Unbeaten Dogs to face Carey Park

Bunbury’s unbeaten start to the season will continue if they take care of Carey Park on Sunday at Payne Park. Widely considered South Bunbury’s biggest threat for the 2021 premiership, the Bulldogs have not skipped a beat so far. Even without key forward Courtney Bayliss, who is out for the year with a serious knee injury, Michelle Harris’ side has found new avenues to goal. Against the Harvey Bulls last Sunday, the Bulldogs were prepared to bring the ball patiently into their forward line, before exposing chinks in the Bulls’ defensive rearguard. On paper, this assignment appears a very steep one for the Panthers, despite their continual improvement. Despite losing by 97 points against South Bunbury last weekend, Geoff Nitschke’s team showed they can match it with quality teams when their controlled physicality and skill level is firing on all cylinders. Unfortunately, without a solid marking forward, a lot of their entries into the forward line routinely fizzle out — something which cannot happen against elite opposition. The Bulldogs are likely to win this game fairly comfortably, although they would be wise not to underestimate the plucky Panthers, who are not far from getting some reward for effort.