Tigers offer little resistance in loss

Bunbury thrashed a disappointing South Bunbury by 92 points at Hands Oval on Saturday, which ensured they retained both the Dale Alcock Homes South West Derby and Syd Jackson/Max McGuire cups. The Bulldogs, led by a masterful seven-goal effort from Jordan Adamson-Holmes, ripped the Tigers to shreds after quarter time. Such was the ease in which the visitors were able to go about their business, it was not uncommon to see four or more unattended teammates surrounding a Bulldogs player who was in possession. At other times there would be more than six uncontested possessions being raffled among Bulldogs players, without a Tigers player touching the ball. Such was the unaccountability being displayed by several South players, the angst in the outer became palpable, as Tigers supporters could not believe their eyes. In the midfield, Bulldog generals Brad Blake and Dylan Heasman reaped the benefits of Jacob William’s brilliant ruck display, while Max Bilcich also did plenty of good things during his league debut. But this game will ultimately be remembered for Adamson-Holmes’s efforts up forward, with not even decorated AFL veteran Adam Hunter able to quell his brilliance. Post-match, Bulldogs coach Jamie Nani was thrilled with how his side responded after a relatively quiet opening quarter. “I thought before the game we were a little flat,” he said. “And I said to the boys that they could not go out there and think it would just happen, given the last couple of weeks. I reiterated the message at quarter time — that we had gone out and played how I did not want them to play. “We needed to go back and play our footy, which we did. For three quarters, we were outstanding I thought.” Bilcich lamented how his side was smashed at contests throughout the afternoon. “We needed to win the ball at the contest — and we got smashed basically,” he said. “By the time we got organised, Bunbury had already taken the ball away from the contest. “Going into the game, the only way I thought we were going to beat them was being able to do that.” The Bulldogs host Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault at Payne Park on Sunday afternoon.