own.
But Hansen reserved special praise for experienced ruckman Will Minson, particularly his work around the ground.
“Will played his best game for the year in regards to his spread and his use. He probably should have kicked three or four, only ended up with one, but was certainly a threat forward of the ball.”
While the Bulldogs were in control on the scoreboard from start to finish, the Cats continued to challenge the home side and Hansen said that the way the young Dogs steadied before ultimately kicking away was a sign of things to come.
“It’s about them learning how to play the Bulldogs way and it’s also them learning how to play with their teammates. I certainly thought the group took a step forward together this week in achieving that and that’ll get some good results if they continue to build on that team spirit.”
Both Caleb Daniel and father-son selection Zaine Cordy both made encouraging debuts coming back from injury.
Cordy in particular catching the coach’s eye.
“Zaine was fantastic, especially in that third quarter, he was a highlight.
"He’s marking and ball use when we were under pressure coming out of our forward half, he was like a wall.
"For such a young kid to play the way he did was fantastic in his first game of senior footy.”
Footscray are back at Victoria University Whitten Oval next Sunday to take on North Ballarat.
Footscray Bulldogs 5.5 9.6 12.10 17.13 (115)
Geelong Cats 1.0 5.2 7.3 8.5. (53)
Goals: Hrovat, Grant 4, Redpath 2, Minson, Greenwood, Hamilton, Pearce, McLean, Hayes, Campbell
Best: Macrae, Prismall, Grant, Minson, Hrovat, Hamling, Z Cordy
