TYNTYNDER has continued their run as one of the form sides of the competition, securing a fourth straight victory over Koondrook-Barham on Saturday.
Tyntynder crushed the Raiders by 80 points to get revenge for their shock round 3 loss to the Raiders.
“We knew we had to come to the ground with a better attitude,” Bulldogs coach Josh Stone said.
“We just didn’t take our chances against them earlier in the year, so it’s a bit of redemption to get out there and show them the sort of footy we want to play.
“We’ve found a bit of form over the last month or so, and it was a pleasing win.”
Unlike in round 3, when the Raiders stifled the Dogs’ spread and ball movement, Tyntynder dominated centre clearances and stoppages, which allowed players such as Isaiah Bull to run rampant.
“We’ve had a focus on the contest because we know if we don’t win the contest, we can’t get our run-and-spread game going,” Stone said.
The Dogs led by 21 points at quarter-time, but it was a second-quarter blitz started by Marcus Wattie, who kicked two of his four goals early in the term, that broke the back of the Raiders and ensured a comfortable day for Dogs fans.
Kicking eight goals to one, the Bulldogs were at their explosive best and showed the sort of footy that could challenge the best sides in the competition and give them a chance come finals time, especially after Woorinen proved Kerang were beatable.
“It doesn’t help us too much, Woorinen winning – we were trying to get to that third spot, but it sort of evens it out a little bit and shows anyone can win on the day,” Stone said.
The second half petered out as the Dogs took their foot off the gas, but Raiders coach Darren Troy will be proud of his charges’ maturity in refusing to roll over in the final term. The Iudica brothers again went up in stocks while Kye Attwell, the only real target down forward, looked dangerous.
For the Bulldogs, Stone was pleased with the well-rounded team performance but highlighted a couple of his stars and impressive young guns.
“I thought Marcus Wattie, and Benjamin Hallam played really well. Then a couple of our young blokes stood up – Sam Bull and Elia Ware – but it was a consistent effort from everyone.”
Star Tyntynder forward Jason Eagle was rested for the contest and will come back into the side for the massive game against Swan Hill this week.
Key defender Patrick Crowe is also expected back after missing Saturday’s game with a sore thigh. Unfortunately for the Dogs, Stone isn’t confident he will be fit for the clash after he came off the field in the third quarter.
“I’ll be doubtful,” he said. “I’ve got a bit of a sore calf, so we’ll see how it plays out throughout the week.”
The win means the Dogs are practically safe in a finals position, barring a catastrophic end-of-season collapse after Mallee Eagles drew with NNW United.
Stone and his men now have their eyes firmly set on securing third place and the double chance. The Raiders will face second-placed Cohuna at home this week.
VOTES
3 Votes Marcus Wattie (Tyntynder)
2 Votes Isaiah Bull (Tyntynder)
1 Votes Ben Hallam (Tyntynder)
MATCH RESULTS
TYNTYNDER 4.5 12.9 14.14 16.20.116
KOONDROOK-BARHAM 1.2 2.2 3.3 5.6.36
GOALS – TYNTYNDER – Cayden Crowe, Marcus Wattie 4, Brodie Bennett, Zac Denham 2, Patrick Blake, Isaiah Bull, Ben Derbas, Brock Storer 1.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Jack Thrum 2, Jordan Bassett, Jordan Iudica, Joshua McMahon 1.
BEST – TYNTYNDER – Benjamin Hallam, Marcus Wattie, Ben Derbas, Brodie Bennett, Elliot Broad, Samuel Bull.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Matthew Dean, Jack Shannon, Jordan Iudica, Kade Watts, Reagan Hamilton, Kye Attwell.
