A strong defensive game led to the Footscray Bulldogs sixth consecutive win, overcoming North Ballarat by 29 points at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
The Bulldogs ran out 6. 15. (51) to 2. 10. (22) victors in wet and blustery conditions but Development Manager Chris Maple said there was plenty to take out of the performance.
“It was a very scrappy affair all day, very strong wind, rain all through the second half,” Maple said.
“It was a good battle and the boys stuck to their task really well – there was a lot of contested footy, a lot of tackling.
“There were totally different game styles whether you going with the wind or against it, so it was a challenge.
“We wanted to play a certain way and most of the time we did that, there a few areas we still need to improve but there were a lot of good things that we can take out of it structure wise.”
An inability to capitalise on the scoreboard saw the Roosters take the lead into the first change but Footscray led at every other break and held the away side goalless after half time.
“I think we defended quite well obviously, only letting them kick two goals but generally we structured up fairly well around the stoppages,” he said.
‘We didn’t move the ball as well as we’d like but considering the conditions, that made it difficult.
“Just our persistence in the end driving the ball back inside 50 and our aerial dominance – considering the conditions, Tom Campbell, Jack Redpath, Tom Williams, Ayce Cordy they just dominated in the air.”
Maple highlighted Campbell’s influence as one of the best on ground, considering the less than desirable conditions, with his strength overhead in one on one contests.
“Tom Campbell took 12 marks on a day that was horrendous weatherwise – and a lot of them were contested – so he had a really good day,” he said.
“Jordan Russell played a role down in defence, alongside Lukas Markovic, and their leadership was outstanding to continually get the ground set up how we wanted to.”
Switching focus to next weekend’s clash against Geelong on Sunday, Maple said the team would remain consistent in their preparation.
“Not much will change for us – we’re rapt to see the guys who came out of the VFL footy play so well at AFL level yesterday,” he said.
Footscray Bulldogs 6. 15. (51)
North Ballarat 2. 10. (22)
GOALS:
Footscray: B. Goodes 2, T. Campbell , M. Fogarty , M. Jensen , J. Johannisen
North Ballarat: M. Wilkins , M. Powell
BEST:
Footscray: T. Campbell, J. Russell, C. Howard, L. Jong, B. Goodes, M. Jensen
North Ballarat: N. Rippon, O. Tate, L. Hoy, T. Lockyer, L. Cook, L. George
