SWAN Hill went into Saturday’s game depleted in the tall man division but that did not deter their determination to demonstrate their superiority over traditional rivals Tyntynder.
With Toby Thoolen their only tall of note, the Swans still took no pity on the Bulldogs and produced some very slick and precise football to run out the easiest of winners.
Early in the first term however it was not the easiest of tasks for the match favourites to get the scoreboard ticking over.
While winning at the centre clearances, the Swans found a very determined Bulldog defence that was adamant that the speedy Swans were not going the bulldoze their way to a huge total early in the game.
Cas Mitchell led a hard-nosed but frugal defensive brigade that gave no quarter.
He found allies in Brock Storer, David Baker and Josh Cheek, while Brad Carroll was dropping back and the pacy Kayle Kirby was at his lively best.
The Swans had some lively competitors of their own, none more than Tom Dullard and Josh Templeton who kept the ball going forward.
Some good forward work from defenders turned goal-kickers in Brendan Blackmore and Declan Quin.
David Johnston and another defender drifting forward Jared Halligan had managed to accumulate five goals at the first change of ends but at that stage the Dogs had not seriously bothered the scoreboard operator.
It was in the sixth minute of the second term that the Bulldogs managed a six pointer courtesy of a well-judged long goal by Matt Lanigan after his clever use of a rather stiff cross breeze.
At this stage the Swans had already been solidly in attack and Dec Quin had bagged his third major.
Carroll got into the act and his goal registered the Dogs’ second for the term but the Swans were marching on with all their players getting a share of the ball and they went to the long break sporting a very handy eight-goal advantage.
The Swans had winners and good players on every line but none better than the super fit Jon Hirst and the rapidly-maturing Tom Dullard and Halligan.
Hirst left his opponents in his wake, slamming home the first three goals of the third term in five minutes of total dominance.
The Bulldogs did manage three majors for the third stanza and on reflection it was probably their best period of the match, but it was the Swans by 60 points at the last change.
It was with ease that the Swans slammed on seven goals in the final term to put the battling Bulldogs to the sword in emphatic style.
While the Bulldogs might be seen as easy beats, the undermanned Swans gave notice that they are perhaps just a step ahead of any of their rivals and look to have at least their fingertips on the silverware for 2014.
The Bulldogs were tough and hard at the contest and gave their all in another gallant performance that can only be admired as the club shows amazing resilience and fortitude.
