Footscray are back in the top eight on the VFL ladder after getting over Port Melbourne in a hard-fought contest at North Port Oval on Saturday.
Lin Jong collected 27 touches, laid eight tackles and kicked two goals in a best on ground performance, and was ably supported by Lauchie Dalgleish (22 touches), Josh Dunkley (21 touches, 2 goals) and Mitch Honeychurch (25 and eight tackles).
The Dogs controlled the contest for most of the game, taking a 39-point lead into the final change before Port Melbourne kicked the first four of the final term to get within 13 points with 12 minutes remaining.
Nick Jamieson then ran into an open goal, his third for the day, giving the Bulldogs some breathing space, the 19 point buffer also the final margin.
The Borough pressed hard in the final minutes but the Footscray defence stood strong under enormous pressure, led by Joel Hamling and Kieran Collins.
Coach Ashley Hansen said he was pleased with the way the inexperienced Dogs held their ground in a frantic final term.
“I thought our back six, especially for the last 10 minutes really stood up, he said.
“The amount of smothers and pressure acts we put them under really showed the guys were playing for one another and really valuing the contest in the last quarter, which is what it’s all about.
“I was happy with the way we dealt with their onslaught from a pretty mature side.”
Hansen said having taken in such an inexperienced side, the players that needed to play well, did.
“The responsibility that Lin Jong, Lauchie Dalgleish, Mitch Honeychurch, Josh Dunkley and Russ (Jordan Russell) took in the game was quite heavy, [and] I thought Declan Hamilton also had a really important game for us playing some critical roles.
“But across the board I thought we had some solid contributions in some pivotal moments.”
“They’ re stating to get rewards for little acts within games and playing for one another is crucial for this group to go forward.
Footscray travel to Windy Hill next Sunday to face the Essendon.
Footscray 2.2 5.3 9.10 11.11 (77)
Port Melbourne 0.1 3.4 3.7 8.10 (58)
Goals: Jamieson 3, Dunkley, Jong 2, Tashevski-Beckwith, Grabowski, Wyatt, F. Dale
Disposals: Jong 27, Honeychurch 25, Hamilton 24, Dalgleish, Dunkley, Russell, Webb 21
Best: Jong, Dalgleish, Dunkley, Honeychurch, Hamilton, Webb.
