BRIDGEWATER has disposed of both last season’s grand finalists in consecutive weeks after thumping Pyramid Hill by 56 points last Saturday.
The Mean Machine cruised to the win, with three late goals flattering the Bulldogs, who were comprehensively outplayed.
Coach Lachlan Sharp’s move upfield has been a masterstroke, with Bridgewater finding more avenues to goal rather than relying so heavily on the star goalkicker.
This week it was Oscar McKinley’s turn, with the strong-marking forward kicking six goals to match Nic Naughton’s effort last week against Marong.
McKinley will miss the next three weeks, however, with the Gold Coast-based player unavailable until the final round.
He has been racking up the frequent flyer points in recent weeks, flying in to Melbourne on the day before the Marong clash, out again after the match, then back for the Pyramid Hill game and returning to the Gold Coast on Sunday.
McKinley’s brother Harry, Bridgewater’s co-captain, also made his mark against the Bulldogs with a best afield performance in the midfield.
In the first quarter, it was all Mean Machine, with the Bridgewater mids running hard and using the ball well despite the dominance of Pyramid Hill’s Kai Daniels in the ruck.
Sharp was elusive and creative around half-forward as the home side kicked three goals to none.
The Bulldogs, however, had their chances, but managed only 0.6 for the term, with their forwards’ radar askew.
It was to be a problem all afternoon, with a host of gettable set shots wasted. Bridgewater led by 21 points at half-time despite a much-improved Pyramid Hill effort in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs were dominant in the clearances and around the ground, but the Mean Machine kicked 3.2 from their limited forays forward, with their opponents managing 3.3. Six goals to none in the third term put the game to bed, a highlight being Bo Alexander’s expert sharking of a Daniels tap in the goal square to bang another nail into the Bulldog coffin.
Bridgewater’s defence was outstanding, keeping the competition’s second highest goalkicker Ben Bisset to just one goal and not allowing Pyramid Hill the time and space to set up constructive attacks.
Jack Merrin, Josh Martyn and Jack Neylon played a huge part in restricting the Bulldogs, while midfielder Luke Ellings consistently showed his class and precise kicking skills.
Hard-running onballer Archie Hildebrandt was clearly the Bulldogs best, and Daniels’ elite tap work often handed the ball to his teammates on a plate, while Bailey George also worked hard around the ground.
In the end, Bridgewater’s clean ball use and quick ball movement proved the difference between the sides.